Straight Outta Compton is the second studio album by
Compton, CaliforniaCompton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, south-southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city was incorporated in 1889. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 93,493....
-based
hip hopHip hop music is a musical genre which developed alongside hip hop culture, and is commonly based on concepts of loop, rapping, freestyle, DJing, scratching, sampling and beatboxing. The music is used to express concerns of political, social, and personal issues...
group N.W.A, released August 8, 1988, on group member
Eazy-EEric Lynn Wright , better known by the stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Compton, California....
's record label Ruthless Records. The production developed mainly from
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
with
DJ YellaDJ Yella is the stage name of Antoine Carraby , a DJ, music producer and film director from Compton, California. He was a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru along with Dr. Dre. He later became a founding member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A...
giving co-production. The album is generally seen as the pioneering record of
gangsta rapGangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop that reflects the violent lifestyles of some inner-city youths. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word gangster. The genre was pioneered in the mid 1980s by rappers such as Schooly D and Ice T, and was popularized in the later part of the 1980s by...
: with its ever-present profanity and violent lyrics, it helped to give birth to this then-new sub-genre of hip hop. The album is considered groundbreaking and has had an enormous impact on the evolution of
West Coast hip hopWest Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music which originates in the westernmost region of the United States...
.
Straight Outta Compton redefined the direction of hip hop, which resulted in lyricism concerning the gangsta lifestyle becoming the driving force with sales figures. It also helped to shift the power to the
West CoastWest Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music which originates in the westernmost region of the United States...
from the
East CoastEast Coast hip hop is a form of hip hop music that originated and developed in New York City, USA during the 1970s and early 1980s. The style emerged as a definitive subgenre after artists from other regions of the United States emerged with different styles...
, which had enjoyed a period of prominence in hip hop for most of the 1980s. It was later re-released on September 24, 2002, which was remastered and contained four bonus tracks. An extended version of the album was released on December 4, 2007, the 20th anniversary of the original album.
History
The album reached double platinum sales status, becoming the first album to reach platinum status with no airplay support and without any major tours.
As the hip hop community worldwide received the album with a high note, the members of N.W.A became the top stars for the emerging new era of
gangsta rapGangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop that reflects the violent lifestyles of some inner-city youths. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word gangster. The genre was pioneered in the mid 1980s by rappers such as Schooly D and Ice T, and was popularized in the later part of the 1980s by...
while popularizing the lyrics of
Ice CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper, actor, screenwriter, and producer.He began his career as a member of the rap group N.W.A along with group leader Eazy-E, and later launched a successful solo career in music and cinema. In 1992, he married Kimberly...
. The album also helped to spawn many young
MCRapping is the rhythmic spoken delivery of rhymes, wordplay, and poetry. Rapping is a primary ingredient in hip hop music, but the phenomenon predates hip hop culture by centuries. Rapping can be delivered over a beat or without accompaniment...
s and gangsta hip hop groups from areas such as
Compton, CaliforniaCompton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, south-southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city was incorporated in 1889. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 93,493....
, and South Central Los Angeles, as many thought they had the same story to tell and the ability to pursue the career track that N.W.A had taken, hence groups such as
Compton's Most WantedCompton's Most Wanted is an American gangsta rap group and one of the pioneers of the West Coast Hip Hop scene still performing today on independent labels. The leader of the group was MC Eiht.-Biography:...
coming into being.
Because of the recurring violent and sexual lyrics and profanity, often specifically directed at governmental organizations such as the
LAPDThe Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With nearly 9,900 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 3.8 million people, it is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United...
, N.W.A always enjoyed a particular repudiation from U.S. Senators and the
Federal Bureau of InvestigationThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency. The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI). This situation persisted over the years with the group's visible head,
Eazy-EEric Lynn Wright , better known by the stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Compton, California....
. One of the reasons for this was "
Fuck tha police"Fuck tha Police" is a protest song by the gangsta rap group N.W.A on the album Straight Outta Compton. Despite not being a single, it ranked #417 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.-Content:...
