"Life ain't nothin' but bitches and money." I mean, that's it, basically. If that sentence doesn't inspire head-nodding (with the tempo, not agreement) or a smile, then I guess you're Trent Lott. The pinnacle of Straight Outta Compton is clearly the opening one-two punch of the title track and "Fuck tha Police," both of which shine their brightest during Ice Cube's verses, which are the most often-quoted and show him to be obviously the group's most capable rapper at that point. It sounds like Dr. Dre was still working past his World Class Wreckin' Cru era vocally, and he wouldn't hit his own flow as an MC until The Chronic four years later.It's interesting to check out the list of samples here. There's the multiple and mandatory use of "Funky Drummer" and a visit from the Mighty Mouse theme, but there's also a handful of then-contemporary snippets, such as bits from the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy.
Beyond all the 'blah blah blueprint for gangsta rap blah blah' (although some give that honor to Scarface's Mr. Scarface Is Back), Straight Outta Compton is just a great album, regardless of considering its historical significance. Some people I know respect Run-DMC for their influence and as pioneers of rap, but find their records dated and corny. I don't, but it's even more impossible to hear Straight Outta Compton as dated. It sounds more fresh than lots of the computer-generated shit out there now, and aside from a very small handful of producers that would come along later, no one has really caught up to Dr. Dre for creating a fascinating sonic bed for such cheery expressions of misogyny and cop-killin'.
"Straight Outta Compton"
Ice Cube performing his verse from "Fuck tha Police" live in 1998. This tour was with Korn, Rammstein, Orgy and pre-fame Limp Bizkit, so check out the crackers going nuts about injustice in South Central.
1 comment:
Well said.
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