Editing Straight Outta Compton

''This article is about the album by N.W.A. For the film, see [[Straight Outta Compton (film)]].''

{{Infobox
|Box title = ''Straight Outta Compton''
|image = File:Straight Outta Compton.jpg
|caption = Studio album by [[N.W.A]]
|Row 1 title = Released
|Row 1 info = 8 August 1988
|Row 2 title = Recorded
|Row 2 info = 1988
|Row 3 title = Studio
|Row 3 info = Audio Achievements (Torrance, California)
|Row 4 title = Genre(s)
|Row 4 info = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[West Coast hip hop]], [[gangsta rap]], [[hardcore hip hop]], [[political hip hop]], electro
|Row 5 title = Length
|Row 5 info = 60:27
|Row 6 title = Label
|Row 6 info = [[Ruthless Records|Ruthless]], [[Priority Records|Priority]]|Row 7 title = Producer(s)|Row 7 info = [[Dr. Dre]], [[DJ Yella]], [[Eazy-E]] (exec.)}}{{Infobox
|Box title = [[N.W.A]] chronology
|Row 1 title = Previous
|Row 1 info = ''[[N.W.A. and the Posse]]'' (1987)
|Row 2 title = Next
|Row 2 info = ''[[100 Miles and Runnin']]'' (1990)}}
'''''Straight Outta Compton''''' is the debut studio album by American [[hip hop music|hip hop]] group [[N.W.A]], a released on the 8th of August 1988 on group member [[Eazy-E]]'s record label [[Ruthless Records]]. Its title refers to the group's native town, Compton, California. Production for the album was handled by [[Dr. Dre]] and [[DJ Yella]]. The album is viewed as one of the [[List of hip hop albums considered the best|greatest hip hop albums of all time]] and the pioneering record of [[gangsta rap]]; with its ever-present profanity and violent lyrics, it helped to advance this then-new sub-genre of hip hop. It has been considered groundbreaking by music writers and has had an enormous impact on the evolution of [[West Coast hip hop]].

''Straight Outta Compton'' redefined the direction of hip hop, making lyricism concerning the gangsta lifestyle becoming the driving force in sales figures. It has sold over three million copies, making it N.W.A's best-selling album.
==Music==
===Lyrics===
The lyrics on the album were mainly written by Ice Cube and MC Ren, with several uncredited contributions by [[The D.O.C.]] Some critics of the album expressed their view that the record glamorised black-on-black crime, but others stated that the group was simply showing the reality of living in the areas of Compton and South Central Los Angeles.
===Production===
The production on the album was generally seen as top quality for the time, with Dr. Dre's production performing well with his samples and drum machine beats, and DJ Yella's turntablism 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 Marl]].
===Content===
The album's most controversial track, "[[Fuck tha Police]]", was partly responsible for N.W.A becoming known as the "World's Most Dangerous Group". The song "[[Gangsta Gangsta]]" talks about the danger and violence in South Central and Compton. "[[Express Yourself]]" speaks of the ideas of free expression and the constraints placed on performers by radio censorship. Every N.W.A member except for DJ Yella recorded a solo song. MC Ren performs by himself on "If It Ain't Ruff" and "Quiet on tha Set". Dr. Dre, who mostly produced rather than performed, did a solo effort on the single "Express Yourself". Ice Cube performed on "I Ain't tha 1". Eazy-E's only solo recording was a remix of the song "8 Ball", which originally appeared on the 1987 compilation album ''[[N.W.A. and the Posse]]''. The only guest on the album is The D.O.C., who performs the opening verse on "Parental Discretion Iz Advised".

==Reception==
===Commercial performance===
The album first appeared on music charts in 1989, peaking at #37 on the ''Billboard'' 200, and #9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts in America. It re-entered the charts in 2003 when it received a repressing, peaking on the UK Albums Top 75 at #35, and on the Ireland Albums Top 75 at #20.

The album has sold over three million copies, and was certified double Platinum by the RIAA on 27 March 1992. It is N.W.A's best selling album, as their debut, ''N.W.A. and the Posse'', was certified Gold and their final, ''[[N*ggaz4Life]]'', was certified Platinum. According to Priority Records' calculations, 80% of sales were in the suburbs, beyond the boundaries of black neighborhoods.
===Critical response===
Upon its release, the album was generally well received by most music critics. Robert Hilburn of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote in a 1989 review that the album is "an anxious, unsettling documentary of an aspect of society in crisis".<ref>http://articles.latimes.com/1989-07-02/entertainment/ca-4870_1_rock-albums?pg=1</ref>  Jon Caramanica of ''Rolling Stone'' said that "it was a bombastic, cacophonous car ride through Los Angeles' burnt-out and ignored hoods."<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20071106071456/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/128098/review/6211658/straightouttacompton</ref> Steve Huey of Allmusic says that although "there are several undistinguished misfires during the second half", the album "remains an essential landmark, one of hip-hop's all-time greatest."<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/album/straight-outta-compton-mw0000653426</ref>

==Legacy==
''Rolling Stone'' ranked ''Straight Outta Compton'' at #70 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020.<ref>''Rolling Stone'' (September 22, 2020). [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/n-w-a-straight-outta-compton-4-1063163/ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"].</ref>

==Track listing==
All songs produced by [[Dr. Dre]] and [[DJ Yella]].
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="article-table" style="width: 500px;"
|-
! scope="col"|No.
! scope="col"|Title
! scope="col"|Performer(s)
! scope="col"|Writer(s)
! scope="col"|Length
|-
|1.
|"[[Straight Outta Compton (song)|Straight Outta Compton]]"
|[[Ice Cube]], [[MC Ren]], [[Eazy-E]]
|Jackson, Patterson, Wright
|4:19
|-
|2.
|"[[Fuck tha Police]]"
|[[Ice Cube]], [[MC Ren]], [[Eazy-E]]
|Jackson, Patterson
|5:45
|-
|3.
|"[[Gangsta Gangsta]]"
|[[Ice Cube]], [[Eazy-E]]
|Jackson, Patterson, Wright
|5:36
|-
|4.
|"If It Ain't Ruff"
|[[MC Ren]]
|Patterson
|3:34
|-
|5.
|"Parental Discretion Iz Advised"
|[[The D.O.C.]], [[Dr. Dre]], [[Eazy-E]], [[Ice Cube]], [[MC Ren]]
|Jackson, Patterson, Wright
|5:16
|-
|6.
|"8 Ball (Remix)"
|[[Eazy-E]]
|Jackson
|4:52
|-
|7.
|"Something Like That"
|[[Dr. Dre]], [[MC Ren]]
|Curry, Patterson
|3:35
|-
|8.
|"[[Express Yourself]]"
|[[Dr. Dre]]
|Jackson
|4:25
|-
|9.
|"Compton's n the House (Remix)"
|[[Dr. Dre]], [[MC Ren]]
|Jackson, Patterson, Young
|5:20
|-
|10.
|"I Ain't tha 1"
|[[Ice Cube]]
|Jackson
|4:54
|-
|11.
|"Dopeman (Remix)"
|[[Ice Cube]], [[Eazy-E]]
|Jackson
|5:20
|-
|12.
|"Quiet on tha Set"
|[[MC Ren]]
|Patterson
|3:59
|-
|13.
|"Something 2 Dance 2"
|[[Arabian Prince]], [[Ice Cube]], [[The D.O.C.]]
|Curry, Lezan, Jackson
|3:22
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:1988 albums]]
[[Category:N.W.A albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Dr. Dre]]
[[Category:Gangsta rap albums]]
[[Category:West Coast hip hop albums]]
[[Category:Ruthless Records albums]]