Fuck Compton
| "Fuck Compton" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Tim Dog | ||||
| from the album Penicillin on Wax | ||||
| Released | July 11, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1991 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:53 | |||
| Label | Ruffhouse | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Timothy Blair | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Tim Dog singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Fuck Compton" on YouTube | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
"Fuck Compton" censored as "Forget Compton" or "F**k Compton" is a diss track written and performed by the American rapper Tim Dog, released in 1991 through Ruffhouse Records as the lead single from the rapper's debut studio album Penicillin on Wax. It is a diss track criticizing the West Coast hip hop scene, including the Compton-based group N.W.A and its members Eazy-E and Dr. Dre as well as the latter's then-girlfriend Michel'le. The song is often credited for igniting the East Coast–West Coast rivalry of the 1990s.[2] Production was handled by Ultramagnetic MCs' member Ced-Gee and Tim Dog himself. The song peaked atop of the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. Later in 2018 it was place at #19 on Complex's "The 50 Best Hip-Hop Diss Songs" list.[3]
Background
[edit]During the late 1980s, multiple New York hip hop artists began to resent the exposure and success of their West Coast counterparts, an animosity which Tim Dog would tap into via the release of his groundbreaking first single. Frustrated at the apparent lack of interest in East Coast artists from record companies, Tim recorded "Fuck Compton", a scathing diss track from his debut album Penicillin on Wax. "Fuck Compton" attacked the city's style of dress and musical output and made threatening gestures to several Compton rappers including Eazy-E, MC Ren, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Michel'le. Tim Dog would later exclude Ice Cube on "Step to Me", another diss track attacking N.W.A.
The lyrics also made reference to an infamous incident involving N.W.A's Dr. Dre and Pump It Up host Dee Barnes. Barnes had accused Dre of assaulting her after Pump It Up had edited an N.W.A interview to include disparaging comments made by Ice Cube, who was embroiled in a feud with his former group at the time. The single was released by Ruffhouse Records, then-home to other artists such as Cypress Hill and Kris Kross, and became a worldwide underground hit in the clubs and hip hop circles. Two versions of a music video were released—the original version and a censored edition.
Response
[edit]Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg responded to the song on their 1993 single Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin') and on "The $20 Sack Pyramid" skit from Dr. Dre's 1992 album The Chronic. Compton's Most Wanted responded with the tracks "Who's Fucking Who?" and "Another Victim" from their 1992 album Music to Driveby. DJ Quik responded with the tracks "Way 2 Fonky" and "Tha Last Word" from his 1992 album Way 2 Fonky and on the track "P.S. Phuk U 2" with the Penthouse Players Clique from their 1992 album Paid the Cost. Tweedy Bird Loc responded with the track "Fu'k the South Bronx" (featuring Att Will, Hitman D, D-Mark & Nini X) from his 1992 album 187 Ride By and E.L.Me and The Street Products responded in 2 tracks from their debut album titled 16 Lessons From the Streets on songs "E.L.Me and The Street Products and "The Outro" .
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fuck Compton" (Vocal) | 3:53 | |
| 2. | "Fuck Compton" (Instrumental) |
| 3:53 |
| 3. | "Goin' Wild In The Penile" (Vocal) | 4:16 | |
| 4. | "Goin' Wild In The Penile" (Instrumental) |
| 4:16 |
Personnel
[edit]- Timothy "Tim Dog" Blair – lyrics, vocals, producer, mixing
- Cedric "Ced-Gee" Miller – producer, mixing
- Kurt Woodley – mixing
- Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo – engineering
- Leo "Swift" Morris – additional engineering
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Francesca Restrepo – art direction
- Jesse Frohman – photography
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[4] | 1 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Tim Dog - F**k Compton [Single] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ Pelly, Jenn (February 15, 2013). "R.I.P. "Fuck Compton" Rapper Tim Dog". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ Barber, Andrew; Tharpe, Frazier (November 1, 2018). "The 50 Best Hip-Hop Diss Songs". Complex. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ "Tim Dog Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Fuck Compton at Discogs (list of releases)
