No. 2 Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A.
The album that made your parents hate hip-hop, N.W.A.’s first full-length is still high on shock value and social commentary. Gangsta rap had been lurking for years (on the East and West coasts), but this statement from the five-man crew from Compton served as the genre’s watershed moment. Dr. Dre’s production talents are evident — with influences from Public Enemy’s Bomb Squad and the Miami Bass movement. The album is anchored by Eazy-E’s the over-the-top dopeman persona and Cube shines as the angry street poet. This is classic for a reason.
