The Tracks:
1. Live Intro (1989): This short clip gives a very quick description about the album then a deep voice mentions various comments about street knowledge then introduces the band. Then a news sounding voice discusses the bands issues, the band then challenges this. The rest is just what sounds like
NWA performing for a crowd of hundreds.
2. Arrested (Insert): In this skit Eazy E uses his one call from jail to call (who is believed to be) Ice Cube to pick him up from prison as he and Yella, Ren and Dre picked up some women they did not know to be prostitutes.
3. Gangsta Gangsta: This, like many other NWA tracks, was written by Ice Cube. Ice Cube also raps the first 75% of the song with Eazy E filling the last/4th verse. Ice Cube and E do a brilliant job depicting the lifestyle and dangers of the gangster life in the hood.
4. F*** Tha Police (Insert): In this skit Eazy E (Eric Wright) talks about how the police treat people of dark skin unfairly which leads flawlessly into F*** The Police.
5. F*** Tha Police: This is the most controversial NWA track and maybe even the most
controversial rap track ever. This track was not about its musical quality as it is a rough cut recording job with a simple beat, it is about the content. NWA's Eazy E, MC Ren and Ice Cube all rap about the police misconduct to black people which put NWA in serious trouble with the law but pushed rights and change for black citizens all over the United States.
6. Compton's In The House [Live]: This starts off as a skit, taking off from the end of "Arrested" (Track 2) but leads into a recording of NWA's live performance of the track Compton's In The House.
7. Break Out [Live]: This
skit continues the "Arrested" story with the band complaining to get
them out of jail today. This skit is a nice touch as it breaks up the
harsh NWA controversy with humor then forms into one of the greatest
tracks of all time, Straight Outta Compton.8. Straight Outta Compton (Extended Mix): This is the extended mix of NWA's hit track Straight Outta Compton. Believe it or not for a track from 1987 this track hit number 38 in 2015 almost 30 years since its release due to the movie, Compton, detailing the groups rise and fall along with the death of Eazy E.
9. If It Ain't Ruff: This is one of MC Ren's few solo tracks and in this track he raps about is prowess and how no one can beat him. He is the undisputed greatest and to doubt this is to risk death, or so he claims.
10. Real Niggaz: This tack highlights the break up and collapse of NWA. It is a diss track by the remaining 4 members of NWA after Ice Cube left, primarily due to unfair pay and Jerry Heller. This track makes reference and mockery to Ice Cube's success and talks how he couldn't make it in NWA.
11. I Ain't Tha 1: This track makes reference to a whole gender as the target. Well, more specifically gold diggers. It talks about how women do not want NWA or successful men in general for their personalities but for their money and how it is making them broke.
12. Alwayz Into Somethin': This is another anti-Cube track with the predominant members being Ren and Dre talking about shooting O'Shea (O'Shea Jackson aka Ice-Cube). This is truly a battle rap track as they rap about "rolling", "pumping" tunes and attacking Ice-Cube.
13. Don't Drink That Wine: This track is just a choir singing about how one should not drink wine rather Coke as its easy to find or even a joint ("or two").
14. Just Don't Bite It: This whole track is about oral sex. It just raps about how to do so, how NWA always gets it, and mainly, how teeth should not make contact. This track is similar to the work of D12's Bizarre and is humorous if not taken seriously.
15. Cash Money (Insert): This skit is Dre thanking the audience for buying the album, giving him money, so he can buy a new Ferrari.
16. Express Yourself: The original version of this track had only Dr Dre and had no profanity, much unlike NWA's previous work. On the single version there are also Ice Cube and Ren. This track is just a good chilled rap song to be played anywhere.
17. 100 Miles And Runnin': This track discusses NWA never being stopped and the fictional story behind it is the 4 remaining artists (this was recorded after Cube's exit) running from the police back to Compton and in a way, shows them as unstoppable.
18. A B**** Iz A B****: This track is very similar to "I Aint Tha 1" as its Ice Cube talking about what kind of women are b****es. It includes fictional arguments between Ice Cube and a "b****". This track includes humor with a narrator.
19. Real Niggaz Don't Die: This track sounds rather darker than the previous ones but also talks about Ren, E and Dre being an invincible force not to be tangled with.
20. Chin Check: Another of NWA's darker tracks this song starts with a terrified call to the emergency services. This is an amazing track however as it was recorded in 1996. It was part of the reunion of NWA after Eazy E's tragic death. It features Dr Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and Snoop Dogg and is a track to be remembered.
21. Hello: This is another of the NWA reunion tracks. It is part of Dre's the Watcher, and part Ice Cube track and its a catchy, smooth track. It also makes you reflect on NWA, their rise and their fall.
The Verdict: This album does not only show how NWA was a trail blazer but also serves as a timeline. Starting with early tracks such as Gangsta Gangsta and Straight Outta Compton, it then shows the collapse of NWA with Real Niggaz and Alwayz Into Somethin', then showing the reflection that can flip the audiences emotion in a snap. NWA were brilliant and every member is a rap god. Rest in peace Eazy E.
For these reasons this album is scored 4/5
Different opinion? Feel free to comment :) (Keep it polite)
No comments:
Post a Comment