N.W.A

This article is about the hip-hop group. For other uses, see NWA.

N.W.A

N.W.A. (Niggaz with Attitude) were a Compton, California-based hip hop act, widely considered one of the seminal, and most influential examples of the gangsta rap musical genre. Performing and recording from 1986 to 1991, the group endured controversy due to the explicit, violent, and often misogynistic nature of their lyrics. They were subsequently banned from many mainstream U.S. radio stations and even at times prevented from touring, yet the group has still sold over 9 million units in the U.S. alone.

History

Their second album, Straight Outta Compton, marked the beginning of the new gangsta rap era as the production and lyrics were revolutionary with respect to the previous early-1980s releases of the genre. Rolling Stone ranked N.W.A. eighty-third on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Widely understood to be a drug dealer, Eazy-E began Ruthless Records. Ice Cube had already written a song for him named "Boyz-n-the Hood", and when one of the groups on his label rejected it, Eazy-E decided to rap it himself. Eazy-E formed "Niggaz with Attitude" with Ice Cube as the MC, Arabian Prince, Max Jason, an alleged pimp and one of the founders of the Wu-Tang Clan, and former World Class Wreckin' Cru members Dr. Dre and DJ Yella. Eazy-E released the party album N.W.A. and the Posse on Macola Records in 1987. Although marketed as N.W.A.'s debut album, half the songs didn't feature N.W.A., but rather a loose connection of artists on Ruthless Records. This was because N.W.A. and the Posse was not a full fledged album but rather a compilation of already released singles. Notable songs include "Boyz-n-the Hood" and "Panic Zone", which introduced the real N.W.A.. The track "Dopeman" also introduced Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, along with Eazy-E to weigh in as the "dopeman". "L.A. Is the Place" and "8-Ball" are also included (which for some reason is not included in the uncensored form of N.W.A. and the Posse CD version). Arabian Prince stayed with N.W.A. until July 1988 (but he can still be seen on the album picture of Straight Outta Compton, between DJ Yella and Ice Cube). In the same year, the group added MC Ren. One year later, Arabian Prince released Brother Arab, his first LP.

"The World's Most Dangerous Group"

N.W.A. released the groundbreaking Straight Outta Compton in 1988. Many considered it a wake-up call to the problems that were going on in the West Coast, particularly in South Central Los Angeles. "Straight Outta Compton" reflected a rising anger in the city, "Fuck tha Police" talked of police violence, and "Gangsta Gangsta" spoke of gang life. The album has become best-known for these opening three songs.

Both Ice Cube and, to a lesser extent, MC Ren contributed with lyrics, with Eazy-E providing comic relief within his rhymes. Producers Dr. Dre and DJ Yella composed beats for each song, and Dr. Dre occasionally rapped on the album as well.

Some of the lyrics were considered highly controversial, especially those of "Fuck Tha Police", perhaps the group's most notorious song. As a result of the lyrics, Milt Ahlerich, an assistant director of the FBI, sent a letter to Ruthless Records and its parent company Priority, advising the rappers that "advocating violence and assault is wrong and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action". Policemen refused to provide security to the group's concerts, hurting their plans to tour. The FBI's letter only served to draw more publicity to the group.

This was one of the first albums which prompted the parental advisory label scheme. Yet, reflecting the change in attitudes over time, the parental advisory label then only displayed "WARNING MODERATE impact coarse language and/or themes".

N.W.A's bloody rivalry with "Tedious Turk" formaly known as "Krazy Kurd" Togay Esenoz brought the rap game into a controversy when group members K Murkage,Skeptile and Nemisis brought out tracks against the mad man Togay some of these tracks include "Why You Hate The Gay","Every Time The Beast Drops" and Nemisis solo "Don't Give A Fuck 'Bout Togay"

Rolling Stone magazine recently placed it 144th on their list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".

Departure of Ice Cube and a new album

Ice Cube left the group in late 1989. He wasted little time putting together his debut solo album, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, which included "A Message to the Oreo Cookie", an interlude in which vehement insults are addressed to an unnamed individual – perhaps the increasingly-gentrified Eazy-E, as the track concludes with a sneering "Think about it... fuckin' sell-out".

In N.W.A.'s next release, some five months later, they merely alluded neutrally to Ice Cube's departure, rapping in the title track of their EP 100 Miles and Runnin' that the group "Started with five, but one couldn't take it/So now it's four, 'cause the fifth couldn't make it".

