by John Huetteman

Created on: March 29, 2009

Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A (also known as "N*z With Attitudes") is N.W.A's second album that was released in August of 1988. Considered by enthusiasts and fanatics as a "gangsta rap" classic, Straight Outta Compton features several famous and revolutionary rappers: Dr Dre, Eazy E, Ice Cube, The Arabian Prince and Mc Ren. Heralded by some and heavily criticized by others (with a large part of Middle America frightened for their lives and for their children), the controversial and explicit lyrics contained in the album tracks: Straight Outta Compton, F*k Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, If It Ain't Ruff, Parental Discretion Iz Advised, 8 Ball, Something Like That, Compton's in the House, I Ain't Tha 1, Dopeman, Quiet on tha Set, Something 2 Dance 2 with the exception of Express Yourself being the only track without explicit lyrics, more often than not uninhibited, said lyrics discuss the oppression of minorities in America, the difficulties of minority life and with special emphasis on the lives of African-American men in Los Angeles/Compton, California at the then time by addressing never discussed realities from the "hood" by coupling it with explicit controversial street lingo and shock value.

In essence, the "gangsta rap" genre that was realized by N.W.A gained widespread notoriety for the use of violent lyrics contained in the Straight Outta Compton album, particularly for "8 Ball" where the lyrics can be found at Lyrics Depot and "F*k Tha Police" as well as for the "gangsta rap" genre they pioneered. N.W.A's answer to the evolution of hip-hop was their production of Straight Outta Compton boasting their new musical genre of gangsta rap and the glamorization of the gangsta lifestyle. Straight Outta Compton and "gangsta rap" were not only revolutionary, the widespread controversy and newfound notoriety caused a shift in power from East Coast rappers to West Coast rappers and as such, began a feud between the coasts, with N.W.A. representing the West Coast. The notoriety also came in large part due to the lyrics contained in F*k tha Police, for which the L.A.P.D., the U.S. Senators and the F.B.I. all spoke out at their distaste in the lyrics. The United States Secret Service and the F.B.I. went as far as sending a letter to Ruthless Records, the album label, at their displeasure from the song's overall message.

Despite the widespread controversy, by 1991, Billboard magazine understood just how influential and notorious N.W.A had become. After Billboard's adoption of SoundScan Technology, it had become apparent that rather than a pop artist like Paula Abdul to top the pop album charts, the top slot of the pop album chart belonged to the infamous West Coast gangsta rappers N.W.A. for their production of Straight Outta Compton.

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