1. NWA
History
NWA (abbreviation for Niggaz wit attitude) was an American hip hop group coming from
California Compton that is widely considered to have been among the earliest and most
significant popularisers of the gangsta rap and west coast hip hop subgenres while also
being credited by many as one of the seminal groups in the history of hip hop music. They
were active from 1986 to 1991, the rap group had been through a lot of legal issues mainly
because of the content of their lyrics that was viewed as disrespectful women and glorified
gang violence and drugs.
The group was created by Compton-based rapper Eazy-E who also co-founded Ruthless
records with Jerry Heller who was there manage. The group consisted of 4 member
obviously Eazy E himself, Dj Yella, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and MC Ren. Even though NWA we’re
still in very early stages of development Ruthless records release their first single “Panic
Zone” in 1987 with macola records, which was then later included on the compilation album
N.W.A and the posse.
NWA release their debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, in 1988. With its famous
opening salvo of three tracks, the group reflected the rising anger of the urban youth. The
opening song “Straight Outta Compton” introduced the group, “F the police” protested
police brutality and racial profiling, and “Gangsta Gangsta” painted a worldwide picture of
the inner city youth. While the group was later credited with leading the growing subgenre
of gangsta rap, N.W.A referred to their music as "reality rap.
Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, as HighPowered Productions, composed the beats for each song, with
Dre making occasional rapping appearances. Ice Cube and MC Ren wrote most of the
group's lyrics, including "F tha Police," perhaps the group's most notorious song, which
brought them into conflict with various law enforcement agencies. Under pressure from
Focus on the Family, Milt Ahlerich, an assistant director of the FBI, sent a letter to Ruthless
and its distributing company Priority Records, advising the rappers that "promoting violence
and assault is wrong and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such
action." This letter can still be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio
Policemen refused to provide security for the group's concerts, hurting their plans to tour.
Nonetheless, the FBI's letter only served to draw more publicity to the group.
However during there 5 years of being together the group had ran into conflict and
disagreement which led to the breakup of the group. It first started with ice cube who had
left in December 1989 over royalty disputes having written almost half of the lyrics on
Straight Outta Compton himself, he felt he was not getting a fair share of the profits. He
wasted little time putting together his solo debut album, 1990's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted,
2. but he avoided mentioning his former label mates. 1991's Niggaz4Life would be the group's
final album. After Dr. Dre, The D.O.C. and Michel'le (Dr. Dre’s Wife) departed from Ruthless
to join Death Row Records and accusations over Eazy-E being forced into signing away their
contracts (while however holding a portion of their publishing rights), a harsh rivalry
ensued. Dr. Dre began the exchange with Death Row's first release, 1992's F Wit Dre Day
(And Everybody's Celebratin'), and its accompanying video featured a character named
"Sleazy-E" who ran around desperately trying to get money. The insults continued on The
Chronic with "B*****s Ain't S**t." Eazy-E responded in 1993 with the EP It's On (Dr. Dre)
187um Killa on the tracks "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" and "It's on." Eazy-E accused Dr. Dre of
being a homosexual, calling him a "she thang," and criticizing Dre's new image by calling him
and Snoop "studio gangsters." The music video for "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" showed a still
of Dre wearing make-up and a sequined jumpsuit. The photos dated back to Dr. Dre's World
Class Wreckin' Cru days, when such fashion was common among West Coast electro hop
artists, prior to N.W.A's popularization of gangsta rap. Eazy-E kept dissing Dre and Death
Row on most of his songs until his AIDS-related death on March 26, 1995. All bad blood
finally ceased within the rest of the group. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube would later express their re-
evaluated feelings to their old friend on 1999's "What's The Difference" and "Chin Check,"
2000's "Hello," and 2006's "Growin' Up" and in the 2011 music video "I Need a Doctor."
Straight Outta Compton Movie
Straight Outta Compton is the upcoming 2015 American biographical drama filmdirected by
F. Gary Gray. The film revolves around the rise and fall of the Compton, California hip hop
group N.W.A. The film's title is borrowed from the title of N.W.A's 1988 debut studio album.
Straight Outta Compton is set for theatrical release on August 14, 2015. It’ll sure to detail
some of the groups famous time especially during the police brutality and the riots that took
place back during that time period. Be sure to check it out.
