Straight Outta Compton VS. ATLiens

PinkCookies - Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A

Opening Statement:
You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge

August 8th, 1988 was a day that changed the entire rap genre forever. Straight Outta Compton was released and became the single most influential album in all of rap music. The album not only resulted in 3 legendary multi-platinum solo rap careers in Dr. Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube but it also molded the lyrical content and sound of the majority of rap music to follow

If it wasn't for this album, Dr. Dre wouldn't have a $700 million networth or be ranked the 5th best rapper of all-time and Ice Cube wouldn't have his $140 million net worth or be ranked the 7th best rapper of all-time and Eazy-E wouldn't have been ranked the 13th best rapper ever. Ice Cube and MC Ren wrote majority of the album's lyrics, which were unapologetic, hardcore and very memorable. The content ranged from expressing yourself to in the nicest sense, some harsh feelings for the authorities. The lyrics were a brutally-honest reflection of reality and had a profound impact on society. The blatant disrespect for authority and police, sexually-explicit content, excessive profanity and a harsh description of gang violence resulted in an uproar from white america. Despite it's controversy, it is still regarded as one of the best albums ever.

Despite a low-budget and being released almost 30 years ago, it is still sonically pleasing to this day. From Dr. Dre's production to DJ Yella's scratching, this album provided a blueprint for the way future albums would sound, most notably "The Chronic" and "Doggystyle". In the late 80's, NYC was preferred in the rap genre, but this album lead into a west coast revolution with artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, 2Pac, DJ Quik, Eazy-E, among others to reach multi-platinum status and dominate the culture

The album went double-platinum in the 1980's and now has over 3 million sales. It was given a PERFECT 5/5 from The Rolling Stones and received another 5/5 rating from AllMusic, it was also ranked as one of the Top 100 albums ever by Time Magazine. This album is quite possibly the most important rap record of all-time and when thinking of aspects such as timelessness, influence, impact, commercial success, production, lyrics, reverence, etc. this album may not only be just better than ATLiens but may be the quintessential album of the entire genre

Or as RG users like to say, the GOAT rap album

Rebuttal:
Quite simply put, NWA did more with less
On a much smaller budget, NWA produced a greater product in "Straight Outta Compton" than Outkast did with "ATLiens". ATLiens was a creative record indeed but not as creative as Straight Outta Compton. There have been alternative records before ATLiens from The Pharcyde, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Digital Underground, Brand Nubian and many more. Unique sound does not equate better sound. The appeal of alternative music is that it is the "other" choice, when you eat a certain meal over and over you may become accustomed to the taste and something new may seem better but it is all within perception. Music as we know it is subjective, but influence and originality are somewhat objective. Many have brought the sound that ATLiens bring before ATLiens but no album brought the Straight Outta Compton sound before Straight Outta Compton. We know this sound is great because it is marketable, it is proven to be successful and many have tried to emulate this style. NWA changed rap forever with a profound influence on every successful rapper after it. Today it still has relevance and replay value with songs like "Fuck The Police", "Straight Outta Compton", "Express Yourself" and "Gangsta Gangsta" and of course the new NWA movie which is titled, "Straight Outta Compton" which garnered some impressive opening week box office numbers. No album before Straight Outta Compton has had this success and every successful album after it was influenced by it. On that note, I'll leave you with a quote that sums up Straight Outta Compton:

The mark of greatness is when everything before you is obsolete and everything after you bears your mark

Closing:

BRK_ES_717 - ATLiens by Outkast

Opening Statement:
1996, a year where rappers either made their debuts like Jay-Z, or offered their sophomore albums like Nas. However, said rappers relied on boom bap beats, mafioso style lyrics for the east and the west coast regarding the g-funk movement and the beef between 2Pac and biggie taking the news and culture by storm. While some took new styles, there wasn’t a huge improvement from either side and followed a safe formula for fans and money. But quietly, a group called Outkast were planting their feet and prepared to shake the order with their unique entry in 1996

During the time between their first offering and the second,the two men matured, relying on their own talents by learning how to work behind the booth and produce. They were able to be given creative freedom to move in whatever direction they wished without relying on beats from outsiders. The budget would be allocated properly.The sound they would choose would reflect their title of their sophomore efforts, ATLiens

