October 25, 1998

Straight Outta Compton

Dilemma time. You are a cutting-edge rap mofo wishing to thrust the genre into innovative new territory without actually, like, writing any songs of your own or any of dat shit....

4 / 10 DILEMMA TIME. YOU ARE A cutting-edge rap mofo wishing to thrust the genre into innovative new territory without actually, like, writing any songs of your own or any of dat shit. But - DOH! - the Fugees and Puff Daddy have hacked every song recorded into malnourished rap smithereens already, so what to do? OF COURSE! You and your equally inspirationless mates cover a WHOLE ALBUM! EUREKA!

Ten years ago, NWA's 'Straight Outta Compton' set new rap standards in the fields of sexism, swearing and killing policemen. It also featured some brilliantly funksome grooves and wordplay that'd whup Carol Vorderman's ass, and thus it became a West Coast benchmark.

Sadly, this tribute compilation by a troupe of West Coast whippersnappers (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony drool down the keks of 'Fuck Tha Police'! Someone called Jayo Felony makes '8 Ball' sound like Pras wanking in a floatation tank! Snore!) is swamped with the blunted-to-buggery dribbling that has turned late-'90s rap into a pitiful sham. Only Silkk The Shocker seems to be awake and then only long enough to slap what appear to be Beck's cast off twiddlings onto 'Express Yourself' before passing out.

Outta here.

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