Classic Music Album: Straight Outta Compton

You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge…

That’s how the title track on this album starts off. Straight Outta Compton is one of the greatest and most defining albums in not only Hip Hop, but music history overall. Let's take a look at how and why.

Released in 1988, Straight Outta Compton was put together by the west coast Hip Hop ensemble group known as NWA. At a time when Hip Hop was dominated by its east coast roots, these Los Angeles natives would become pioneers of a whole new generation with a new music style and sense of subject matter that would change the coarse of Hip Hop forever. NWA was made up of artist Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, all of which hailed from the areas of Compton and South Central, Los Angeles. Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, both formerly of the funk based group known as the World Class Wreckin Cru, served as the Beat makers, producers and Dj's. Ice Cube and MC Ren, both served as the main rappers and lyricist of the group, and Eazy-E was both the leader and brain child who put the group together.

The Group's primary goal from foundation was to introduce the world of Hip Hop and music to life in the west coast inner city with Eazy-E's street spirit, Ice Cube and MC Ren's aggressive lyricism, and Dr Dre's funky production. This is exactly what the world would get when the title track "Straight Outta Compton" hit radio waves and TV screens across the country on July 10th, 1988. The up-beat tempo of the track produced by Dr. Dre had a hard hitting and energetic sound that was reminiscent of a hard core metal or punk rock group. the lyrics of the song, which were written and performed by Ice Cube, MC Ren, and Eazy-E were laced with aggression and profanity that was unlike anything anyone had ever heard in music history.

The second single off the album titled "Gangsta Gangsta" performed by Ice Cube and Eazy-E is an examination of LA street gangster life on the social scene. The song is a very catchy funk-based groove which heavily samples the song "Weak at the Knees" from Steve Arrington, the song would become a big hit at clubs and parties. The third single off the album titled "Express Yourself" performed by Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and MC Ren samples the song "Express Yourself" from Charles Wright & the Watts 103 Street Rhythm Band, is a profanity free, articulated explanation for why NWA's style is the way it is and also serves as an answer to all the critics who do not agree with them. The most controversial song to come off the album would be "F--k the Police". This song was the group's intense verbal lashing towards rogue policing taking place in the Black community. The controversy surrounding the song would lead to the FBI sending the group a long letter denouncing the song, however, the letter would only make NWA and the album more popular, as the group was now seen as outlaws for free speech.

Upon it's release, Straight Outta Compton would becoming a defining powerhouse of both success and controversy. Due to its themes of LA street gangster life mixed with social consciousness, the critics of the album would label it as Gangsta Rap, a label that would forever be the name for the sub-genre of countless artist who would follow in the footsteps of NWA's style. The album's music would also draw the criticism of being too exploitative of violence and that the language and themes were too obscene and should not be explored by the ears of the public. The success and controversy surrounding the album would lead to successful solo careers for all the members of NWA and would also become the template for many aspiring future Gangster Rap and Hard Core Hip Hop artist who would come later on like Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Eminem and 50 Cent in the future. The album would also solidify Hip Hop's place in popular music by leading to the future solo release of Dr. Dre's album The Chronic, which crossed Hip Hop over into the pop mainstream of popular music forever.

The influence of the album along with the group would also lead to the creation of one the greatest cinematic masterpieces in film history, Boyz N Tha Hood, written and directed by John Singleton, who is also a native of Los Angeles. John Singleton made it well known that NWA and their music was the influence for the film and that he even wanted all of the group members to star in the film, but Ice Cube was the only one who took it serious at the time. The film is also notable for launching the film career of Ice Cube who would not only become a well established actor in front of the camera, but a hitmaking screenwriter, producer and director behind the scenes as well.

Straight Outta Compton would also carry an influence that went beyond just the genre of Hip Hop as many Rock and Metal acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, and Korn have been inspired by the music of NWA as well. In 2015 the NWA biopic film titled "Straight Outta Compton" inspired by the group's first album, hit theaters and became a critical and commercial smash hit. The film would go on to be Oscar nominated and would introduced the group’s music to a whole new generation for which it would be re-popularized. The influence of this album and the legacy of the NWA musical bloodline it created was seen earlier this year at the Super bowl when NWA front man Dr. Dre led an ensemble performance that has been hailed as one of the most epic super bowl performances of all time.

Straight Outta Compton has become a musical template for how many artist have figured out how to be groundbreaking and original. As an aspiring musician myself, this album is one of my top favorite albums of all time and NWA is my top favorite Hip Hop group of all time. The legacy of the album lives on in music in ways that people are not aware. There are many artist who have style in Hip Hop that directly descended from NWA and the impact of this album and those artist and many of their fans do not even know it and that alone shows why the album is a gem of genius and creativity that will live on forever.