," the highly controversial track from the album that resulted in the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service sending a letter to Ruthless Records informing the label of their displeasure with the song's message, and N.W.A was banned from performing at several venues.
Songs
The album's most controversial track, "
Fuck tha Police"Fuck tha Police" is a protest song by the gangsta rap group N.W.A on the album Straight Outta Compton. Despite not being a single, it ranked #417 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.-Content:...
," was partly responsible for the fame of N.W.A as the world's most dangerous group, and it did not appear on the censored version of the album. The song "Gangsta Gangsta" talks about the danger and violence in
South CentralSouth Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A., is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central Los Angeles, and is still widely known as South Central...
and
ComptonCompton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, south-southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city was incorporated in 1889. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 93,493....
. "Express Yourself" speaks of the ideas of free expression and the constraints placed on emceess by radio censorship. Every N.W.A member except
DJ YellaDJ Yella is the stage name of Antoine Carraby , a DJ, music producer and film director from Compton, California. He was a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru along with Dr. Dre. He later became a founding member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A...
recorded a solo song.
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
, who mostly produced more than performed, did a solo effort in the single "Express Yourself."
Ice CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper, actor, screenwriter, and producer.He began his career as a member of the rap group N.W.A along with group leader Eazy-E, and later launched a successful solo career in music and cinema. In 1992, he married Kimberly...
performed on "I Ain't tha 1" and "A Bitch Iz a Bitch".
MC RenLorenzo Jerald Patterson , better known by his stage name MC Ren, is a rapper who formed part of the group N.W.A.-Biography:...
made his solo performance in the songs "If It Ain't Ruff" and "Quiet on tha Set".
Eazy-EEric Lynn Wright , better known by the stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Compton, California....
's only solo recording was a remix of the song "8 Ball," which appeared on N.W.A's previous album
N.W.A and the Posse. The only guests on the album were Ruthless Records ghostwriter
the D.O.C.Tracy Lynn Curry, known as The D.O.C., is an American rapper from Dallas, Texas. He was a member of the Fila Fresh Crew and a creative force behind the rap group N.W.A.-Early career:...
, who appeared on "Parental Discretion Iz Advised,"
rhymingRapping is the rhythmic spoken delivery of rhymes, wordplay, and poetry. Rapping is a primary ingredient in hip hop music, but the phenomenon predates hip hop culture by centuries. Rapping can be delivered over a beat or without accompaniment...
the intro, and founding N.W.A member
Arabian PrinceArabian Prince is the stage name of Mik Lezan , a rapper and hip hop producer, best known for being an original member of the rap group, N.W.A.-Biography:...
, who contributed minor vocals on "Something 2 Dance 2."
Seven tracks from the album were released on
N.W.A's Greatest HitsGreatest Hits is an album originally released on July 2 1996. The re-released version contains two bonus tracks by the reunited group. The track "Chin Check" was recorded by Ice Cube, Dr...
: "Gangsta Gangsta," "
Fuck tha Police"Fuck tha Police" is a protest song by the gangsta rap group N.W.A on the album Straight Outta Compton. Despite not being a single, it ranked #417 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.-Content:...
," "
Straight Outta Compton"Straight Outta Compton" is the lead single from N.W.A's second album with the same name. It was released in 1988. It also appears on N.W.A's Greatest Hits with an extended mix and The Best of N.W.A. It was voted number 19 on About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs. It along with Fuck tha Police are...
(extended mix)," "If It Ain't Ruff," "I Ain't tha 1," "Express Yourself," and a
bonus trackIn terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
from the remastered version, "A Bitch Iz a Bitch".
Lyrics
The lyrics on the album were mainly written by
Ice CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper, actor, screenwriter, and producer.He began his career as a member of the rap group N.W.A along with group leader Eazy-E, and later launched a successful solo career in music and cinema. In 1992, he married Kimberly...
