N.W.A. ("Niggaz With Attitude")
N.W.A. ("Niggaz With Attitude") was a hip hop group that was formed in Compton, California in 1986, and disbanded in 1991.
Over the course of the four years that the group was together, they redefined the face of West Coast hip hop in both lyrical and instrumental ways. N.W.A. was one of the first gangsta rap groups to achieve widespread commercial success without radio airplay or many other conventional mainstream promotions.[citation needed] In fact, they were banned from many radio stations.
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. Many of the band members have gone on to lead successful solo careers. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked N.W.A. #83 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[1]
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 bands on his label rejected it, Eazy-E decided to rap it himself. Eazy formed "Niggaz With Attitude" (N.W.A.) with Ice Cube as the MC, former World Class Wreckin' Cru members Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, former The Fila Fresh Crew member The D.O.C. and Arabian Prince. Eazy-E released the party album N.W.A. and the Posse on Macola Records. 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. In 1988 March, The D.O.C. (ghostwriter of the group) left N.W.A. to began his solo career by releasing No One Can Do It Better in 1989. Arabian Prince stayed with N.W.A. until July, 1988 (but he can still be seen on album picture of Straight Outta Compton, between DJ Yella and Ice Cube). In same tear the group added MC Ren. One year later, Arabian Prince released "Brother Arab", his first LP.