Black and Blue

Carter Gaian

I.D# 1373050

Mus 103 Lec A1

September 21st 2016         

                                        Black and Blue

Having grown up in a quite and peaceful, affluent and primarily white suburb of Edmonton I think it is safe to say that I am far from most rap groups target audience. But that didn’t stop my love for the stuff. When I fist encountered the genre in my youth I was taken in by the fantasy, not yet understanding the true magnitude of what I was hearing. It has only been in the years since that I have grown to appreciate the true art in what many consider to be glorified violence.  In 1989 a rap group called N.W.A from California recorded their major label genre defining, multi platinum debut album Straight outta Compton. It has been 27 years since the release of Straight Outta Compton and in many ways it seems the album is still relevant for all the wrong reasons. One song in particular “Fuck tha Police”, perhaps one of the most controversial songs of all time has again become particularly relevant given the recent unrest surrounding police brutality, racial profiling, freedom of speech and inequality in the United States and around the world, a full quarter century since its release.

Appearing as the second song on the album, “Fuck Tha Police” stands out, telling the story of the relationship between African American urban youth and law enforcement in south central LA during the late 80s. Frustrated with ongoing police brutality and racial profiling the song stand as a lyrical protest of sorts. With graphic and violent lyrics such as “police think they have the authority to kill a minority” and “when I’m finished, it’s gonna be a bloodbath of cops, dyin in L.A” its easy to see why the song was so controversial. Many have accused the group of glamorizing violence but N.W.A has always maintained “they’re not advocating anything; they are just reporting what they see on the streets around them”(Light). “Fuck the Police” tested the limits of freedom of speech and censorship in music, seeing little radio play or conventional media coverage. The song was met with harsh criticism by some, including law enforcement. For the majority of their first tour off Straight outta Compton album N.W.A was forbidden from playing “Fuck tha Police” during their performances in fears it might incite riots. Lost in all the anger surrounding the song was the art and talent often overlooked in gangster rap. Tasteful sampling by Dr. Dre (Andre Young) including cuts of 70s funk classics “Its my Thang” by Marva Whitney to start the song followed by “The Boogie Back” by Roy Ayer Ubiquity and the ever sampled drum break from James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” serve as the perfect back drop to Ice Cubes (Oséa Jackson) violent yet powerful lyrics. Powerful vocal performances by the groups Mc Renn (Lorenzo Patterson) and Eazy-E  (Eric Wright) give the song a variety of textures and attitudes a signature of the genre at a time when solo rap artists had yet to take off.  The intro and interludes involve the group impersonating members of a courtroom prosecuting a crooked cop which serves as a comedic element to lighten the mood and ensure the song in received as a more metaphorical than literal.