. Critics of the album expressed their view that the record glamorized Black-on-Black crime, but the emcees stated that the group was simply showing the reality of living in the areas of
Compton, CaliforniaCompton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, south-southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city was incorporated in 1889. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 93,493....
, and South Central Los Angeles. Allmusic's Steve Huey states that the lyrics are all about "raising hell" and also noted the album for its humor, which he says has been lost in modern lyricism.
Many critics feel that the albums' lyrics glamorize gang violence.
The Washington PostThe Washington Post is the newspaper with the largest circulation in Washington, D.C. and is the city's oldest paper, founded in 1877. Being located in the nation's capital, it has a particular emphasis on national politics and international affairs...
writer
David MillsDavid Mills is an American author, journalist, and screenwriter and producer of television programs. He was an executive producer and writer of the HBO miniseries The Corner, for which he won two Emmy Awards, and the creator, executive producer, and writer of the NBC miniseries...
wrote: "The hard-core [
sicSic is a Latin word meaning "thus", "so", "as such", or "in such a manner". In writing, it is placed within square brackets and usually italicized – [sic] – to indicate that an incorrect or unusual spelling, phrase, punctuation, and/or other preceding quoted material has been reproduced verbatim...
] street rappers defend their violent lyrics as a reflection of 'reality.' But for all the gunshots they mix into their music, rappers rarely try to dramatize that reality — a young man flat on the ground, a knot of lead in his chest, pleading as death slowly takes him in. It's easier for them to imagine themselves pulling the trigger". However,
Wichita Eagle-Beacon editor Bud Norman noted that "They [N.W.A] don't make it sound like much fun... They describe it with the same nonjudgmental resignation that a Kansan might use about a tornado."
Production
The production on the album was generally seen as top-quality for that point in time, with
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
's production performing well with his
instrumentalRock Instrumentals have a separate page.An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or any other sort of vocal music; all of the music is produced by musical instruments. This term is used when referring to popular music rather than to other musical genres such as European...
s and
drum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums and/or other percussion instruments. Drum machines are very useful instruments for a wide variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
beats, and
DJ YellaDJ Yella is the stage name of Antoine Carraby , a DJ, music producer and film director from Compton, California. He was a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru along with Dr. Dre. He later became a founding member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A...
's turntable scratches and overall co-production seen as proficient by hip hop critics. Some critics find it somewhat sparse and low-budget given the significance of the album and compared with other producers of the time such as
Marley MarlMarlon Williams , better known as Marley Marl, is considered one of the most important and influential hip-hop producers in the history of hip hop.-Biography:...
.
Sales and certifications
The album has sold over three million copies and was certified double
PlatinumIn the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
on March 27, 1992. It was N.W.A's best selling album, as their debut,
N.W.A and the Posse, was certified Gold.
Their final album,
Niggaz4Life, was certified platinum. According to
Priority RecordsPriority Records is an American based record label, owned and operated by EMI, and has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop music...
' calculations, 80% of sales were in the suburbs, beyond the boundaries of black neighborhoods.
The album first appeared on music charts in 1989, peaking on the U.S.
Billboard
200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at number thirty-seven, and peaking on
Top R&B/Hip-Hop AlbumsTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
at number nine. It re-entered the charts in 2003, peaking on the UK Albums Top 75 at number thirty-five, and on the Ireland Albums Top 75 at number twenty.
Critical
The album was generally well received by critics. Greg Kot of the
Chicago TribuneThe Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company...
gave
Straight Outta Compton three and a half out of four stars and praised its production. The
Richmond Times-DispatchThe Richmond Times-Dispatch is the primary daily newspaper in Richmond the capital of Virginia, United States, and is commonly considered the "newspaper of record" for events occurring in much of the state. It utilizes reports from the Associated Press. Thomas A. Silvestri is the president and...
s Mark Holmberg described the album as "a preacher-provoking, mother-maddening, reality-stinks diatribe that wallows in gangs, doping, drive-by shootings, brutal sexism, cop slamming and racism".
