Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton is the debut studio album by American hip-hop group N.W.A, released on January 25, 1989, through Priority and Ruthless Records. It was produced by N.W.A members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, with lyrics written by the group's remaining members Eazy-E, Ice Cube and MC Ren, along with Ruthless rapper and N.W.A affiliate the D.O.C. Beyond depictions of Compton's street violence, the lyrics repeatedly threaten to lead it by attacking peers and even police. The track "Fuck tha Police" drew an FBI agent's warning letter, which aided N.W.A's notoriety, with N.W.A later calling itself "the world's most dangerous group".

In July 1989, despite its scarce radio play beyond the Los Angeles area, Straight Outta Compton became the first gangsta rap album to receive platinum certification for having sold 1 million copies. That year, the album peaked at number 9 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and at number 37 on the Billboard 200. Receiving significant media coverage, the album triggered hip-hop's movement toward hardcore gangsta rap. Though initially receiving mixed reviews from critics, it is now widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential albums in hip-hop music and of all time.

In September 2002, Straight Outta Compton was reissued with four bonus tracks. Almost two years away from the 20th anniversary of the album's release, another reissue of Straight Outta Compton was released in December 2007 with "tribute remixes" of four tracks off the album and a live version of "Compton's n the House" as bonus tracks. In 2015, after an album reissue on red cassettes, theater release of the biographical film Straight Outta Compton reinvigorated sales of the album, which by year's end was certified triple platinum. In 2016, it became the first rap album inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The next year, the Library of Congress selected Straight Outta Compton for preservation in the National Recording Registry, for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".