*Warning: This article contains explicit language*
N.W.A, the originators of gangsta rap, is best known for their extremely angry, ultra-violent and frequently misogynistic rap lyrics.
They were telling it how it was and, as they say in the only PG-rated song in their oeuvre 'Express Yourself', as a group they were not afraid to kick reality.
The fact that they mixed in brilliant non-sequiturs and ridiculously outlandish lines amongst the truth of their brutal, FBI worrying, lyrics, is just one aspect of their genius.
But what often gets lost in all the kafuffle and serious discussion that surrounds their words and their work is that these guys were also incredibly funny.
Gangsta rap took the celebration of violence to cartoonish levels and nowhere is that more evident than in the group's utterly crucial debut Straight Outta Compton.
With the upcoming biopic Compton soon hitting cinemas, it seemed a good time to take a look at some of the more humorous moments of the N.W.A crew.
No: 10
"Order, order, order Ice Cube, take the motherfu**ing stand Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth And nothing but the truth so help your black ass?"
Song:F**k the Police Rapper: Dr Dre
The group's most dangerous song, still as powerful today as it was back in the day. It's a perfectly formed, genre defining, outburst of catchy aggression. And it all kicks off with Dre hamming it up as a foulmouthed, ill tempered, judge. Television's Judge Judy would later lift the technique.
No: 9
"Well for the record it's Ren, and for the street it's villain And strapped with a gat, it's more like Matt Dillon."
MC Ren is the unsung hero of N.W.A and the self-proclaimed "villain" of the group. This is his favourite boast and he goes to great lengths to shoehorn it into their songs, often to (unintentionally) humourous effect.
Here, he's equating being a villain to being a pasty, strung out junkie like actor Matt Dillon's Drugstore Cowboy, the hit film at the time. Things didn't work out quite so well for Dillon in that film as I recall...
No: 8
"Ni***'s start to mumble, they wanna rumble Mix 'em and cook 'em in a pot like gumbo."
Song:Straight Outta Compton Rapper: Ice Cube
Not only will Ice Cube kill you dead, he will also boil you up and eat you. Now that's some gangsta shiz right there.
It should also be mentioned that there is no truth to the rumour that before settling on Cube, the rapper seriously considered Ice Cannibal as his stage name.
"Ren is the villain and you're just a hostage So whenever I'm steppin' cover your head like an ostrich"
Song:If It Ain't Ruff Rapper: MC Ren
Once again a terrific Ren boast about being the villain - albeit a villain who ain't afraid to threaten you with a few facts about exotic ornithology.
No: 6
"And after the date, I'mma want to do the wild thing You want lobster huh? I'm thinking Burger King."
Song:I Ain't tha 1 Rapper: Ice Cube
Ice Cube delivers his misogynistic ode to not getting played with a woefully misplaced bonhomie about being a total dirtbag and a terrible date. If you see him on Tinder, ladies, swipe left.
"So if you punks wanna make somethin' of it Step up, run up, get up, what's up sucker? You want some of this?" "Then you're a stupid muthafu**a!"
Song:Compton's n the House (Remix) Rapper MC Ren & Eazy-E
The masterful vocal interplay between the many members of the N.W.A crew is one aspect of the group that they don't get enough credit for.
Here's my all-time favourite example, with MC Ren beautifully setting it up before handing it over to Eazy-E to come storming in with his high-pitched, typically brash punchline.
Because, as everyone knows, corduroy is the sartorial choice of only the most baddest of assess.
No: 1
"Some sh*t I don't take it, not even in a toilet And sh*t from a sucker, put in a pot and I'll boil it."
Song:Parental Discretion iz Advised. Rapper MC Ren
Wait, wut? Dude, no. Gross. There's gangsta and then there's putting someone's crap into a pot and boiling it up like it's 2-minute noodles. Forget parental discretion, MC Ren, nutritional education iz advised.
