Unapologetically frightening, N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton is one of the most seminal albums in the history of rap and greatly influenced countless gangster rappers. N.W.A didn't invent gangster rap -- Ice-T and Schoolly D had already embraced first-person narratives focusing on the harsh... [+] Expand

Unapologetically frightening, N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton is one of the most seminal albums in the history of rap and greatly influenced countless gangster rappers. N.W.A didn't invent gangster rap -- Ice-T and Schoolly D had already embraced first-person narratives focusing on the harsh realities of ghetto life -- but the L.A. group made it even more violent. Portraying gangmembers and other felons, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and Eazy-E take listeners on an arresting journey through L.A.'s tough Compton ghetto. Critics of this highly controversial album contended that N.W.A was glamorizing Black-on-Black crime -- the rappers countered that they weren't encouraging violence, but rather, were presenting an audio-documentary of life as they knew it growing up in Compton. Subsequently, gangster rap would be plagued by numerous soundalike MCs who lacked even a fraction of N.W.A or Ice-T's originality. But in the innovative hands of N.W.A, it was bold, inspired and arresting. [Straight Outta Compton was also released in a clean version, with all vulgarities removed.] ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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