N.W.A. made a massive impact on hip hop and rap genre with their debut studio album also titled ‘Straight Outta Compton.’ The album, released in August 1988, set the backstory for the group. “Straight Outta Compton” single was released as the lead single off the album titled the same. The song addresses the issues of police violence against African Americans back in the day and tries to emphasize that these rappers will not succumb to the police’ brutality and injustice.N.W.A. helped change the landscape of rap music with their abrasive street tales, which were often laced with unbridled rage at the oppression they faced via poverty and over policing in their community under Reaganomics and the so-called “war on drugs.” (Howard 2018)
The song consists of three verses with layered beats and a flow that emphasizes the bass and drum breaks that is typically seen in southern California song productions.
Verse 1:
Ice Cubes shout outs their hometown Compton, and sums up everything about himself, the song, and N.W.A.
As they walk down the streets of Compton in the video, Ice Cube is emphasizing that he is a force to be reckon with, and that if anyone stands against him they will get dropped.
While Ice Cube is rapping in this verse the music video shows clips of police cars and violence, illustrating the hardships that people of color face in Compton.
Verse 2:
MC Ren continues to rap about survival in his community and how you have to stay strapped with Ak-47’s or other weapons to feel protected. Throughout the video and lyrical content, you can see that MC Ren is hinting that the police are legally allowed to carry guns and use them for personal or racial goals.
The video transitions back and forth from MC Ren rapping, to several scenes showing how a police chase started just by them walking on the street and ends with them getting caught in an alley.
Highlighting how Black people didn’t have to do much to get police attention.
Verse 3:
Eazy E starts to rap talking about how he is a dangerous MF who will raise hell. Continuing to rap about his street knowledge and the injustice he faces on a daily basis due to their skin color.
Same as the other verses, the video continues switching from them walking on the street rapping about the police, to them continuing to be harassed by the police.
While listening to the song, you wouldn’t be able depict that some of the lyrics or actions are towards police officers unless you watched the video. NWA illustrates the collectivised anger with police officers, and “Straight Outta Compton” is an illustration of gang activity and police brutality that people of color live with in Compton.