The godfathers of gangster rap come to the fore…
JOE continues to look at some of our favourite all-time classic songs with a band that helped define West Coast hip-hop and the modern era of music.
Artist, album and year: N.W.A, Straight Outta Compton, 1988
Why is it a classic? : N.W.A’s seminal 1988 album was probably the biggest influence and catalyst for gangster raps emergence from the ghetto into the mainstream.
The bands socially charged lyrics were filled with profanity, aggression and defiance as the band laid down the foundations for a sub-genre of music that would later conquer the world.
The songs uncompromising lyrics examined many of the social-political issues that existed within California during the late ’80s like gun/drug culture, police brutality and gang warfare.
Sometimes if you need to make a point, a powerful fist in the face resonates more than a quiet hand in the air and N.W.A were defiant and loud as they blazed a trail for hip-hop artists to follow.
DJ Yella , Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and Dr. Dre took a shot at the music industry and it was heard around the world. This opening track is a mission statement, a rallying cry and a promise that they would not be silenced.
Did you know? : The album has since been certified triple platinum but upon its original release the eponymous track failed to place in the Billboard charts. It has since gone on to be ranked as the 6th best hip-hop song of all-time by VH1.
The lyrical hook: “Yo weekly, monthly and yearly until them dumb motherfuckers see clearly”
If you’ve any suggestions then feel free to get in touch with our music geek @ElChiefMoore
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