NewsweekNewsweek is an American weekly newsmagazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
noted that
Straight Outta Compton "introduced some of the most grotesquely exciting music ever made". A
Newsweek reviewer added, "Hinting at gang roots, and selling themselves on those hints, they project a gangster mystique that pays no attention where criminality begins and marketing lets off". Following its 2002 re-release, Jon Caramanica of
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.The magazine was named after the 1948 Muddy Waters song of the same...
magazine cited
Straight Outta Compton as one of hip-hop's most crucial albums, calling it a "
bombastic, cacophonous car ride through Los Angeles' burnt-out and ignored hoods."
Accolades
In 2003, the TV network,
VH1VH1 is an American cable television network based in New York City...
, named
Straight Outta Compton the 62nd greatest album of all time. It was ranked ten in
SpinSpin is a music magazine. Founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr., it competes with industry stalwart Rolling Stone. Madonna was the artist on the cover of the first issue.-History:...
magazine's "100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005". In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. It is the group's only album on
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.The magazine was named after the 1948 Muddy Waters song of the same...
's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (ranked #144), and the first hip-hop album ever to get a 5-star rating from them in their initial review, and when comedian
Chris RockChristopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted by Comedy Central as the fifth greatest stand-up comedian of all time....
wrote an article for the magazine about the 25 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of all time in 2005,
Straight Outta Compton was number one on his list. The album was also ranked the 130th best album of all time by Acclaimedmusic.net. In 2006, the album was listed in the book
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a musical reference book edited by Robert Dimery, released in 2006.It consists of a list of albums released between 1955 and 2005, part of a series from Quintessence Editions Ltd. The book is arranged chronologically, starting with Frank Sinatra's In the...
. The same year,
TIMETime is a component of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify the motions of objects...
Magazine ranked it as one of the 100 greatest albums of all time.
Q magazine voted it one of the 'Top 50 Titles Of 1989.
Alternative Press (7/95, p.88) ranked it #45 in AP's list of the 'Top 99 Of '85-'95'.
Vibe (12/99, p.164) included it in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century.
- An asterisk
An asterisk is a typographical symbol or glyph. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star. Computer scientists and mathematicians often pronounce it as star...
(*) indicates a 2002 reissue bonus trackIn terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
.
- Double asterisks (**) indicates a 2007 20th Anniversary bonus track.
Track listing
All songs were produced by
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
and
DJ YellaDJ Yella is the stage name of Antoine Carraby , a DJ, music producer and film director from Compton, California. He was a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru along with Dr. Dre. He later became a founding member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A...
.
Sample list
- "Straight Outta Compton" samples:
- "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
James Joseph Brown , originally James Joseph Brown, Jr., also known as "The Godfather of Soul", was an American entertainer. He is recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing...
- "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an African American music band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
- "West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson and the Street People
- "Get Me Back on Time, Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/rock and roll and soul singer and songwriter known for his raw, raspy, passionate vocal delivery....
- "Amen, Brother" by The Winstons
The Winstons were a 1960s funk and soul music group, based in Washington, D.C., who are most notable for recording a track called "Color Him Father" recorded in 1969, backed with a B-side entitled "Amen, Brother", probably the most sampled record of all time. Midway through the track there is a...
- "One for the Treble" by Davy DMX
Davy DMX is the stage name of David Reeves, a figure in hip-hop music. His career began in his hometown of Queens, New York as a DJ in the late 1970s. He is mostly known for his popular single "One for the Treble" released in 1984...
- "Fuck tha Police" samples:
- "Funky President
"Funky President " is a funk song by James Brown. Released as a single in 1974, it charted #4 R&B. It also appeared on the album Reality. According to Brown the "funky president" of the song's title was meant to refer to U.S...
" by James BrownJames Joseph Brown , originally James Joseph Brown, Jr., also known as "The Godfather of Soul", was an American entertainer. He is recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing...
