Round 1: Heat 3: Straight Outta Compton vs Abbey Road

[BLUEBLOOD]

A real clash of styles here, with Napsters Straight Outta Compton (NWA) up against Libertines Abbey Road (The Beatles) .. i know which i'd pick but i won't vote unless its a tie so over to you lot ...

 

[MK Shrimper]

Not a huge rap fan, sorry Naps.

 

[Firestorm]

The Beatles in their "aren't we ever so clever" stage vs Hip hop gangsta

I'll pass on this

 

[Napster]

Wow, this is an easy tie. Like Stacey versus Alina.

Anyway, for the defence:

The album has sold over three million copies and was certified double Platinum on March 27, 1992.It was N.W.A's best selling album, as their debut, N.W.A and the Posse, was certified Gold

Newsweek noted that Straight Outta Compton "introduced some of the most grotesquely exciting music ever made". Following its 2002 re-release, Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone magazine cited Straight Outta Compton as one of hip-hop's most crucial albums, calling it a "bombastic, cacophonous car ride through Los Angeles' burnt-out and ignored hoods."

In 2003, the TV network, VH1, named Straight Outta Compton the 62nd greatest album of all time. It was ranked ten in Spin magazine's "100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005". In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. The album was also ranked the 130th best album of all time by Acclaimedmusic.net. In 2006, the album was listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The same year, TIME Magazine ranked it as one of the 100 greatest albums of all time. Vibe included it in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century.

Abbey Road is a bit blah. Not exactly threatening or adrenaline-driven. I can't imagine Macca doing "**** the police" or "a bitch is a bitch"

 

[Ron Manager]

I find it quite hard to explain why The Beatles are so great because as far as I'm concerned they just are. They've been a part of my life from my earliest memory, the songs on this album are as familiar to me as nursery rhymes as I've heard them since I was born - probably before I was born. I'll try to explain for the floating voters though.....

Even the renowned album cover of the Fab Four crossing the zebra crossing into the world famous Abbey Road studios gives a clear indication that is an iconic piece of art. The opening bars of Come Together with that famous bass line still sounds as fresh and modern today as when it was released today and John Lennon's voice confirms that this is an album to be reckoned with. What follows is classic song after classic song, almost all of them could be number one singles even now. This is probably their most 'classic English pop album' - an influence that could be heard in The Kinks and Small Faces then in the 60's through Squeeze, Blur and The Libertines to the present day. Finishing on the short but sweet 'Her Majesty' - as far as I'm aware one of only two (with Elizabeth My Dear) songs about Queen Elizabeth II....and just as disrespectful about her as The Stone Roses song (in a more subtle way).

I have the upmost respect for my rival in this bout - it's a brilliant, cutting edge album and one of my all time favourites. For me though my love of such music started with The Beatles and all my taste however eclectic is an extension of my intitial falling in love with music when I listened to my Dad's Beatles records as a kid. I'm sure that is the same for many people, which is why I hope you vote for Abbey Road.

 

[Nobby Snide]

this ***** had raz on the sparkle....

 

[seany t]

I do like the Beatles a lot. But in their respective fields, N.W.A. made a mighty genre defining record with this LP and The Beatles did far better work. And the lead track off of 'Straight outta Compton' is one of the best songs ever written.

I also like how in 'Shaun of the Dead', Simon Pegg & Nick Frost called their pub quiz team Q.W.A. (Quizzers With Attitude).

So my vote is with you Naps (though I fear it'll ultimately count for nowt).

 

[Napster]

When Straight outta Compton reached double platinum sales status, being the first to do without commercial support.

Oh and some great reviews here, far better than I can write

http://www.amazon.com/N-W-STRAIGHT-OUTTA-COMPTON-TRACKS/dp/B00006JJ51

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I'm going with NWA, purely for the memories it envokes and the fact that I still give it an occasional spin. The opening salvo of the title track, **** Tha Police and Gangsta Gangsta is unrivalled in terms of grabbing the listener by the balls and demanding that you pay attention. My fondest memories of 'Straight Outta Compton' are the faces of the bemused customers at the seafront ice cream stall where I worked as a teenager, who were usually treated to a few minutes of NWA with their 99s.

