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Niggaz4Life

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Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Blender[2]
Pitchfork Media8.8/10[3]
RapReviews9/10[4]
Robert ChristgauC−[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
Rolling Stone[7]

Niggaz4Life (also known as Efil4zaggin), was the second and final studio album by Gangsta rap group N.W.A, released in 1991. It was their final album, as the group disbanded later the same year after the departure of Dr. Dre and songwriter The D.O.C. for Death Row Records; the album features only four members of the original line-up, as Ice Cube had already left the group in 1989. Niggaz4Life debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, but in its second week reached #1.

In 1992, several months after the release of the album, N.W.A released a video entitled Niggaz4Life: The Only Home Video, which chronicled the making of the album and its three music videos, "Alwayz into Somethin'", "Appetite for Destruction" and "Approach to Danger".

In 2003, the CD was re-released in two formats. Both had the EP 100 Miles and Runnin' appended to the end of the original track listing, but one was available with a DVD copy of Niggaz4Life: The Only Home Video.

Title

On the cover the title appears as a mirror-image of the text "NIGGAZ4LIFE". The name of the new album had been revealed in "Kamurshol" from N.W.A's previous release 100 Miles and Runnin', but only by playing a vinyl copy backwards could the otherwise unintelligible sound be deciphered as "niggaz for life". Since the album contained the word "Nigga" in it, on some publications it had to be edited out as Straight Out of Compton 2.

While "Niggaz 4 Life" was the original title, it was likely changed on the cover to its reversed form due to political (and financial) considerations. The corruption of the word "nigga" as used in the album title was perhaps influenced by censorship measures in the US music industry introduced at the time. Controversy surrounding the content of heavy metal and hip hop music in general, in particular N.W.A, had been directed by Tipper Gore's Parents Music Resource Center, which had resulted in the adoption of self-censorship measures in the US music industry, including the Parental Advisory sticker. Straight Outta Compton, N.W.A's previous full-length, which also contained the song "Parental Discretion Iz Advised", was one of the first to be branded. By obfuscating the offensive word, the group were able to lever a small measure of artistic freedom. At the time of release, the album was removed from music stores in the United Kingdom.

In 1991, Island Records UK (who licensed the record outside the USA) were charged under section two of the UK's obscene publication act for wilfully releasing efil4zaggin in the UK. Given the chance to withdraw the album by the police and avoid prosecution the board of director took the decision to defend NWA's right of free speech. Island president Marc Marot was personally threatened with prosecution under section 1 of the act as the 'controlling mind' behind Island records at the time of the case. Island engaged Geoffrey Robinson QC as a barrister and were rewarded with a famous win at Redbridge magistrate court on 7 November 1991, with all charges dismissed and costs awarded against the Crown prosecution services. This was to be the last obscenity trial levelled against the UK music industry.

In comparison to its predecessor, the album was also heavier on misogyny, which it became notorious for. The album's final nine songs were laden with more sexist profanity and references to various sexual acts; provoking the ire of the PMRC,[8] liberal and conservative politicians, and civil rights activist C. Delores Tucker.[9]

All tracks were produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella for High Powered Productions

Track listing

# Title Performer(s) Length Samples
1 Prelude Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Above the Law 2:27
2 Real Niggaz Don't Die Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren 3:40
3 Niggaz 4 Life Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren 4:58
4 Protest (interlude) 0:53
5 Appetite for Destruction Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren 3:22
  • "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
  • "Funky Stuff" by Kool and the Gang
  • "Get Me Back on Time, Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett
  • "Niggers vs. the Police" by Richard Pryor
6 Don't Drink That Wine (Interlude) 1:07
  • "I've Been Watching You (Move Your Sexy Body)" by Parliament
  • "If It Ain't Ruff " by N.W.A.
7 Alwayz into Somethin' Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Admiral D 4:25
8 Message to B.A (Interlude) 0:48
9 Real Niggaz MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy E 4:27
  • "Give it Up" by Kool & the Gang
  • "Got to Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn
  • "Gashman" by The Last Poets
  • "The Lovomaniacs" by Boobie Knight & the Universal Lady
10 To Kill a Hooker (interlude) 0:50
11 One Less Bitch MC Ren, Dr. Dre 4:47
12 Findum, Fuckum, and Flee Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, Capital Punishment Organization 3:55
13 Automobile Eazy-E, Dr. Dre 3:15
  • "My Automobile" by Parliament
14 She Swallowed It MC Ren 4:13
  • "Cardova" by The Meters
  • "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Babe" by Barry White
  • "That Girl is a Slut" by Just-Ice
  • "Slack Jawed Leroy" by Leroy & Skillet with LaWanda Page
15 I'd Rather Fuck You Eazy E 3:57
  • "I'd Rather Be with You" by Bootsy Collins
16 Approach to Danger Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Eazy-E 2:45
17 1-900-2-Compton (Interlude) 1:27
  • "P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)" by Parliament
18 The Dayz of Wayback Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Admiral D 4:15

Chart positions

Album

Year Chart Chart positions
1991 Billboard 200 #1
1991 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums #2

Singles

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart Hot Rap Tracks
1991 "Appetite for Destruction" - #45 #2
1991 "Alwayz into Somethin'" - #37 #1

Billboard 200 chronology

U.S. Billboard 200
Week 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Position (from 06/15/1991) 2 1 3 6 7 9 10 13 16 18 18 20 18 19 23 33 35 39 48 58 65 66 74 80 104 112 111 138 138
Week 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44
Position (from 01/04/1992) 148 93 109 132 120 128 124 128 165 161 172 172 186 196 185

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Blender review
  3. ^ Pitchfork Media Review
  4. ^ RapReviews review
  5. ^ Robert Christgau review
  6. ^ Rolling Stone review
  7. ^ Rolling Stone review
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ [2]
Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album
June 22–28, 1991 		Succeeded by
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