Taken from JRE #2004 w/Ice Cube:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1IWzs6El6E3pnF3n4Bysab?si=6cc0f12c2c114d0b

They sent the letter to Priority Records saying, 1 guy was like, I'm part of this department of the FBI, and we're very concerned with this record called Straight Outta Compton.

You guys got a song on there called Fuck the Police, and we think this song could encourage, you know, people to go against law enforcement, blah, blah this and blah, blah that.

And basically, you know, we'd like it if you guys took it off the shelf, you know what I'm saying, to that tip.

So, You know, they call us up there, you know, they panicking.

And, like, we don't know why they want us to come.

They just like, man, you got to come here.

We get up there, and it's like, pull out this letter, FBI.

And we're like, It's like, man, do you know what this is?

This fucking agent, he sent me this letter and they was all nervous and shit.

They not gonna come in here and try to fuck with us?

Like, They not gonna, you know what I mean, arrest us, cuff us, rough us up, none of that.

And we're like, y'all scared over a fucking letter?

Come back, come back to South Central with us, you know what I mean?

Deal with the sheriffs down there, you know what I mean?

So we felt that it was like, you know, Eazy was like, we're gonna be big as fuck after this.

But the guys at the record company, this is the first time they ever dealt with like pushback.

First time the government probably even knew they existed.

So they were freaked out and we we were like okay we was looking for him to raid our houses and shit like damn because we we not seen the batarang we're not seeing them run up in people houses on dope charges or whatever you know especially in the late 80s early 90s that's like they got a kick out of just running up in people houses and shit so we were like looking for that to come for the next few weeks, we was looking like, oh they about to hit us.

And it never happened, so we was like, what's the issue, What's the problem?

So it was just that letter and that was it?

And then we made the letter public and they kinda just backed off and shit.

And then it became this big story of, you know, the FBI hates this group.

I think We was on the cover of 1 of those New York magazines, and it was like, the FBI hates this group.

On their album entitled Straight Outta Compton encourages violence and disrespect for a law enforcement officer and has been brought to my attention.

I understand your company recorded and distributed this album and I am writing to share my thoughts and concerns with you.

Advocating violence and assault is wrong and we in law enforcement community take the exception to such action.

Violent crimes, a major problem in our country, reached an unprecedented high in 1988.

78 law enforcement officers were feloniously slain in the line of duty during 1988, 4 more in 1987.

Law enforcement officers dedicate their lives to protection of our citizens and recordings such as the 1 from NWA are both discouraging and degrading to these brave dedicated officers Music plays a significant role in society and I'd want to you be aware the FBI's position relative to this song and its message I believe my reviews reflect the opinion of the entire law enforcement community." Huh.

That was like the first moment of that where we had heard that the government and politicians were concerned about rap music

without a doubt and then it just No, they didn't come after me.

But all these other different agencies were starting to hit us up and You know, they were going they start going after Ice-T you know a little bit because he Body Count did a song called Cop Killer and yeah you know it was it was a it was a time when we grew up real fast we had to understand that you know this is bigger than hip-hop and we gotta we gotta stand up for what we know is true and right.

I've seen guys tell cops you know I mean take off that gun take off that badge if we can knuckle it up in the streets and do it like men and so you know we knew that sentiment was out there where people was really like, yo, if you're gonna act like a thug, you know what I'm saying, let's thug it out, you know what I'm saying?

Or you're gonna act like an officer, then we'll, you know, we'll respect your authority.

So it was a lot of cops that we respected that came through and they would treat us like, you know, real humans, you know, not like, you know, suspects.

You don't want nobody to come through just treating you like a suspect.

These dudes, so we knew some dudes that would come through and talk to us, tell us, You know, y'all need to watch out, be careful, you know what I'm saying?

And, you know, do anybody know something that happened around the corner and all this little stuff?

But they was respectful, and we respected their authority.

Then there was others that would come through, you know, look at you crazy, harass you.

We saw, 1 day they came, we like 8, 9 years old, man, we on our bikes, got our bikes laid down, we made a ramp, we all kicking on the grass, resting, looking at our bikes like they're fucking motorcycles and shit, you know and man, sheriffs hit get the corner came all up on the grass and like Get against the car that you know bullshit, but we kids they know we kids sitting on bikes man.

You know I'm saying like roll on some my grass Mean what you think we are here do

Yeah, yeah, so What was it like when the album came out, like, interacting with cops?

Most of them said they listened to the song.

Like, they ran us off stage, because we sung the song.

Lot of undercover police, you know, throwing M80s and shit on the stage.

They round us up, and, you know, they like, thought you was going to come to Detroit, right, talking that cop, I mean that fuck the police shit, and can't come through Detroit talking that.

We should've run y'all to jail, you know what I mean?

We should've locked y'all up, and blah, blah, blah, and we like listening, we listening, And he said, but if y'all got a couple of pictures, y'all got a couple of 8x10s, y'all sign it for my daughter, we ain't gonna have no problems.

So, You know, we was pissed, but we was like, man, Eazy was like, get them T-shirts, get them everything they need.

Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on.

And so, you know, we signed the shit, you know, reluctantly.

