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Straight Outta Compton wasn't quite the first gangsta rap album, but it was the first one to find a popular audience, and its sensibility virtually defined the genre from its 1988 release on. It established gangsta rap -- and, moreover, West Coast rap in general -- as a commercial force, going platinum with no airplay and crossing over with shock-hungry white teenagers. Unlike Ice-T, there's little social criticism or reflection on the gangsta lifestyle; most of the record is about raising hell -- harassing women, driving drunk, shooting it out with cops and partygoers. All of that directionless rebellion and rage produces some of the most frightening, visceral moments in all of rap, especially the amazing opening trio of songs, which threaten to dwarf everything that follows. Given the album's sheer force, the production is surprisingly spare, even a little low-budget -- mostly DJ scratches and a drum machine, plus a few sampled horn blasts and bits of funk guitar. Although they were as much a reaction against pop-friendly rap, Straight Outta Compton's insistent claims of reality ring a little hollow today, since it hardly ever depicts consequences. But despite all the romanticized invincibility, the force and detail of Ice Cube's writing makes the exaggerations resonate. Although Cube wrote some of his bandmates' raps, including nearly all of Eazy-E's, each member has a distinct delivery and character, and the energy of their individual personalities puts their generic imitators to shame. But although Straight Outta Compton has its own share of posturing, it still sounds refreshingly uncalculated because of its irreverent, gonzo sense of humor, still unfortunately rare in hardcore rap. There are several undistinguished misfires during the second half, but they aren't nearly enough to detract from the overall magnitude. It's impossible to overstate the enduring impact of Straight Outta Compton; as polarizing as its outlook may be, it remains an essential landmark, one of hip-hop's all-time greatest.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Eric Wright, ComposerLyricist - Lorenzo Patterson, ComposerLyricist - O'Shea Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Dr. Dre, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Donovan Sound, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 1999 Capitol Records LLC
Lorenzo Patterson, ComposerLyricist - O'Shea Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Dr. Dre, Producer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 2006 Capitol Records LLC
Eric Wright, Composer - Lorenzo Patterson, Composer - Leroy Bonner, Composer - Marvin Pierce, Composer - Andrew Noland, Composer - O'Shea Jackson, Composer - Buddy Hankerson, Composer - Roger Parker, Composer - Walter Morrison, Composer - Gregory Webster, Composer - Ralph Middlebrook, Composer - Dr. Dre, Composer, Producer - Donovan Sound, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charles C. Carter, Composer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist - Norman Bruce Napier, Composer - Marshall Eugene Jones, Composer - Steven R Arrington, Composer - William Edward De Vaughn, Composer
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
Mitchell, ComposerLyricist - MC Ren, ComposerLyricist - Dr. Dre, Producer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
Eric Wright, ComposerLyricist - Lorenzo Patterson, ComposerLyricist - O'Shea Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Dr. Dre, Producer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice Cube, Composer - Kris Solem, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dr. Dre, Composer, Producer - Donovan Sound, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
Lorenzo Patterson, ComposerLyricist - Andre R. Young, ComposerLyricist - Dr. Dre, Producer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
O'Shea Jackson, ComposerLyricist - CHARLES WRIGHT, ComposerLyricist - Dr. Dre, Producer - Donovan Sound, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
Eric Wright, ComposerLyricist - Lorenzo Patterson, ComposerLyricist - O'Shea Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kris Solem, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dr. Dre, Producer - Donovan Sound, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
O'Shea Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Randy Muller, ComposerLyricist - Kris Solem, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dr. Dre, Producer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist - Big Bass Brian, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
O'Shea Jackson, Composer - Dr. Dre, Composer, Producer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 2007 Priority Records, LLC
M.C. Ren, Composer - Dr. Dre, Composer, Producer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 1988 Capitol Records, LLC
Eric Wright, ComposerLyricist - Andre R. Young, ComposerLyricist - Sly Stone, ComposerLyricist - Dr. Dre, Producer - Eazy-e, Producer - DJ Yella, Producer - N.W.A., MainArtist
℗ 2000 Capitol Records, LLC
Album review
Straight Outta Compton wasn't quite the first gangsta rap album, but it was the first one to find a popular audience, and its sensibility virtually defined the genre from its 1988 release on. It established gangsta rap -- and, moreover, West Coast rap in general -- as a commercial force, going platinum with no airplay and crossing over with shock-hungry white teenagers. Unlike Ice-T, there's little social criticism or reflection on the gangsta lifestyle; most of the record is about raising hell -- harassing women, driving drunk, shooting it out with cops and partygoers. All of that directionless rebellion and rage produces some of the most frightening, visceral moments in all of rap, especially the amazing opening trio of songs, which threaten to dwarf everything that follows. Given the album's sheer force, the production is surprisingly spare, even a little low-budget -- mostly DJ scratches and a drum machine, plus a few sampled horn blasts and bits of funk guitar. Although they were as much a reaction against pop-friendly rap, Straight Outta Compton's insistent claims of reality ring a little hollow today, since it hardly ever depicts consequences. But despite all the romanticized invincibility, the force and detail of Ice Cube's writing makes the exaggerations resonate. Although Cube wrote some of his bandmates' raps, including nearly all of Eazy-E's, each member has a distinct delivery and character, and the energy of their individual personalities puts their generic imitators to shame. But although Straight Outta Compton has its own share of posturing, it still sounds refreshingly uncalculated because of its irreverent, gonzo sense of humor, still unfortunately rare in hardcore rap. There are several undistinguished misfires during the second half, but they aren't nearly enough to detract from the overall magnitude. It's impossible to overstate the enduring impact of Straight Outta Compton; as polarizing as its outlook may be, it remains an essential landmark, one of hip-hop's all-time greatest.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:57:55
- Main artists: N.W.A
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Priority Records
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 1988 Capitol Records LLC ℗ 2000 Capitol Records LLC
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