It could be argued that the profanity and violence in the lyrics made it a hit through sheer shock value, but the fact that I'm still listening to it today, and that the best track 'Express Yourself' was played on the radio with no edits, makes me think that it's just a classic album from a genre that hasn't produced anything comparable since (with the possible exception of 'The Chronic').

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Already voted for the Beatles best album (White Album), so I'm going for NWA here, a fanastic album that had a HUGE impact, Express Yourself people!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zitbExMdlvY

 

[Desert Shrimper]

Got to be be Straight outta Compton, if not for the title track then for "A bitch iz a bitch" whihc is rap genius. Great post-row-with-the-missus material.

All things considered The Beatles are just dull and dated but as so many people grew up with them they feel attached to their dullard songs. A bit like Chewetts, Hubba Bubbas, or Christmas carols they make you feel warm inside at the memory. The Beatles are just the safe and easy option, a comfortable pair of tracksuit bottoms that require no thought or effort whatsoever to slip into. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[SUFC Forever]

Got to be be Straight outta Compton, if not for the title track then for "A bitch iz a bitch" whihc is rap genius. Great post-row-with-the-missus material.

All things considered The Beatles are just dull and dated but as so many people grew up with them they feel attached to their dullard songs. A bit like Chewetts, Hubba Bubbas, or Christmas carols they make you feel warm inside at the memory. The Beatles are just the safe and easy option, a comfortable pair of tracksuit bottoms that require no thought or effort whatsoever to slip into. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz

Everybody is entitled to their opinion. Mine is that rap music is sh"t and that I cannot understand the appeal to it unless you are a teen chav that feels he has to listen to it to try to convince himself he is actually a black man on the streets of Harlem, talking the talk and walking the walk.

Beatles for me here - 100% all the way.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Another vote for Straight Outta Compton.

I'm not a hip hop fan, but this is one album for which I'll make an exception for. Its hard to believe it is over 20 years old as it still seems so fresh. As Seany T said, it was genre defining and I don't think Abbey Road was and the Beatles, but probably not George Harrison, produced better stuff. Abbey Road may have the more iconic cover, but when it comes to the music, I'm currently listening to Straight Outta Compton.

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

All things considered The Beatles are just dull and dated but as so many people grew up with them they feel attached to their dullard songs. A bit like Chewetts, Hubba Bubbas, or Christmas carols they make you feel warm inside at the memory. The Beatles are just the safe and easy option, a comfortable pair of tracksuit bottoms that require no thought or effort whatsoever to slip into. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz

but surely we're voting for the greatest album ever, not just the greatest album now. yes of course the older albums will seem dated now, but voting for them's not just voting for a safe option, it's voting for something that's proven its influence over the years, thats still talked about, and that has reached a large number of lives.

Whether Abbey Road is that is another matter, but to discard them for being dated is hardly fair in an all time competition

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

but surely we're voting for the greatest album ever, not just the greatest album now. yes of course the older albums will seem dated now, but voting for them's not just voting for a safe option, it's voting for something that's proven its influence over the years, thats still talked about, and that has reached a large number of lives.

Whether Abbey Road is that is another matter, but to discard them for being dated is hardly fair in an all time competition

Straight Outta Compton is 21 years old but doesn't feel dated.

I'd suggest that it has passed the test of time.

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

Straight Outta Compton is 21 years old but doesn't feel dated.

I'd suggest that it has passed the test of time.

Blimey, is it that long ago? Now I feel old!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Blimey, is it that long ago? Now I feel old!

I know the feeling. I think it just goes to show its timeless qualities (and Timeless should have been another album included, but I suspect I've unsuccessfully fought that battle on here before). As I said before, I'm not a great hip-hop connoisseur, but I think it still sounds newer, fresher than stuff produced today and in fact pretty much everything in the genre that has followed it. I think it suffers because no-one has been able to hit those heights again and dismiss it as rap.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

To drinkin' straight out the eight bottle
Do I look like a mutha ****in role model?
To a kid lookin' up ta me
Life ain't nothin but bitches and money.

 

[Napster]

A brother like me is only out for one thing
I think with my ding-a-ling, but I won't bring no
flowers to your doorstep, when we goin out
Cause you'll take it for granted, no doubt
And after the date, I'ma want to do the wild thing
You want lobster huh? I'm thinking Burger King

 

[Napster]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aox4WezRGAU

Probably NSFW