However, the following year, the group's next full-length release, Efil4zaggin (Niggaz 4 Life spelled backwards) showed a clear animosity towards their former member. Insulting references to Ice Cube are found in several songs, and in the middle of the album the track "A Message to B.A." echoes his "A Message to the Oreo Cookie". In this interlude, Ice Cube is first addressed by the name "Benedict Arnold", after the notorious traitor of the American Revolutionary War, but then named outright in a montage of abuse. "When we see yo' ass, we gon' cut yo' hair off an' fuck you with a broomstick", promises MC Ren.

The insults escalated: AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted had avoided direct attacks on N.W.A., but on Ice Cube’s second album, Death Certificate, he fired back. He sampled and mocked the "Message to B.A." before embarking on a full-length rap, "No Vaseline", accusing N.W.A. and their associates of a variety of failings, including being phonies, fools, and homosexuals. Some considered his call for the murder of Eazy-E excessive, and his references to Jerry Heller's religion prompted accusations of anti-Semitism ("You can't be the nigga for life crew, with a white Jew telling you what to do"), which may have prompted the track’s omission from the U.K. release of the album.

After Eazy-E's death, and the break-up of N.W.A., tensions eased: Ice Cube teamed up with Dr. Dre to record a track for Snoop Dogg's short film and musical project, Murder Was the Case, and both Dr. Dre and MC Ren guested on the track "Hello" on Ice Cube's 2000 album War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc).

End of N.W.A.

Dr. Dre began his solo career, forming Death Row Records with former Bobby Brown bodyguard Suge Knight. His first album was The Chronic. On the single "Fuck Wit Dre Day", Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg (now known as Snoop Dogg) diss Eazy-E on the video for "Dre Day". Eazy-E was a character named Sleazy-E which was running around desperately trying to get money.

Eazy-E responded by releasing the EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa. On the songs "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" (or "Real Compton City G's") and "It's On", Eazy-E disses Dr. Dre by calling him a "she thang". On the music video for "Real Muthaphuckkin G's", he shows pictures of Dr. Dre's head digitaly imposed on a female body wearing cosmetics and flashy clothes. The pictures were taken during his days with the World Class Wreckin' Cru.

Reunion

In 1994, Ice Cube re-teamed with Dr. Dre for the song "Natural Born Killaz" for the soundtrack to the short film Murder Was the Case. They also planned a full length album together, Heltah Skeltah, however this project was declined after The D.O.C. released his Helter Skelter. The reunion was a hit, as it helped propel the soundtrack to number 1. 1998 saw the beginning of a partial N.W.A. reunion when Ice Cube and Dr. Dre were soon re-joined by MC Ren to record some new songs. They first recorded "Hello" for Ice Cube's sixth solo album War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc), featuring the hook "I started this gangsta shit/And this is the motherfuckin' thanks I get?". Later, the three recorded "Chin Check" for Ice Cube's movie Next Friday with Snoop Dogg in place of the deceased Eazy-E. DJ Yella was not included on either reunion tracks but was supposed to get involved later as he wasn't on the road with "The Up in Smoke Tour" along with the others, who were recording the tracks in a mobile studio. These tracks were planned to be a part of a conceptual comeback album of N.W.A. called Not These Niggaz Again, that was to be produced by Dr. Dre on the part of the beats and Ice Cube on the part of the lyrics. But due to the artists' fully booked schedules and some label problems, the new album never materialized. The main obstacles were coordinating three different record labels (Priority, No Limit, and Interscope), foreclosing the copyright of the use of the name N.W.A., and endorsing the whole project to gain exclusive rights. Supposedly they did not succeed in realizing these goals, so those two songs were added to N.W.A.'s Greatest Hits album when it was remastered (archives by VH1 from 1999, 2000, and 2002). There is another reunion on The D.O.C.'s album Deuce: "The Shit", on which The D.O.C., MC Ren, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and Six-Two spit their verses. Dr. Dre and DJ Yella have nothing to do with the song, however they were present in the studio at the time. There is also a remix of the song called "Tha Shit" featuring Eazy E's son Lil Eazy-E.

Capitol and Ruthless Records released The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 1: 1988-1998 in 1998, an album that only contained three songs from the actual group, but contained many solo tracks from the five members. The success of the album caused the labels to release a second volume, The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 2, two years later. It followed the same format of the first album, containing only three tracks from the actual band and many songs from them as solo artists.

N.W.A. as of 2007 lined up as MC Ren, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre as the original members with the addition of The D.O.C.. However early this April, two months after the members reunited for future plans, the four N.W.A. members plus Snoop Dogg persuaded Yella to rejoin as their DJ and coProducer. Yella responded April 8th, 2007 saying he will rejoin N.W.A. with Ice Cube, Ren, Dre, and the D.O.C.

