Straight Outta Compton (studio album) by N.W.A

Album Rating: 81.10
(811/10)

08.08.1988

N.W.A (USA): Straight Outta Compton

1.Straight Outta Compton 94
2.Fuck Tha Police 85
3.Gangsta Gangsta 73
4.If It Ain't Ruff 74
5.Parental Discretion Iz Advised 84
6.Express Yourself 98
7.Compton's N The House (Remix) 71
8.I Ain't Tha 1 93
9.Dopeman (Remix) 68
10.Quiet On Tha Set 71

If second half was as good as the first half it would have been much better album as a whole. But still it was incredibly groundbreaking for hip-hop in terms of hardcore gangsta lyrics and new style of west coast production which is one of the best ever. Also the group has grear rapping skills, escpecially Ice Cube. Some of the lyrics didn't age well, but it's part of their style. Title track is an anthem.

From teague 08/28/2021 17:57

Starts off really strong but unfortunately lags quite a bit in the second half.

From Graeme2 01/24/2021 13:10

Maybe been a little ungenerous towards this over the years. When it came out it was all we played. Even the casual rap fan mates liked this one. And where some hard rap tracks from PE, BDK, Rakim had been explosive, the title track from this was atomic. And that's where the problem has been for me, judging the whole album as not as good as that or FTP or the b side not as good as the a. The title track is a goat against any genre. And the album as a whole is fine indeed and stands up with all the other classic rap of 88. Legendary and inspirational and influential.

From planetneutral 11/08/2020 20:39

Huge out of the gate and mostly fun the rest of the way.

This platter is a nifty lil toe tapper. Just right to enjoy with a glass of mineral water (with honey) in a warm bath.

I enjoy this album first time I heard this album was on tape passed around junior high the year it came out someone recorded on a blank tape passed it around and now I own it on vinyl. The subject matter is a listen but its like watching a violent movie its like listening to Slayer its not that listening to evil makes us evil its like watching a scary movie

From Brad1770 02/04/2019 09:29

Seminal Rap album that is incorrectly labelled as the 1st Gangsta Rap release , rather it was the first Gangsta Rap album to garner mainstream success largely on word of mouth and infamy. Interestingly success was found mainly in the homes of disenfranchised white males rather than the black community

For a group that really only released 2 albums proper before internal bickering tore them apart , N.W.A's influence on the gene cannot be underestimated

This album is essential listening for all music fans

What a superb album. Energy. Provocative. Great beats and tunes. Smart lyrics. Great delivery. The Gangsta of Ice Cube and I love the whine of Easy

Not an outright masterpiece but it is a breakthrough for hip hop production (Dre's talents are really noticeable here). The rapping is just ok pretty much everywhere EXCEPT for when the excellent Ice Cube takes the mic... the whole project is elevated by Cube's energy.