Straight Outta Compton [Music from the Motion Picture]

After its theatrical run helped propel the group's debut album up the charts, the home video release of the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton coincided with the (late) release of this soundtrack. Here, the N.W.A. numbers that matter most ("F*** tha Police," the title cut, "Express Yourself," and a couple others) sit next to import solo recordings from the crew, along with obvious influences and favorites, such as Parliament's "Flash Light." The album goes as far as including Ice Cube's venomous diss track "No Vaseline," which was aimed at the N.W.A. crew, and while the ultimate "NWA Universe" release would be bigger with more solo cuts and outside numbers, this exciting comp gives a taste of what's possible. Still, even the casual fan will find plenty of these tracks in their collection already, although they can certainly consider it stream-worthy, or at the very least, celebratory. ~ David Jeffries