I mean, they ran us off stage after 3 songs.

got pictures and they got autographs for their daughters and they let us go.

They just said, you can't come to Detroit with that bullshit.

So it was only Detroit that was the only place that fucked with it?

Before every concert, a sergeant or a captain or somebody would come in with a city ordinance of what was obscene in their city, in their town, and what could be said on stage and what couldn't be said.

And if you say any of this or do any of this, we will arrest you after your performance.

And we hit the stage, we like, man, we would tell the audience, you know what these motherfuckers told us backstage?

They said we couldn't say fuck, we couldn't say shit, we couldn't say this, we couldn't say bitch.

And we're gonna start this off with a bitch is a bitch.

You know, sometimes they would just let us go.

And then sometimes you would, like after the show, you'd have to look and see the look in, like the security in everybody's face, and you knew, okay, they on us.

So many a times, we come off stage, but then we like switching jackets like people handing you jackets handing you different shirts and shit so you can put them on and walk through the backstage because now cops was like where they at you know we're those guys that was on stage and in Cincinnati I had to I saw him coming I saw him all like looking around and I didn't have a chance to change my shit so they was looking for me and so I hit the exit.

I went outside the concert and it was people like flowing in and out and it was like Q what you doing out here?

He's like, I jumped in the car with him, like fans and shit, I just jumped in the car with him.

They drove me across the bridge to Kansas City, I mean Kentucky is right across from Cincinnati.

We sitting there waiting for anybody to drive up.

Nobody drove up and they end up driving me back to the hotel.

We all got citations and we got to come back here.

They want us to fly back here to go to court and they couldn't catch, they was looking for you, they couldn't catch you.


Speaker 0: The Joe Rogan Experience.

Speaker 1: The day we got the FBI letter.

Speaker 0: What was the FBI letter?

Speaker 1: We got a FBI letter. They sent the letter to Priority Records saying, 1 guy was like, I'm part of this department of the FBI, and we're very concerned with this record called Straight Outta Compton. You guys got a song on there called Fuck the Police, and we think this song could encourage, you know, people to go against law enforcement, blah, blah this and blah, blah that. And basically, you know, we'd like it if you guys took it off the shelf, you know what I'm saying, to that tip. So, You know, they call us up there, you know, they panicking.

And, like, we don't know why they want us to come. They just like, man, you got to come here. We got to talk to you. We get up there, and it's like, pull out this letter, FBI. And we're like, It's like, man, do you know what this is?

This fucking agent, he sent me this letter and they was all nervous and shit. And we're looking like, a letter? That's all you get? They not gonna come in here and try to fuck with us? Like, They not gonna, you know what I mean, arrest us, cuff us, rough us up, none of that.

And we're like, y'all scared over a fucking letter? Come back, come back to South Central with us, you know what I mean? Deal with the sheriffs down there, you know what I mean? They do way more than give you a letter. So we felt that it was like, you know, Eazy was like, we're gonna be big as fuck after this.

But the guys at the record company, this is the first time they ever dealt with like pushback. First time the government probably even knew they existed. So they were freaked out and we we were like okay we was looking for him to raid our houses and shit like damn because we we not seen the batarang we're not seeing them run up in people houses on dope charges or whatever you know especially in the late 80s early 90s that's like they got a kick out of just running up in people houses and shit so we were like looking for that to come for the next few weeks, we was looking like, oh they about to hit us. And it never happened, so we was like, what's the issue, What's the problem? Why everybody

Speaker 0: so scared? So it was just that letter and that was it?

Speaker 1: It was just that letter. And then we made the letter public and they kinda just backed off and shit. And then it became this big story of, you know, the FBI hates this group. I think We was on the cover of 1 of those New York magazines, and it was like, the FBI hates this group.

Speaker 0: Yeah, look at this.

Speaker 1: Yeah, the FBI hates this band. Yeah. Eazy was right. Yeah, he was. That's the letter.

Speaker 0: Wow. Look at that. A song recorded by the rap group N.W.A. On their album entitled Straight Outta Compton encourages violence and disrespect for a law enforcement officer and has been brought to my attention. I understand your company recorded and distributed this album and I am writing to share my thoughts and concerns with you.

Advocating violence and assault is wrong and we in law enforcement community take the exception to such action. Violent crimes, a major problem in our country, reached an unprecedented high in 1988. 78 law enforcement officers were feloniously slain in the line of duty during 1988, 4 more in 1987. Law enforcement officers dedicate their lives to protection of our citizens and recordings such as the 1 from NWA are both discouraging and degrading to these brave dedicated officers Music plays a significant role in society and I'd want to you be aware the FBI's position relative to this song and its message I believe my reviews reflect the opinion of the entire law enforcement community." Huh. Yeah.

Never met this dude?

Speaker 1: Nah. Nah, never. Interesting.

