Hip-Hop History - Volume One : N.W.A. : The World's Most Dangerous Group

NWA, the world's most dangerous, and argueably most infuencial, group were formed in 1986 by former drug dealer, Eric 'Eazy-E' Wright. Eazy formed Ruthless Records as a way to get paid, nothing more, nothing less. He brought in local rapper Lorenzo 'MC Ren' Paterson, a local rapper/writer from a crew called CIA - Ice Cube, born O'Shea Jackson, and the two producers of the World Class Wreckin' Cru, Dr. Dre (Andre Young) and Antoine 'DJ Yella' Carraby.

The group formed and adopted the name NWA (Niggaz With Attitude), with the plan of turning their back on the radio waves and to come out with records which pushed the limits of what society deemed acceptable. The seldom heard 'NWA And The Posse' was released in 1986, but it wasn't until two years later, when the group released the classic album 'Straight Outta Compton' did they make a name for themselves. The album which pushed every boundary imaginable sold over 2,000,000 copies in just a few months without a radio friendly track.

Dr. Dre once famously quipped that the album had been comprised in just 6 weeks to sell out of the boot of the car at local swap meets. 'Straight Outta Compton' was undeniably the most influencial hardcore hip-hop album of all time. 17 years later, the album has become a legendary classic in hip-hop history and is also one of the most contraversial albums of all time. The album was constantly slated in the national press and was even denounced by the President. Irrespective of the success, Ice Cube would leave the group a year later over a dispute over royalty payments with the group's manager Jerry Heller and Eazy-E, a problem which would eventually destroy the group and lead to the foundation of Deathrow Records.

The next year, Ice Cube would release his debut solo effort, the stellar 'AmeriKKKas Most Wanted', on which he hooked up with Public Enemy's production group 'The Bomb Squad' to produce a highly charged, contraversial, political classic. He addressed his issues with Eazy-E on the introduction to 'Turn Off The Radio'. This album would give Ice Cube a huge fan base on the east as well as the west, and this dominance made him, for the time, the King of Hip-Hop. The same year, NWA released their third album, '100 Miles And Runnin', a 5 track EP on which they reminded the streets of their presence and set up the world for their final studio album, 'Efil4Zaggin'. They replied to Ice Cube, reffering to him as a Benedict Arnold in Efil4Zaggin's 'Message To B.A.'.

Efil4Zaggin was the first hardcore hip-hop album ever to reach Number One on Billboard's Top 100 Pop Album Charts. This was such an achievement as just two weeks prior the new Sound Scan system, and with the new system installed in large chain stores which were located in primarily white areas, it was obvious that white kids were also buying the album now.

Album Review : Efil4Zaggin

Artists : Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella

Record Label : Ruthless Records

Released : 1991

Imagine 'Clockwork Orange' on tape. This album was more gory, more twisted but also musically better than 'Striaght Outta Compton'. The album explores many different avenues, from the radio proof, but still gangsta 'Alwayz Into Somethin' to the sick, twisted, uneedingly violent 'One Less Bitch', Efil4Zaggin was a paradox, it has the whole package. The funky 'I'd Rather Fuck With You' is one of the album's many high points. The song isn't what you would usually expect from the group, especially as the tracks before have included the vulgar 'Find'em, Fuck'em And Flee', the graphic skit 'To Kill A Hooker', the black comedic murders in 'One Less Bitch' and the degrading 'She Swallowed It'. Like I said, an album of paradox's.

 Listening to the album is like listening to a story, the beginning of the album has many politically charged songs. 'Prelude' follows straight on from the final track on '100 Miles And Runnin' 'Kamurshol', this gives the idea of this story extending past this one album. 'Real Niggaz Don't Die' and 'Niggaz 4 Life' are tracks intended to shock, a tact which is continued on the skit 'Protest' which depicts the group murdering protesters. 'Don't Drink That Wine' has to be one of the most comical skits of all time and this is followed by the radio-friendly, 'Alwayz Into Somethin' which along with the next track 'Message To B.A.' addresses the beef with Ice Cube. There are also references to Cube on the following track 'Real Niggaz'.

So the album has now gone through a period of political tracks and have also sent shots at Ice Cube. But what would NWA be without female degradation? The next 5 or 6 tracks are probabily the most degrading tracks aimed at the fairer sex ever. 'Approach To Danger' is one of the best attempts at horrorcore. Over a loop of dark music and screaming voices, MC Ren, one of NWA's more violently lyrical members, kicks the track off. This is a track which makes fans fiend for the next album, sadly it wasn't forecoming. 'The Dayz Of Wayback' was not just the end of an album, it was the end of an era. The track ends with NWA members laughing about bringing out another album and 'the man not being able to do anything about it'. Sadly this 'in-your-face' cockiness was also goodbye.

i-Pod Worthy : 'Alwayz Into Somethin' 'Real Niggaz' 'I'd Rather Fuck You' 'Approach To Danger'

Skippable : 'One Less Bitch'

Overall : 5 1/2 Out Of 6 Shots. Nearly as perfect as 'Straight Outta Compton'

Sadly, this would be the last time NWA recorded as a group after the group fell into disrepute with Eazy-E and Jerry Heller over money. Eazy-E was reportedly threatened by Marion 'Suge' Knight and was forced to release the group members from their contracts. Dr. Dre went onto form Deathrow Records, one of the most iconic record labels of the ninetees, with Suge Knight. The year later he released his own solo debut, 'The Chronic', another classic LP. The album, which introduced Snoop Dogg, and shown Dre's talent as a rapper was aimed at Eazy-E. MC Ren and Eazy-E went on to have successful solo carrers but Eazy's career was sadly cut short when he died off Aids in 1995. The group reportedly worked out their differences shortly before Eazy's death.

NWA were constantly followed by contraversy throughout their life, now seen as one of the most infuencial rap groups of all time, NWA truely where 'the world's most dangerous group'.

The NWA Discography

NWA - NWA And The Posse (1986) ***

NWA - Straight Outta Compton (1988) ******

NWA - 100 Miles And Runnin' (1990) ****

NWA - Efil4Zaggin (1991) *****

NWA - Greatest Hits (1996) ******

Various Artists - NWA : The Legacy Volume 1 ****

Various Artists - NWA : The Legacy Volume 2 ***

Peace, Love, Unity And Justice For All. See ya'll on number 2