The album begins with a piano/synth driven sound relying on vocals in a haunting manner before kicking off with Two dope Boyz(in a cadillac), reminiscing of boom bap style loop snares but the unusual horns and piano loop adds an eerie feel until Big boi takes the mic first and works his flow effortlessly from fast, to slow, to multis without going off rhythm. Noticeably, Andre 3000 took a stronger role and began to turn into the man everyone loves today by making phenomenal, poetic lines throughout the album. The subject matter ranged from fame, to gritty south living to strange topics like coming form space, to the promiscuity of women like the demons of Jezebel from the bible to referring America to Bablyon as a whole

Not to mention, they broke the barriers on flow and sound. They divided listeners from not following break beats or gritty sounds or funky synths. They were given a full range of sounds to test and they succeeded in experimenting. Also, not a single rapper from this time can be singled out and say they sound similar in delivery of the tempo and speed. Bones N Harmony/ Das EFX weretoo fast and relied on assonance. Nas/Jay-Z spectrum relied on internal rhyming and using less words. The two created a free form, never going wild or sounding too methodical. While no rapper emulated the flow at this time, it’s evident now more than ever. Had this album haven’t been created, Rick Ross/Kendrick and Wayne would have different career paths had Andre and Big Boi never dropped this album and other southern acts wouldn’t get signed or appealed or have a model to learn from as Outkast are formidable idols in the south and seen as THE idols of southern music

Rebuttal:
ATLiens is a phenomenal record and so is Straight Outta Compton. It’s fine to grant praise to other works when required. However, some forget who writes the lyrics for both album. The track listing reveals that Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton(Big Boi) are the core writers. They show up on every track they appear and rap on. Thus, the only time they don’t rap is on the intro, granted with two singers Joi Gilliam and Myrna Crenshaw, Every other artist who appear are features or Organized Noise, a strong production team backing the group and works to fit a perfect sound. They influence the writing to the point of having credits

Now, for Straight Outta Compton, it should be renamed Cube and Ren outta compton with four brothers rapping our lyrics. There’s nothing wrong with Ghostwriting but it’s not good to have a huge group and none of them can rap hard lyrics like Ren’s or Cube’s pen does. They have great delivery and lyrics but one questions their authenticity as a Rapper. If one’s a producer, it’s fine like Dre but the entire credits on Straight Outta compton relies solely on Cube or Ren, no matter who’s rapping. Only the D.O.C. shows up to write and even the feature gets in on the shared writing. How can one state a rapper’s credible when a ghostwriter’s in the presence?

Continuing the lyrics, NWA focuses on the streets and while that has merits, it doesn’t relate to the grand scheme OutKast are using. Almost like aliens who come to the world, view how other African Americans are in the slums facing dangers and tragedy from crack, high crime rate, prostitution and even go far to describe the issues America has. NWA embodies the gangster and hood mentality but in ATLiens, Andre and Pattwon speaks with distaste and doesn’t glorify. Like Biggie, they tell it how it is and doesn’t skip a single moment on how gritty it may be. No glorification, no preaching, just a statement from observation

While one might use this to debate that Straight outta Compton helped reign in the gangsta rap, it was this album that made it okay to rap about it, to keep it street and get violent. In effect, we’d lose two legends like Pac and Biggie because they needed to keep their credits on the streets. While it’s possible they wouldn’t have a career without this album being created, one can easily see that they’d gladly take a life back to keep two souls who embodied a generation to this day

Case in Point, ATLiens show progression and while NWA is a footprint for Rap, that doesn’t mean it can be viewed without flaws from lyrics, to effect on a whole genre

Closing:
NWA has done greatness in paving the way and none can combat what it has done to the Genre. But after this album, each member parted and some caused conflict with one another

OutKast released a debut album and progressed to new heights where it leaves critics baffled to what caused the quick change in style and artistry. Afterwards, each album pushed the boundaries in musical combination from soul, funk, orchestra, rave and bangers. In ATLiens, Big Boi and Andre shared lines regarding a topic each handling a unique perspective and grant the listener a refreshing side to take. Either someone loved Andre or someone loved big Boi and can’t complain when both come on to raps

The stark contrast in approach and knowing these two rap and write their own lyrics ensure no one can hassle or suggest they’re not real rappers. Not a single moment goes by where Big boi or Andre kills a song with their witty, idiosyncratic rhymes and flows or their strong delivery. no one else in the south or anyone in the world sounded like them, much like how NWA came out

This marked the beginning and sparked the south resurrection and eventually take over the sound we here on the radio today. Which makes one wonder who influenced what to a greater degree

My vote, ATLiens is the clear winner in a complete, unique package that’s hard to replicate at the time and accessible now. As for influence, without Outkast, th esouth would continue to be ridiculed