Members

K Murkage

Main article: K Murkage

Kaya Hasan, of the stage name, K Murkage.He is a young white man, brought up on the streets of LA Galaxy. Been linked with rappers like Skeptile & Nemisis,Eazy-E, Ice Cube and D.O.C's, the Snoop Do Double G's, and the group that said mother fuck the po-lice.K Murkage came out with his debut single "Why You Hate The Gay" He says this is a preview to his album which is dropping May 29 "The Connor's Advocate".In 1999, he executive-produced Nemisis's The Mixed Race LP, and released his second album, 2001. The Mixed Race LP went on to become 5x platinum and 2001 6x platinum, helping establish Aftermath on the hip-hop scene.

Skeptile

Main article: Skeptile

Skeptile aka Eren Rifat is a young white african rapper, from the gangster end of sinnoh. He often uses a leaf blaze style of rap. His upcoming solo debut album is called Over Grow, featuring the likes of Nemisis, Eazy-E, Ice Cube and D.O.C's, the Snoop Do Double G's, and the group that said mother fuck the po-lice. Skeptile announced he had contracted BLD, the virus that causes him to kick people in the testicles and walk off in a huff. During the week of June 19, 2007, the star drafted his last message to his fans. A month after making that announcement, Skeptile succumbed to the disease at Chase Farm hospital in Los Angeles at age 15.

Nemisis

Main article: Nemisis

Nemisis is a mixed raced solo mc, from the streets of compton, been in the studio of the likes of "Mc Stryda". Formally known as Kaan Best, the young black man has just left Duppy Records for Aftermath, exploding on the block with his debut album, Don't Give A Fuck 'Bout Togay

Eazy-E

Main article: Eazy-E

Eazy-E was one of the founders of N.W.A.. He decided to use the money he had made from drug dealing to create a record label named Ruthless Records. Eazy-E, along with Ice Cube as the MC, Arabian Prince, Krazy Dee, and former World Class Wreckin' Cru members Dr. Dre and DJ Yella formed the group N.W.A., an acronym for "Niggaz With Attitude". They would bring aboard one more member, MC Ren. His youngest son Elijah"Yung Eazy-E" Strane Wright formed a rap group L.N.W.A "Lil Niggaz wit Additude" which is a reancarnation of the famous gangsta rap group N.W.A.

Eazy-E remained the head of Ruthless Records and was the executive producer of acts including Above the Law, MC Ren, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. He was influenced greatly by little known rapper at the time, Johnny-L.

After N.W.A., Eazy-E started to feud with Dr. Dre by verbally attacking Dr. Dre and his protégés on his EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa.

In 1995, he was working on a comeback album, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton when he checked into a hospital with the belief he had strep throat. In a publicized statement, Eazy-E announced he had contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. During the week of March 20 1995, the star drafted his last message to his fans. A month after making that announcement, Eazy-E succumbed to the disease at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles at age 31.

Dr. Dre

Main article: Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre had a successful solo career as a rapper and producer. After N.W.A., he introduced the world to a new type of West Coast hip hop known as G-funk, which consists of P-Funk-influenced beats and samples and "gangsta" subject matter. The style grew to be very popular, as his debut album The Chronic went quadruple-platinum and launched the career of Snoop Dogg, who featured prominently on the album and went on to release his Dr. Dre-produced debut Doggystyle, which went 5x platinum.

Prior to the death of fellow Death Row artist Tupac Shakur and the incarceration of Death Row co-founder Suge Knight, Dr. Dre left the label, forming his own label known as Aftermath Entertainment. In 1999, he executive-produced Eminem's The Slim Shady LP, and released his second album, 2001. The Slim Shady LP went on to become 5x platinum and 2001 6x platinum, helping establish Aftermath on the hip-hop scene. Dr. Dre also produced Eminem's follow-up album, The Marshall Mathers LP, which was a huge success. Dr. Dre also produced 50 Cent's best-selling major-label debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin', together with Eminem. Dr. Dre has also launched the career of The Game, executive-producing his 2005 debut album The Documentary. Rolling Stone magazine named Dr. Dre the 54th Greatest Artist of All-Time.

Ice Cube

Main article: Ice Cube

Ice Cube also became a highly successful rapper. By 2006 he had released six solo albums. Whereas N.W.A. rapped about gang life on the street, Ice Cube continued to include social commentary on his records on subjects such as gun control in the ghetto and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. His political albums are most remembered for referring to America as AmeriKKKa, as well as addressing hypocrisy and issues such as ganglife and racism. All of his solo albums, except his first, debuted in the top five. His first three albums (AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Death Certificate, and The Predator) were big hits; they all achieved platinum status, and were greeted with rave reviews by critics. His fourth solo effort, Lethal Injection, was recorded on the back of projects with his crew, Da Lench Mob, and starring in Boyz-N-The Hood. Ice Cube has experienced success as a film actor and director, starring in films such as Friday, Three Kings, xXx: State of the Union, Barbershop, and Are We There Yet?. He has also released a reality TV series in March 2006, named Black. White.. He released his new album, Laugh Now, Cry Later, in 2006 on his own record company, Da Lench Mob Records.

