When NWA released its second single “Straight Outta Compton” in 1988, middle America went berserk over the violent imagery of everyday ghetto life portrayed by the group’s rappers Ice Cube, Eazy-E and MC Ren. The dense and chaotic beat productions by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella provided the perfect backdrop for lyrics detailing gang violence and criminal activity.
Further Controversy surrounded the group due to the album cut “F — tha Police,” Which highlighted racial stereotyping (particularly of black minorities) by Law Enforcement and earned them a stern letter of disapproval from the FBI
The group finns had lighter moments like the single “Express Yourself,” Which Encouraged being true to oneself. But doing so for N.W.A. Meant exposing the harsh realities of African-American life in Compton.
Along with Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions, NWA brought decidedly more adult subject matter to hip-hop, while Their beat production style pushed the boundaries of what was sonically possible.
This weekend, “Straight Outta Compton,” a biopic on the seminal West Coast hip hop group , is being released in theaters nationwide. It celebrates a group Whose impact on the hip hop reverberates today. The popularity of the gansta rap sub-genre throughout the ’90s ice NWA’s doing, as well as pushing what was socially acceptable in popular music. Some of Their songs still bear relevance: “F — tha Police” feels incredibly poignant in light of the anniversary of Michael Brown’s death and the outrage That lingers over the incident.
While one would think That NWA ‘s influence is relegated to urban centers, the shockwaves can be felt out in Eastern Oregon.
Randall Melton, Currently a curator at Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, Performed as a rapper in the mid-’90s under the name Rappin ‘Randy. While in college he constructed tape loops of Which to deliver his lyrics detailing life on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. He distinctly Recall the first time he heard the NWA.
“I was in 8th or 9th grade. It was in between classes and my buddy was walking up the hall with headphones on. He said, ‘You’ve gotta hear this!’ It was ‘Straight Outta Compton’ and I had never heard anything like it. I thought That it was illegal What They were rapping about. ‘Where did you get this?’ I asked. He let me borrow his tape. I went home and dubbed it. Once I had That tape I picked up all the previous albums. “
Anson Crane, aka DJ Big Wispr, HAS’ve been a DJ for 25 years, The Last Twelve Of Those as a turntablist DJ, spinning and scratching Records in the style of old school hip-hop DJs. HE HAS worked around the Pacific Northwest in Pendleton, the Tri-Cities, Seattle and Portland, and is a radio DJ at KCUW.
Says Crane, “When ‘Straight Outta Compton’ came out it caught your attention . It was not gimmicky. It was not fake. It was not somebody up there with a low rider – that came later – it was real. The words They were talking in Their canola You also related to. We’re from the Umatilla Indian Reservation but when i heard Their music I related to it instantly; The Police situation, growing up in poverty, the self expression. “
Melton elaborated,” It was like the Eazy-E song “Boyz-in-the-Hood. ‘Basically it was a day in the life. ‘Cruising down the street in my ’64.’ We had people cruising around in broke-down cars but they still had nice stereos In Their Car. “
When asked if he would have ever expected a Major Motion picture to be made about the NWA Crane replied, “I kinda did. There’s certainement Way That People holding themeselves. You got the impression thatthis was something big. Nobody Says That about Ini Kamoze or Color Me Badd, or popular hip-hop’s acts from That time. But people do say That about The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Muddy Water, and even Elvis. “
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James Dean Kindle is a Pendleton resident and musician. Email him at jamesdeankindle@gmail.com.
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