The importance of rap in African-American culture cannot be understated. Rising from the streets, it gave voice to the hopes and frustrations of a generation of kids. The key to its widespread acceptance is that it's relatively easy to create: lay down a beat, grab a mic and you're off. Unfortunately, especially in the digital age, this ease of entry has also allowed people with too little to say to bum rush the stage. Case in point: the Crusty White Boys.

Now, I'm well aware that Straight Outta Compton's is very tongue-in-cheek; nevertheless, here are a couple of pointers for the Boys' inevitable second release. First and foremost, the fact that it rhymes does not make it worth recording. "He said I need vitamin C, I have scurvy / and you are so also nervy" ("Soap on a Rope")? Most of the word-play here is meaningless train-of-thought rambling. While this sort of thing sometimes pays off, the overall composition has to be funny, and it has to have something resembling a point, however oblique. Most of this material doesn't. Also, while I understand the intent of poking fun at the color of your lily-white skin, lines like "We're white and we're proud / If not well-endowed" ("Kitty Meows") stumble dangerously close to implied racism.

Second, dull instrumentals are worthless filler, even if you do throw in the occasional sample from a Muppet or an ex-President. An EP of great material is far better than a full-length held together with musical duct tape.

Third, mixing levels are critical. Completely burying your vocals under loops destroys the song -- but reducing the backing track to a barely audible click is also a misstep. In addition, pay attention to your overall levels. When the baseline volume jumps wildly from track to track (and even within tracks), your listener spends the entire time fucking with the volume knob and cursing you instead of paying attention to the music.

Finally, practice. Rap looks easy, but when you stumble over your lines, it sounds weak.

Given the number of areas in which Crusty White Boys need work, what makes Straight Outta Compton's worth listening to? Nothing. I know that's harsh, but it's the truth. Nothing that this trio has to say will resonate outside of their circle of friends, nor will their loops give Timbaland cause for concern. I'm not condemning the Boys for having some fun making a disc, but next time they should think twice about making an innocent person listen to it.