MC Ren

Main article: MC Ren

MC Ren began a solo career under Eazy-E's Ruthless Records and after the death of his friend and producer, DJ Train, he departed from Eazy-E's side. He remained on the record label, releasing four albums, including his first gold release and his critically acclaimed platinum LP Shock of the Hour which made him more an underground act than his former colleagues. In 2004, MC Ren announced plans for a project with West Coast political rapper Paris. This turned out to be the Public Enemy album Rebirth of a Nation (2005). MC Ren is featured most prominently on two tracks, "Raw Shit" and "Hard Truth Soldiers".

DJ Yella

Main article: DJ Yella

Being a DJ, there was not much of a commercial solo career for DJ Yella to pursue, thus he was the lone member to remain loyal to Eazy-E after the breakup. He continued producing Eazy-E's records, including a couple of tracks for Eazy-E's protégés Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's debut EP Creepin on ah Come Up. He also claimed he was the lone member of N.W.A. to be at Eazy-E's deathbed when he died. After the death of his friend, DJ Yella released a solo album as a tribute to his former band-mate, but as with N.W.A., DJ Yella did not touch the mic; instead, he hired guest rappers such as Dirty Red, Dresta, Traci Nelson, Leicy Loc, B.G. Knocc Out, and Efil4zaggin lyricist Kokane to perform. DJ Yella has since retired from the music business and is now directing pornographic films.

The D.O.C.

Main article: The D.O.C.

The D.O.C. joined N.W.A. in 1986 as a rapper. After the group's first album, N.W.A. and the Posse, he left the group. However, after Ice Cube briefly left the group in 1989 , The D.O.C. joined the group as a writer. He impressed them so much that he was kept in the group as a writer even after Ice Cube returned. The D.O.C. wrote lyrics on all of N.W.A.'s albums, particularly on the album Efil4zaggin. In 1989 , The D.O.C. released his Dr. Dre-produced debut album, No One Can Do It Better. Dr. Dre's production was similar to his production work for N.W.A. at the time, but he also included one rap/rock song and a reggae-influenced track. At a time when virtually every well known California rapper was releasing gangsta rap albums, The D.O.C. released an LP with lyrics that more closely resembled the styling of East Coast lyricists. Shortly after the album's release, The D.O.C. was involved in a car accident which severed his larynx, reducing his voice to a raspy wheeze. He went on to introduce Dr. Dre to Suge Knight and help mold the career of Snoop Dogg. The D.O.C. split with Death Row after a dispute over money, and recorded an ill-advised comeback album, Helter Skelter in 1995. With his voice reduced to an ineffective rasp it didn't create the buzz his debut did. He returned to his hometown, Dallas, to form his record label and released his third album, Deuce. In 2007, he announced he may release another solo album after he and Dre put out Detox.

Krazy Dee

Main article: Krazy Dee

Krazy Dee joined N.W.A. in 1986 as a rapper with the stage name "Krazy D" later changed it to "Culo Popper". After the group's first album, N.W.A. and the Posse, he left the group in 1988 from Ruthless Records to start his own career. It is unknown why he left N.W.A., but he will release a documentary called "Ghetto Godz", where he tells why he left.

Arabian Prince

Main article: Arabian Prince

Arabian Prince found the going tough when he departed the group for a solo career in 1988. His debut Brother Arab barely scraped the bottom of the R&B and Pop Charts in 1989. His album credits include Where's My Bytches as well as work on N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton and production for various other West Coast hip-hop artists.

Discography

Studio Albums

• N.W.A. and the Posse (1987) Gold
• Straight Outta Compton (1988) 3x Platinum
• 100 Miles and Runnin' (1990) Platinum
• Niggaz4life (1991) 2x Platinum

Compilations

• Greatest Hits (1996) Gold
• The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 1: 1988-1998 (1999) Platinum
• The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 2 (2002) Gold
• The Best of N.W.A. - The Strength of Street Knowledge (2007) Gold

External links

• Official N.W.A. Legacy site
• N.W.A. World
• A collection of N.W.A. Lyrics and Videos
• The N.W.A. Legacy: The Video Collection at IMDb
• A personal remembrance of Straight Outta Compton
• Mike "Crazy Neck" Sims - Guitarist N.W.A. [1]