"Straight Outta Compton" created a revolution in gangsta rap; influencing countless acts to follow in their footsteps. It's a common misconception to think that this was the first gangsta rap album ever. The album was originally released in 1988. Shocking narratives of ghetto street life were in full effect at this time, originally brought forth by Ice-T, and Schoolly D in 1987. But "Straight Outta Compton" is arguably the best when it comes down to history in the making. The stories held within are frightening, and riveting; thought provoking and unapologetic. Main members, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube (founder), MC Ren and Eazy-E, paint a vivid picture of L.A.'s rough and tough Compton ghetto. You really feel the empathy of the life that they live through their brutally honest delivery of pain, anger and the need to be heard. The lyrical content provides powerful images of poverty, guns, violence, police, bi***es and the overall mindset of living in the ghetto.

The record sounds insanely fresh and perfect; which is quite a feat, since production value in hip-hop has come a long way since 1988. The beats sound funky, innovative and most importantly, they serve as a winning template for their engrossing lyrical flows. Although you wouldn't know it by the tones in their voices, their is a fair amount of comic relief to balance out the record. A lot of these same things can be said about other classic gangsta rap albums, but this one clearly broke the mold, reaching kids in the middle of suburbia. There is a large amount of shock value involved, especially for pre-teen white kids. If only on tape or CD, this album was the introduction of these frightening concepts to many of these kids. From beginning to end, these guys show you just where they come from, right down to the philosophy of every day life. There would be several wannabe MCs to follow, but none of them possessed a fraction of the skill held by the likes of Ice-T or N.W.A. In fact, this record runs a lot like the early hardcore rap style of Public Enemy (without their message). Ice Cube left the group in late 1989 to pursue his solo career. Dr. Dre left the group in 1992, after their last album "Niggaz4life", to pursue his soon to be legendary solo career, and record label, Death Row Records.

If you listen to rap music, you were in some way influenced by this album. "Straight Outta Compton" may be their seminal work from the late 1980s; but the presence of N.W.A. was captured throughout the 90s; since Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, and The D.O.C. all had successful solo careers, based on of the success of this stunning masterpiece. Comparatively, they're a lot like the Beatles, as far as rap music is concerned. "Straight Outta Compton" is a raw, beautifully crafted, unprecedented masterpiece. Parental Discretion Iz Advised.

N.W.A.'s 1988 release Straight Outta Compton is the blueprint for the gangsta rap genre that exploded in the early 90's. It was also radically different in tone than anything in hip-hop at the time. Hip-Hop was mostly party records until Public Enemy came along and starting making a change by making political statements. N.W.A. music was about life on the streets in South Central Los Angeles. Their songs where tales of the gangsta lifestyle which included selling drugs, racist policemen, degrading woman and most of all violence. The streets of Compton were and are a dangerous place and songs like the title track, "Gangsta Gangsta", "Dopeman" and "F-k Tha Police" are vivid descriptions of life in the hood. The group was also notable for not just their violent lyrics, but for their immense skills. Ice Cube wrote most of the album and it contains some of his best work, Dr. Dre laid down the beats which would lead him towards the being one of the top producers in hip hop. Eazy-E set up his ruthless gangsta image that he would play out the rest of his life and MC Ren shows why he is one of the more underrated MC's in hip hop. Straight Outta Compton is a true landmark album that many have tried to imitate, but no one has been able to duplicate.

Notice I didn't say it was the greatest hip hop album of all time; I can name 15 off of the top of my head that blow this away. But more influential than this? I can't name one; can you? This one album is responsibile for launching more careers in any musicial genre, and that includes groups like the Beatles, Ramones and Rolling Stones. When Dr. Dre announces that "you are about to witness the strength of street knowledge', you know you are about to hear something special. From the opening title track, it goes to arguably the most controversial song ever written, F*** Tha Police,written about police misconduct and brutality, and us in the urban community know full well what they are talking about. While some people may have written this off as an attempt to sell records and get attention, it was a precursor to the Rodney King beatings and L.A riots that followed a couple of years later. The album is raw, challenging and uncompromisingly full of F-words and harsh rebellion, so it was an instant favorite among suburban white males. Though you can get your fill of curses on songs like 8 Ball, Gangsta, Gangsta and Compton's In The House, it was recorded in the '80's, so the old school influence is still there with Express Yourself, If It Ain't Ruff , Quiet On Tha Set and Something To Dance To. My favorite songs are I Ain't The 1 and Dopeman, where Ice Cube gets to shine alone. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this album is that it came out in 1988, the most pure year of hip hop ever; it came out alongside classics from Public Enemy, Run D.M.C, EPMD, BDP, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick and a slew of others. It is original, timeless, classic, or in the words of Dr. Dre, "Damn that s*** was dope"!

Nearly anyone who knows anything about hip-hop should already be familiar with this album, but here are a few things you may not know. NWA didn't start with "Straight Outta Compton" or with the album "NWA and the Posse". NWA were the kings of the maxi-single. Maxi-singles were 12 inch records with more than the normal 2 songs. Their first one was the Eazy-E maxi-single with "Boyz in tha Hood", "Fat Girl" and "LA is the Place" in 1987. Then came the "Panic Zone", "Dope Man", "8 Ball" maxi, credited to NWA. The picture on that cover was used for the "NWA and the Posse" album, which for some reason, contained the radio version of "8 Ball" instead of the street version. Next came another Eazy-E maxi with "Eazy Duz It", "Ruthless Villian", "Radio", and "Compton's N Tha House", which was only issued on the cassette version as a bonus track. This maxi introduced MC Ren, who stepped in while Ice Cube was away at college. Cube returned for the next NWA maxi with "Gangsta Gangsta", "Something Like That", "Quiet on tha Set", and "Something 2 Dance 2". After all of these maxi-singles, they released the Eazy-E album "Eazy Duz It", followed by the NWA album "Straight Outta Compton". The sixth person on the "Compton" album cover is not The DOC as some have stated, it's Arabian Prince. He was featured on "Something 2 Dance 2", but apparently left the group during the course of recording the album. Since "Something 2 Dance 2" is arguably the weakest song on the album, and is the only song he recorded with the group, it was not a great loss. The bonus tracks on this remastered cd come from the maxi-single released after the album. These were the groups final recordings with Ice Cube. A year later they returned with their final maxi-single "100 Miles and Runnin" which contained the title cut, "Just Don't Bite It", "Sa Prize (Part 2)","Real Ni---z", and "Kamurshol"-a plug for their next forthcoming album released the following year. Those songs are bonus tracks on the remastered version of "Ni---z 4 Life", which musically speaking at least, is better than "Straight Outta Compton" so cop that one too!

Man, these guys are awesome, and a lot more relevent than any of todays lame ass motherf*()ing posers. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and Eazy E make up NWA(or N words with attitudes) and they all bring something different to the mic. Forget that queer 50 Cent, and get into some real Gangstas!