Nwa group what does the name mean. Why is N.W.A so important to us?

Group N.W.A.(or Niggaz with Attitude) was one of the most famous groups performing gangsta rap in the late 80s - early 90s. Despite not being played on the radio, they sold over 9 million records between 1986 and 1991.

Although the first album set the tone, 1988's "Straight Outta Compton" depicted the brutal world of gangster crime in Los Angeles, which opened the rest of the world to them.

The song “F*ck tha Police” caused a lot of controversy, which led to unflattering statements from the FBI director about the album’s publisher – record company Ruthless Records, and local police refused to monitor security at the band's performances N.W.A..

Like many other rap groups at the time, members of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre(Dr. Dre), Ice Cube (Ice Cube), MC Ren (MC Ren) and DJ Yella (DJ Yella) decided to go their separate ways, and did not hesitate to make accusations against each other.
Read this article to find out how the spat and its aftermath affected each of their careers. former members groups.

In parentheses, the years spent in the NWA group.

Eazy-E (1986-1991)
aka Eric Lynn Wright
Eazy-E was born in Compton, California. Rumor has it that with the help of quite a large sum of money, he struck a deal with Ruthless Records.

He was initially expected not to perform, but after he took the stage and sang alongside Ice Cube and sang “Boyz-n-the-Hood,” a new rap group, NWA, was born. Soon he began to “loan” the money the group earned, without saying anything to the other members.

As the group began to fall apart, the animosity between him and the rest of the group increased even more. Mutual accusations between Eazy, Ice Cube and Dre ended in mutual gunfire.

What he did after NWA: Despite the fact that his first solo album, "Eazy-Duz-It" (1988), went two times platinum, Eazy's solo career was short-lived. He died of AIDS in March 1995, but his legacy lives on: his two posthumous albums, released in 1995, were successful.

Many songs were written in his memory by his artist friends, and his son made a documentary about him. In Compton, California, rapper Eazy-E Day is celebrated annually on April 7th.

I bet you don't know what: game character Lance Ryder Wilson from the game "Grand" Theft Auto: San Andreas" - was copied from Eazy-E.

Dr. Dre (1986-1991)
aka André Romell Young
Dr. Dre was born in 1965 in Los Angeles, California. In the 80s he started his career as a DJ on " The World Class Wreckin' Cru." Since he was a producer, his vocal abilities were less noticeable compared to Ice Cube and Eazy-E.

However, after Ice Cube left in 1991, he began recording his songs with other members. He confirmed his notorious reputation as a brawler when he attacked TV presenter Dee Barnes.

What He Did After NWA: Dre's reaction to Barnes' report of the beef between NWA and Ice Cube led to disagreements between him, Eazy-E and the NWA. The controversy led to him being fired from the group, and although he had to pay compensation to the record company for the breakup, with the help of his friend Suge Knight, he did not have to.

They later created their own label, Death Row Records.
A little later, again after disagreements over money, he left Death Row and formed his own own label"Aftermath Entertainment" It is unknown whether Dre and Eazy-E managed to reconcile before Eazy's death, but the ease with which Dre and Ice Cube teamed up in the mid-90s allows us to draw just such conclusions.

What he's doing now: Probably counting his money. Despite disagreements with NWA, labels, and, as a result, other artists, Dre continues to be a successful producer. According to Rolling Stone's list of the 50 Richest Rock Stars, he is one of the most successful producers of hip-hop groups. This is what a man who pioneers gangsta rap and G-funk, who had his own, gets successful career, and which revealed to the light of such stars as Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent.

Dre continues to improve and introduce new hip-hop and pop artists to the world, earning up to $2 million per song from one of the talents he discovered. According to rumors, Dre is currently working on his solo album "Detox".

Bet you don't know what: Dre donated a million dollars to the Julia S. Hester Foundation for families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Ice Cube (1986-1989)
aka O"Shea Jackson
Ice Cube's NWA career began with "Boyz-n-the-Hood", which brought Eazy-E to the microphone for the first time. He wrote most songs for the albums "Eazy-Duz-It" (1988) and "Straight Outta Compton" (1989).

In 1987, he left the group to study as an architect in Institute of Technology Phoenix. Like Dre, he left the group in 1989 after financial mismanagement.

What he did after NWA: After leaving the group, Ice Cube first tried to get other members of the group out to create his own label. His first solo album was "AmeriKKKa"s Most Wanted" (1990), but some of the songs were remade and released in 1991 - the album "Death Certificate". The lyrics contain many religious, anti-Semitic and misogynistic statements and hatred of homosexuals.

Even harsh criticism did not greatly damage the success of the album. He has a very successful solo career and often performs with others famous hip hop artists, and has appeared in several films, including Three Kings (1999), xXx: State of the Union (2005), and a couple of lesser known ones, Barbershop (2002) and Are We There Yet? (2005).
What he's doing now: After six successful solo albums, his latest effort, Laugh Now, Cry Later, released in 2006 by his label Da Lench Mob, was also a success. He recently appeared on the FX reality show "White. Black."