Speaker 0: Yeah. 1988, it was a different world. And that was the first. That was like the first moment of that where we had heard that the government and politicians were concerned about rap music

Speaker 1: without a doubt and then it just No, they didn't come after me. But all these other different agencies were starting to hit us up and You know, they were going they start going after Ice-T you know a little bit because he Body Count did a song called Cop Killer and yeah you know it was it was a it was a time when we grew up real fast we had to understand that you know this is bigger than hip-hop and we gotta we gotta stand up for what we know is true and right. It's like, we not making shit up. You know, it's go down. I've seen guys tell cops you know I mean take off that gun take off that badge if we can knuckle it up in the streets and do it like men and so you know we knew that sentiment was out there where people was really like, yo, if you're gonna act like a thug, you know what I'm saying, let's thug it out, you know what I'm saying?

Or you're gonna act like an officer, then we'll, you know, we'll respect your authority. You see what I mean? So it was a lot of cops that we respected that came through and they would treat us like, you know, real humans, you know, not like, you know, suspects. You know what I mean? You don't want nobody to come through just treating you like a suspect.

You ain't out here doing nothing. These dudes, so we knew some dudes that would come through and talk to us, tell us, You know, y'all need to watch out, be careful, you know what I'm saying? And, you know, do anybody know something that happened around the corner and all this little stuff? And we like, nah, nah, nah. But they was respectful, and we respected their authority.

Then there was others that would come through, you know, look at you crazy, harass you. You know, we was kids on the bikes. We saw, 1 day they came, we like 8, 9 years old, man, we on our bikes, got our bikes laid down, we made a ramp, we all kicking on the grass, resting, looking at our bikes like they're fucking motorcycles and shit, you know and man, sheriffs hit get the corner came all up on the grass and like Get against the car that you know bullshit, but we kids they know we kids sitting on bikes man. What what you think we did? You know I'm saying like roll on some my grass Mean what you think we are here do

Speaker 0: Yeah, yeah, so What was it like when the album came out, like, interacting with cops?

Speaker 1: Most of them was cool, actually.

Speaker 0: Some of them liked it.

Speaker 1: Most of them said they listened to the song. Yeah. In the movie, we get ran out of Detroit. Like, they ran us off stage, because we sung the song. Lot of undercover police, you know, throwing M80s and shit on the stage.

Really? Yeah. So we thought they was shooting at us. So we run off. They catch us.

They round us up, and, you know, they like, thought you was going to come to Detroit, right, talking that cop, I mean that fuck the police shit, and can't come through Detroit talking that. We should've run y'all to jail, you know what I mean? We should've locked y'all up, and blah, blah, blah, and we like listening, we listening, And he said, but if y'all got a couple of pictures, y'all got a couple of 8x10s, y'all sign it for my daughter, we ain't gonna have no problems. So, You know, we was pissed, but we was like, man, Eazy was like, get them T-shirts, get them everything they need. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on.

And so, you know, we signed the shit, you know, reluctantly. But the concert's over. Yeah, they turned the concert out. Yeah. I mean, they ran us off stage after 3 songs.

Speaker 0: And they got pictures. And then they

Speaker 1: got pictures and they got autographs for their daughters and they let us go. They just said, you can't come to Detroit with that bullshit.

Speaker 0: Wow. So it was only Detroit that was the only place that fucked with it?

Speaker 1: Cincinnati, they ran us off. Really? Man, they would have us... Before every concert, a sergeant or a captain or somebody would come in with a city ordinance of what was obscene in their city, in their town, and what could be said on stage and what couldn't be said. And if you say any of this or do any of this, we will arrest you after your performance.

Wow. Like what words? I mean, fuck, mother fuck. Really?

Speaker 0: Oh my god, it's like the 1950s again.

Speaker 1: Yeah, it was like on that tip. Wow.

Speaker 0: This is 88? Around there?

Speaker 1: Yeah, 88, 89. Wow. And we hit the stage, we like, man, we would tell the audience, you know what these motherfuckers told us backstage? They said we couldn't say fuck, we couldn't say shit, we couldn't say this, we couldn't say bitch. You know what I mean?

And we're gonna start this off with a bitch is a bitch. A bitch is a bitch. You know, so we would do our shows. You know, sometimes they would just let us go. And then sometimes you would, like after the show, you'd have to look and see the look in, like the security in everybody's face, and you knew, okay, they on us.

So many a times, we come off stage, but then we like switching jackets like people handing you jackets handing you different shirts and shit so you can put them on and walk through the backstage because now cops was like where they at you know we're those guys that was on stage and in Cincinnati I had to I saw him coming I saw him all like looking around and I didn't have a chance to change my shit so they was looking for me and so I hit the exit. I just I went outside. I went outside the concert and it was people like flowing in and out and it was like Q what you doing out here? I said, man, they looking for me. He's like, I jumped in the car with him, like fans and shit, I just jumped in the car with him.

They drove me across the bridge to Kansas City, I mean Kentucky is right across from Cincinnati. We sitting there waiting for anybody to drive up. Nobody drove up and they end up driving me back to the hotel. And then you got Eazy and Dre. Where the fuck was you?

Where'd you go, man? We all got citations and we got to come back here. They want us to fly back here to go to court and they couldn't catch, they was looking for you, they couldn't catch you. I was like man I dip. I dip.

And I'm a dip again next show. You

See all PowerfulJRE transcripts on Youtube

The FBI Sent a Letter to N.W.A. Over Their Lyrics