Time Of Your Life: Mike Dirnt’s Favourite Albums

Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

9. N.W.A.Straight Outta Compton

I said something to Dr. Dre one time, and he agreed with me, which I was glad about, because otherwise he would have thrown my ass out of the room. I said, “I think the difference between East Coast rap and West Coast rap is that East Coast rap really started in old buildings and club shows, whereas West Coast rap is car culture”. On the East Coast, the cars rot out and rust out. You don’t have car culture because nobody’s driving half the year in winter. On the West Coast, we are all about the car culture. This album brought street politics and social injustice and things like that on the radio. It’s a game changer.

I put it to you that there are only two good songs on this album: the title track and ‘Fuck Tha Police’

Maybe, but remember that when this album came out, we were coming out of breakdancing, and Sir Mix-A-Lot and Ice-T’s first couple of records and things like that. You know, it was a lot lighter then. If we listen to this album with today’s ears, a lot of the songs don’t compare. 

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Brix Smith-Start, John Garcia, Jennifer Herrema
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