There really is no question that N.W.A. made as profound an impact on the music industry as any other group in history. Born in the scorching streets of Compton, the celebrated hip-hop set did its best to contain the energies of Eazy E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella.
With the release of the influential Straight Outta Compton in 1988, N.W.A. unleashed an offensive that few other groups would be able to touch. “Straight Outta Compton,” “Fuck tha Police,” and “Gangsta Gangsta” set the world on fire with lyrics describing police brutality, racial profiling, inner city life, and the righteous anger of urban youth.
Straight Outta Compton gave birth to the gangsta rap genre and a host of imitators, but nobody would ever come close to the original gangsters of N.W.A. The group faced heat from Focus on the Family, the police, and the FBI, which only served to produce more hype for the record. It went double platinum despite very little radio play. Soon enough, it became clear that the mainstream media could not ignore what was happening in Compton any longer.
Out of the N.W.A. sprang several solo efforts, including Eazy E’s spectacular 1988 debut Eazy-Duz-It and the D.O.C.’s No One Can Do It Better. Ice Cube split from the group due to a royalty dispute and cut 1990’s incredible AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted. With the split as fuel for the 100 Miles and Runnin’ EP, N.W.A. took several shots at the former member before releasing their second full length and final album as a group, Niggaz4Life.
After a host of label issues and splits, N.W.A. would eventually disband. It would seem as though Ice Cube’s departure was the death blow. Some argue that the group’s hot-blooded personalities caused the split to take place before necessary, but such is the nature of true art. The bottom line is that the legacy of N.W.A. is indisputable; few other musical groups have done so much in so few recordings.
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