- "It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney
Marva Whitney is an African American funk singer. She is considered by many funk enthusiasts to be one of the "rawest" and "brassiest" music divas....
- "Boogie Back" by Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is a funk, soul and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a jazz player, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records before his tenure at Polydor Records, during which he progressed a new R&B style, slowly molding the new Disco genre.- Biography :Ayers grew...
- "Feel Good" by Fancy
Fancy were an early-mid 1970s pop group. The band was made up of session musicians produced by Mike Hurst. They had a surprise U.S. hit single in 1974 with a version of the classic "Wild Thing" and a second U.S. hit with "Touch Me" . They were initially fronted by Penthouse Pet, Helen Caunt and...
- "Funky Drummer
"Funky Drummer" is a funk song recorded by James Brown and his band. The recording's drum solo, performed by drummer Clyde Stubblefield, is one of the most frequently sampled rhythmic breaks in hip hop and popular music; indeed, it lays a strong claim to being the most sampled recording ever...
" by James Brown
- "Ruthless Villain" by Eazy-E
- "Be Thankful for What You Got
"Be Thankful for What You Got" is a soul song written and first performed by William DeVaughn.-History:DeVaughn wrote "Be Thankful for What You Got" in 1972, and paid $900 for its recording at the Sigma studio in Philadelphia...
" by William DeVaughnWilliam DeVaughn is an American R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for the hit song "Be Thankful for What You Got".-Biography:...
- "Gangsta Gangsta" samples:
- "Weak at the Knees" by Steve Arrington
Steve Arrington is an American singer, songwriter, drummer, and minister who grew up in Dayton, Ohio.Arrington played in various local bands before joining and touring with The Murphy's, a lounge band out of Toledo, Ohio, in 1975...
- "Troglodyte" by Jimmy Castor Bunch
- "Be Thankful for What You Got" by William Devaughn
- "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
The Honey Drippers might refer to*The Honeydrippers, 1980s British-American rock band.*The Honey Drippers, a 1960s and 1970s soul band that had the hit "Impeach the President."----See also:* Honeydripper, 2007 film by John Sayles...
- "N.T." by Kool & the Gang
Kool & The Gang are an American jazz/R&B/soul/funk/disco group. They originally formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A. in 1964. They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and...
- "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players
The Ohio Players are a funk and R&B band. They are best known for their hit songs "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster".-Biography:The band formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1959 as the Ohio Untouchables, and initially included members Robert Ward , Marshall "Rock" Jones , Clarence "Satch" Satchell , Cornelius...
- "Prison" by Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III was an American comedian, actor, and writer. Pryor was known for his unflinching examinations of racism and customs in modern life, and was renowned for his frequent use of colorful, vulgar, and profane language and racial epithets...
- "My Philosophy" by Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions was a hip hop group originally comprised KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, months after the release of BDP's debut album Criminal Minded....
(KRS-OneLawrence Parker , better known by his stage name KRS-One, is an American MC and producer. Over his career, he has been known by several pseudonyms including "Kris Parker", "The Blastmaster", "The Teacha", and "The Philosopher"...
)
- "La Di Da Di
"La Di Da Di" is a rap song performed by Doug E. Fresh the beatboxer, and MC Ricky D as the rapper. It was originally released in 1985 as the B-Side to "The Show"...
" by Doug E. FreshDouglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
and Slick RickRicky Walters , better known by stage names Slick Rick, MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler, is a Grammy-nominated British-American rapper.-Career:...
- "Girls" by Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys is an American hip hop group from New York City. The group comprises Michael "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz...
- "If It Ain't Ruff" samples:
- "A Star in the Ghetto" by Average White Band
- "Quiet on tha Set" by N.W.A
- "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A
- "Ruthless Villain" by Eazy-E
- "Don't Believe the Hype
"Don't Believe the Hype" is the second single of Public Enemy's second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. The song's lyrics are mostly about the political issues that were current in the U.S. at the time of its release. "Don't Believe the Hype" charted at number 18 on the U.S....
