Certified West Coast classic right here! Straight Outta Compton introduced the world to Easy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella, and ushered in a era of gangsta rap that the world has yet to recover from. With their tales of living life in Compton, N.W.A. painted a picture of a stark reality punctuated by gun shots, gang violence and crooked cops. The unrelenting assault of tracks like "Fuck tha Police" and "Gangsta Gangsta" is alleviated by Dr. Dre's "Express Yourself," his rant on radio censorship and freedom of expression. Dre's production is heavy on samples in a way that might catch you off guard if you've never listened to the record. And there is an undeniable bevy of classic cuts, from the opening title track, through Cube's "I Ain't Tha 1" and all the way to the closing track, "Quiet On Tha Set." A definite must for an collector of hip hop. Recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• music label: Priority 2013

reviewed by Kool Moby 10/2013