10 Perfect Albums From The Golden Age Of Hip Hop

Only Public Enemy could denounce the establishment, with such effective and impassioned venom as N.W.A. Although gangsta rap was gaining traction during the late '80s, particularly on the East Coast, it wasn't until N.W.A dropped this record, that the West Coast could really stake a claim in the game. Straight outta the gate, these guys told you were they're from. They had an attitude, confidence and an unbridled raw skill; and damn, did they want you to know it.

Their opening track, was a challenge to anyone who didn't think the West Coast was the s**t. But they followed it up with something even bolder. It's remembered as the hard hitting, mean-faced assault on the institution of American law enforcement. F**k Tha Police made it clear, what N.W.A thought of cops. Ice Cube spat accusations of police brutality with every line, even denouncing black cops for supporting a racist institution. Easy-E followed suit, making references to racial profiling, as a daily occurrence for young black men in Compton.

Although, these two tracks have come to define the legacy of this album, it also featured numbers like Express Yourself. Sampling the original Charles Wright song, it's a stark change of tone from the opening numbers. This was Dr. Dre's moment on the mic; he unapologetically expressed the joy and necessity of living one's truth to the best of one's ability.