nwa straight outta compton 20th anniversary

Dre drop in every once and while, particularly on “Express Yourself”, which is wonderfully joyous in its message. Ice Cube feels like the main force, particularly on the sublime trio of tracks that open the album, but it never feels like anyone is letting the side down. Whether they’re channelling aggression as an act of social defiance, or simply spitting wacky rhymes about their competitors, the interaction between the group is thoroughly engrossing. The chemistry between Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and MC Ren is unparalleled: the way they bounce off each other has been a clear influence on the likes of Run the Jewels for example. There is an undercurrent of a party vibe, similar to that of Hello Nasty, and the implications of rebellion only add to that sensation.

This is a posse after all, not just a lone MC, and the atmosphere of Straight Outta Compton is notably disparate. However, perhaps these are unfair comparisons. In comparison to the likes of Illmatic, To Pimp a Butterfly, and The Marshall Mathers LP, this is where N.W.A’s classic falls short. I find myself longing for the conclusion of Straight Outta Compton, which is a damn shame given the quality of the album’s opening four or five tracks.

I presumably speak as a spoilt modern listener, but scrapping these three tracks surely makes it a smoother, more consistent experience, in addition to reducing the album length to less than an hour long. Straight Outta Compton features three ‘remixes,’ and they’re easily the most disposable cuts on the whole tracklist.

The opening portion is fantastic - some of the finest hip-hop tunes you’ll ever hear - but the record fades during its second half. That said, I’m not so sure it’s one of the greatest. Gangsta rap doesn’t come much purer than this, and it remains an essential listen for hip-hop heads old or new. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the record still sounds tremendously exciting, and strikingly defiant. Straight Outta Compton, the acclaimed and influential debut by N.W.A, is a seriously good hip-hop album.

Nwa straight outta compton 20th anniversary