ECLECTIC ANALYSIS - NWA - Fuck the Police (MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT)

ECLECTIC ANALYSIS - FINAL ASSIGNMENT







For my Ecelctic Critique, I will be analyizing the NWA classic “Fuck The Police.” I believe that the historical context of this track is the most important element when analyzing any NWA track. It lays the main foundation of NWA’s powerful message. The track was written in Compton in 1988, one of the most turbulent years for the inner city. 1988 was a huge year for hip-hop - it featured the rise of NWA, Public Enemy, and Run DMC. Hip-hop began to develope a sense of cultural pride and confidence. While Public Enemy's socially conscious messages were more peaceful, NWA featured a more millitant style of expression and power. Call them the Malcolm X, while P.E was more along the lines of MLK. The beat's and compositions within the music of NWA were simple and raw, yet innovative, just like thier lyrics/overall message. The rawness and toughness of the composition has such a deep effect, for it really epitomized the era these young men lived in. The 80’s and 90’s in South Central LA/Compton/Oakland featured deep tension between African American’s and local law enforcement (most of the police were white). A listener who might not look into the historical context of “Fuck The Police” might mock the song for its vulgarity and excessive usage of inflammatory phrases/words. However, one must put themselves in the shoes of Dr. Dre, Eazy E, MC Ren, Ice Cube and the thousands of oppressed black youths in the ghettos of California.

After the riots in Watts in the Sixties, racial tensions were at a maximum. In fact, the reason why NWA recorded several tracks was because of police brutality committed against several members of the group. Dr. Dre and MC Ren were sitting on a porch with a beebee gun. When police saw this, they immediately threw both Dre and MC Ren to the ground, handcuffed and arrested them. After several hours of inappropriate questioning in the precinct, they were finally released. This incident, along with other racially-driven incidents in their community, led to the recording of many NWA tracks, including “Fuck the Police” and “Straight Outta Compton.” The group gave the inner city a true voice, one that fought back against law enforcement. Young black youth all across the country could relate to the harsh words of NWA. The high unemployment rates, alcoholism, drug abuse, racial profiling and murder eventually boiled over, when Rodney King was severely beaten by the LAPD. After the acquittal of the police officers, even though their actions were caught on tape, the infamous LA Riots took place. Los Angeles, along with other major cities, completely imploded. Violence, rioting and civil unrest ruled the streets. These circumstances really molded the messages NWA conveyed in their multi-platinum albums.

In fact, not only did inner city minorities associate with their tracks, but oppressed groups across the globe stood up for NWA. The oppressed citizens of Belgrade, Serbia played the track extensively on the radio. When it was banned, they played NWA songs for hours on end. The anger, violence, oppression and racism surrounding these young rappers spilled over into their music, especially in the track “Fuck the Police.”

The very beginning of the track starts off with a bang. Instantly, NWA begins to mock the judicial system of America with a parody skit:

Right about now NWA court is in full effect.
Judge Dre presiding in the case of NWA versus the police department.
Prosecuting attourneys are MC Ren Ice Cube and Eazy muthafuckin E.
Order order order. Ice Cube take the muthafuckin stand.
Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth
and nothin but the truth so help your black ass?
Why don't you tell everybody what the fuck you gotta say?

They flip the script and take the positions of the white attorneys and judges. This small and comical skit actually carries a deep meaning. For once, the members of NWA are empowering themselves. By acting as the oppressors, the rappers are portraying self-confidence, strength and the ability to stand up and fight back. No matter how down they get, the mock trial reminds them to keep the faith and fight back.

The first verse of the track is extremely powerful, and sums up the entire gist of the track. Ice Cube delivers the lyrics with a loud, bombastic voice that reminds us of the anger, power and strength of the young Black community. The following words leave my hair standing on edge as they blare through the speakers:

Fuck tha police
Comin straight from the underground
Young nigga got it bad cuz I'm brown
And not the other color so police think
They have the authority to kill a minority

Within these lines, every ounce of hatred is released. The cooped up resentment and feeling is spilling into the track. Ice Cube's dominant voice adds to the effect. The power is simply astounding here. Another small line got my attention:

We could go toe to toe in the middle of a cell

This is yet another sign of resentment. Ice Cube believes that Blacks are equal, if not greater than Whites, if they are given equal conditions. If you throw out history, Ice Cube wants to tell the police force that he could easily overpower them. Because of our society, however, many Black people will never get the chance to gain equality with Whites, even if they hold the power to do so within. Ice Cube is challenging racists and bigots to square up, man to man, to prove that he is just as powerful and strong as any man in soicety.

The problem is that stereotyping, racism and hatred keep them down to the ground, as Ice Cube proclaims:

Fuckin with me cuz I'm a teenager
With a little bit of gold and a pager
Searchin my car, lookin for the product
Thinkin every nigga is sellin narcotics

With these thoughts engraved in the minds of the LAPD, what chance to these young Black kids have? The only choice they do have is to stand up toe to toe, and fight back. This message oozes out of this track. Next up to the mic is the scrappy MC Ren, who continues Ice Cube's millitant message with utmost confidence. The beat hasn't changed at all in the background, but it's rawness and grit still pulsate through the speakers.

My favorite member of the group, Eazy E, step's up to the plate next. His high-pitched voice and relentless style can either annoy the hell out of you, or draw you in even closer. Personally, he was the game-changer in NWA. Behind his millitant lyrics lies subtle messages that make you think. For instance:

They put up my picture with silence
Cuz my identity by itself causes violence

A social message that millions debate about each year lies within these two lines. When he raps the lines, however, something just seems to click inside your head. There is an absolute fear of African-Americans on this planet. Years and years upon years of reckless behavior has resulted in this inate feeling. Can you help but wonder what you would do if you were stuck in the ghetto? Wouldn't you be pissed off? Looking for retribution against police officers and city officials? It really makes me think.

All in all, this is such a powerful song that rang as an anthem for oppressed people, period. Black, white, yellow - it didn't matter what color you were. If you have some sort of beef against the polie or government, this was your jam. While Public Enemy wrote "Fight the Power," another track filled with social messages, "Fuck the Police" cut through the BS to the heart of the matter. Is it raw, millitant and violent in nature? Sure. Are those good qualities? No. But the circumstances and historical data don't lie. In the right situation, anger is justified and even necessary. If you repeatedly beat the crap out of a cagted lion for hundreds of years, and then finally release him, what would it do? It would pounce on the first thing breathing. This is why, I believe, that this track is one of the most important songs of our generation.