" by Public Enemy
- "Parental Discretion Iz Advised" samples "I Turned You On" by The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are an African-American R&B, soul music and Funk group. They are one of the few groups to have long-running success on the Billboard charts placing a charted single in every decade since 1959 and as of 2006 were still charting successful albums performing under a repertoire of...
- "8 Ball" samples:
- "It's My Beat" by Sweet Tea
Sweet tea is a form of iced tea in which sugar or some other form of sweetener is added to the hot water before, while, or after brewing the tea but before the beverage is cooled or chilled and served. Adding sweetener to hot water allows for supersaturation of the solution, enabling the tea to...
- "Be Thankful for What You Got" by William Devaughn
- "Yes, We Can Can" by Pointer Sisters
The Pointer Sisters are an American Pop/R&B recording act from Oakland, California that achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s...
- "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)", "The New Style", "Girls", "Paul Revere",and "Hold It, Now Hit It
"Hold It Now, Hit It" is a song by the New York hip hop group, the Beastie Boys. It was a single released off their first album Licensed to Ill. It is also remixed on the album New York State of Mind...
" by Beastie Boys
- "Terminator X Speaks With His Hands" by Public Enemy
- "Too Much Posse" by Public Enemy
- "Hollywood Swinging
"Hollywood Swinging" is the name of a well known song by R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang. From their album Wild and Peaceful, the song became their first number one R&B single, reaching that position in June, 1974. It proved to also be a successful crossover hit, peaking at number 6 on the...
" by Kool & the Gang
- "Let's Get It On
Let's Get It On is the twelfth studio album by American soul musician Marvin Gaye, released August 28, 1973 on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from June 1970 to April 1972 at Hitsville U.S.A. and Golden World Studio in Detroit, Michigan and from...
" by Marvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr., better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and instrumentalist with a three-octave vocal range. Starting as a member of the doo-wop group The Moonglows in the late fifties, he ventured into a solo career after the group disbanded in 1960...
- "Go See the Doctor" by Kool Moe Dee
Mohandas Dewese , better known as Kool Moe Dee, is an American Hip Hop MC prominent in the late 1970s, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in Manhattan, New York. He was one of the first rappers to earn a Grammy award and he was the first to perform at the Grammys...
- "Something Like That" samples:
- "Down on the Avenue" by Fat Larry's Band
Fat Larry's Band was an R&B/funk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who enjoyed some commercial success in the early 1980s.-personal Life:Larry James was born in South Carolina to Ruth and Buster, who later moved to Philadelphia PA. He is the oldest boy, third out of six children. Larry is a...
- "Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band
Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals.-History:...
- "I Think I'd Do It" by Z. Z. Hill
- "Express Yourself" samples:
- "Express Yourself" by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band is a pioneering American soul and funk band. Formed in the early 1960s, they had the most visibility from 1967 to 1973 when the band had 9 singles reach Billboard's pop and/or rhythm and blues Hot 100 lists, such as "Do Your Thing" , "Till You Get...
- "Dopeman" by N.W.A
- "Compton's in the House" samples "Something Like That" by N.W.A
- "I Ain't tha 1" samples "The Message (Inspiration)" by Brass Construction
Brass Construction was a funk group from Brooklyn, New York. Signed in 1975 by Sid Maurer, and former Epic Records promotion man Fred Frank, they scored two Billboard Hot 100 entries in 1976 - the most successful being "Movin'," which hit #14. They had much more success on the Hot Dance Club Play...
- "Dopeman" samples:
- "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly & Life
- "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players
- "Quiet on the Set" samples:
- "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
- "I Get Lifted" by George McCrae
George McCrae is a soul and disco singer, most famous for his 1974 hit "Rock Your Baby", released on the independent, TK Records label, based in Hialeah, Florida, in May of 1974.-Career:...
