Straight Outta Compton

One of my influences for the rap/grime/hip-hop genre of music I am going for in my music video comes from the film Straight Outta Compton. Straight Outta Compton is the debut studio album by American hip hop group NWA, released August 8, 1988 on group member Eazy-E's record label Ruthless Records. The album has been viewed as the prominent record of gangster rap with extreme profanity and violent lyrics. It has been considered to be one of the greatest and most influential hip-hop records by music writers and has had an enormous impact on the evolution of west coast hip-hop. The film depicts the career of the gangsta rap group NWA and mainly focus on members Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Dr Dre.


Even though my music video may not be based on one of NWA's songs, I believe it is important to recognise where hip-hop completely began. Also, I must be able to understand the influence that NWA has had on hip-hop/rap music in present time and how music nowadays may have developed from the 'Straight Outta Compton' album. At the time in the 1980's when the album was released, although all racist actions were now officially illegal, all racial prejudices still existed. Simply the sight of a young black man in a big hoodie meant that they were up to something illegal; mainly to do with drugs. Police in small towns such as Compton had official laws against racism, but these were actually barely enforced. As shown in the film, police would stop black men just for walking down the road and search them for drugs even when they had no proof or suspicion that they may have illegal substances on them.


These racial prejudices eventually grew black men in the area to become fed up and so the inspiration to express themselves through rap music led to the creation of the 'Straight Outta Compton' album. One of the most popular and controversial songs on the album was "F*** tha police" in which extremely violent and obscene language was used to express NWA's hate towards the police. At the time, negative views towards the police were not accepted in forms of music and the playing of "F*** tha police" was attempted to be stopped, although this was not successful and in fact only spurred NWA on.


By looking at Straight Outta Compton, I have built a much wider understanding of how hip-hop/rap music has been influenced and developed. And so, I can use this understanding and knowledge in order to create my own music video based upon this genre. In conclusion, I may also be able to bring in themes of where rap/hip-hop music began into present time music that is out now.


 I have attached the link to the trailer of Straight Outta Compton below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsbWEF1Sju0