Play it by Ear

One-track time travel

By: Jordan Kerfeld

Posted: 2/5/07

"You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge."

This line came from "Straight Outta Compton," the commencing track from one of the most-revered rap albums in history: N.W.A's 1988 release of the same name.

In 1988, George Bush, Sr., became president, Toni Morrison's book "Beloved" won the Pulitzer Prize, and former National Security Adviser Robert C. MacFarlane plead guilty in the Iran-Contra Case.

In this context, N.W.A released an album about life in the city of Compton, where violence, drugs and distaste of police were - and possibly still are - common elements.

Ice Cube, MC Ren and Eazy-E tell a gripping story, while DJ Yella and Dr. Dre produce an impressive background that samples Parliament Funkadelic and Wilson Pickett.

The lyrics to the songs are too obscene to be published here and the song is overwhelmed by obnoxious bravado.

But there is something deeper in the song and the rest of the catalogue.

N.W.A.'s critics are wrong to say the groups' pioneering form of gangster rap "celebrated" the elements of street life. This is how life was. As a fellow writer put it, N.W.A.'s work should be considered audio documentaries.

N.W.A did not sugarcoat the realities of their environment, but bring it into the public consciousness in all its ugliness.

I understand it is popular today for rap artists to address crime, drugs and violence taking place in their neighborhoods, but something tells me more than a few wish their neighborhoods weren't this way.

If this is the case, gangster rap does not celebrate street life, but acts as a cry for help or motivation for people to positively change their situations.

The general public did not really know how to receive the message of "Straight Outta Compton." Nevertheless, the song and album became an underground hit. It was the first album in history to go platinum without press support or radio airplay.

The Los Angeles Police Department took offense to the N.W.A's stance on the police, attempting to ban concerts and bring forth legal action against the group's label. However, the lyrical content that criticized the police turned out to be prophetic.

The Rodney King incident and subsequent Los Angeles race riot happened a mere three years after this album's release.

N.W.A. was a short-lived outfit, disbanding after only three albums. However, their inspiring work is proof that music can be an outlet for giving a voice to the once voiceless.

Download: "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A.

jkerfeld@unews.com