- "Rock Creek Park" by The Blackbyrds
The Blackbyrds was a rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C. in 1973.The group was led by trumpeter Donald Byrd and featured some of his Howard University students: Kevin Toney , Keith Killgo , Joe Hall , Allan Barnes , and Barney Perry...
- "Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band
- "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A
- "On the Bugged Tip" by Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Mortimer Hardy better known by his stage name, Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper. He started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group, the Juice Crew. He is considered one of the most influential and skilled MCs in Hip Hop. Regarding the name Big Daddy Kane, he said: "The Big...
- "Rebel Without a Pause" by Public Enemy
- "Something 2 Dance 2" samples:
- "You're the One for Me" by D-Train
- "Dance to the Music" by Sly & the Family Stone
Sly & the Family Stone is an American funk, soul and rock band from San Francisco, California. Originally active from 1966 to 1983, with varied lineups, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
- "A Bitch Iz a Bitch" samples "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex
Personnel
- Artwork: Helane Freeman
- Engineer: Donovan Sound
- Executive Producer: Eric Wright (Eazy-E
Eric Lynn Wright , better known by the stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Compton, California....
)
- Mastered by: Big Bass Brian
- Photography: Eric Poppleton
- Producers: Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
, DJ YellaDJ Yella is the stage name of Antoine Carraby , a DJ, music producer and film director from Compton, California. He was a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru along with Dr. Dre. He later became a founding member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A...
Chart history
| Charts |
Peak
position |
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
|
37 |
| Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
|
9 |
| Ireland Albums Top 75 |
20 |
| UK Albums Top 75 |
35 |
Sample use
SamplingIn music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song. This is typically done with a sampler, which can be a piece of hardware or a computer program on a digital computer. Sampling is also...
of songs from
Straight Outta Compton.
- "Straight Outta Compton"
- "Crooked Ass Nigga" by 2Pac from the album 2Pacalypse Now
2Pacalypse Now is the debut album of rapper 2Pac, released in November 1991.Though less polished and lacking the hard-hitting produced beats of his later albums, it is his most overtly political work...
- "Straight Outta Southside" by G-Unit
G-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mixtapes. The name of the group is short for Guerilla Unit as well as Gangsta Unit.-Early days:...
from the album T.O.S: Terminate on SightT.O.S: Terminate on Sight is the second studio album from the rap group G-Unit. The title of the album was originally announced to be Shoot to Kill and then Lock & Load, with the eventual name being Terminate on Sight...
- "Fuck the Police"
- "Crooked Ass Nigga" by 2Pac from the album 2Pacalypse Now
2Pacalypse Now is the debut album of rapper 2Pac, released in November 1991.Though less polished and lacking the hard-hitting produced beats of his later albums, it is his most overtly political work...
- "Gangsta Gangsta"
- "Crooked Ass Nigga" by 2Pac from the album 2Pacalypse Now
2Pacalypse Now is the debut album of rapper 2Pac, released in November 1991.Though less polished and lacking the hard-hitting produced beats of his later albums, it is his most overtly political work...
- "A Bitch is a Bitch"
- "Bitches & Sisters" by Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name, Jay-Z is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $150 million, shipping over 30 million copies of his albums in the United...
from the album The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse
- "Da Bichez" by Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is American emcee from Brooklyn, New York. He has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school.-Life and career:...
from the album The Sun Rises in the EastThe Sun Rises in the East is the debut album of American hip hop rapper Jeru the Damaja, released May 24, 1994 on PayDay Records. Production on the album was handled by legendary hip hop producer DJ Premier. Jeru's trademark delivery and vocabulary can be found throughout the project. The album...
External links
- Straight Outta Compton at Discogs
Discogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about music recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Accolades: Straight Outta Compton at Acclaimed Music
- Album Review at BBC Music
- Album Review at Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
- Outlaw Rock: Straight Outta Compton at The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"—named for its staid appearance and style—is regarded as a national newspaper of record...