Cube is also starring in three new films: “Are We Done Yet?” (2007) and "The Extractors and First Sunday" (2008). In addition, he continues to work in the film "Prince of Compton", which is being directed by Eazy-E's son.

Bet you don't know what: Rumor has it that he will star in and produce the film version of the TV show "Welcome Back, Kotter", where he will play the role of Mr. Kotter - one of the most difficult and controversial roles of his acting career.

MC Ren (1986-1991)
aka Lorenzo Jerald Patterson
MC Ren was born in Compton, California. His other nicknames were "The Ruthless Villain" and "The Villain in Black". Straight out of school, Ren joined NWA and performed songs from the album "Straight Outta Compton". When Ice Cube left, Ren began to play a significant role in the group, and remained so until the group disbanded in 1991.

What he did after NWA: After the breakup, Ren stayed with Eazy-E and recorded his own solo album, "Kizz My Black Azz" in 1992. The album went platinum - a real confirmation of Ren's talent. While working on his second album, Shock of the Hour (1993), he produced the film Lost in the Game (2004). After this, two more albums were recorded, but none of them became more successful than the debut. Ren is still a respected figure in the rap community, often appearing at performances with Ice Cube, The D.O.C, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill and many others.

What he's doing now: Ren says he's already taking a break, but in 2006 he sang a few songs on Public Enemy's "Rebirth of a Nation" album, and rumor has it that currently he participates in the recording of the band's debut album "Concrete Criminals".

Bet you don't know what: Ren got a crescent moon tattoo on his right hand, symbolizing the changes that have occurred in his life.

DJ Yella (1986-1991)
aka Antoine Carraby
Yella also DJed on “The World Class Wreckin’ Cru.” He joined Dr. Dre during the NWA tour. He co-produced NWA's albums and Eazy Duz It's debut album, and also directed porn films under the name Tha Kidd.

What He Did After NWA: After NWA disbanded, he continued to record albums and individual tracks for Ruthless Records artists, including Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. DJ Yella released only one solo album, “One Mo Nigga Ta Go” (1996), which featured tracks from other artists. However great success he didn't succeed and went back to filming porn.

What he's doing now: DJ Yella produces porn films, filming aspiring actors and actresses. Although he was not invited to the NWA unification tour in 2000, he agreed to another similar experiment in 2007.

Bet you don't know what: DJ Yella took his name from the song “Mr. Yellow” by Tom Tom Club.

The D.O.C. (1986-1991)
aka Tracy Lynn Curry
The D.O.C was born in Houston, Texas and was a core member of N.W.A. Before joining NWA in 1986, he cut his teeth in the Dallas rap group Fila Fresh Crew. He left the group after recording the first album, returned after Ice Cube left, and remained even after his return.

His biggest contribution was to the 1991 album "Efil4zaggin". Like the other members of the group, The D.O.C released his solo album, No One Can Do It Better (1989), which was produced by Dre. The album was recorded in a reggae style with hints of rock and lyrical melodies of the east coast.

Unfortunately, D.O.C's solo career ended after he injured his throat during a road accident.

What he did after NWA: He continued to write songs and helped record debut album Dr. Dre - "The Chronic" (1992), and Snoop Dogg's album "Doggystyle" (1993). However, he soon left the Death Row label because of... money. He soon moved south to Atlanta.

He still wrote the lyrics for joint project Dre and Ice Cube, and at the same time recorded another solo album, “Helter Skelter” (1996), but the lyrics alone could not hide all the musical shortcomings of the voice. In 2003, Dr. Dre and The D.O.C teamed up to record their third album, Deuce, with other artists participating on most of the tracks.

What he's doing now: The D.O.C is set to release another solo album in 2007, called "Voice Through Hot Vessels", but only after Dre releases his album "Detox", on which he also appears.

Bet you don't know what: Trace the evolution of the artist's name. At first he was called Tracy to Tray, and immediately before joining the NWA group his name was Dr. T to T or Doc T. Presumably, he changed the name because the NWA did not need two doctors - so it turned out to be The D.O.C.

Arabian Prince (1986–1988)
aka Mik Lezan
Arabian Prince was born in Inglewood, California. He is known for his performances in NWA, but in addition, even before joining the group, he also recorded his solo album, “Situation Hot” (1985). He left the group in 1988 when Ice Cube returned.

What He Did After NWA: The rapper/producer/DJ continued his career immediately after leaving the group and releasing the album "Brother Arab" in 1989. The album didn't turn out very well, but in 1993 he released another album, "Where"s My Bytches, which had the same dismal results.

What he's doing now: In 2000, Arabian Prince emerged as a producer and video game tester for FOX Interactive and Vivendi Universal, where he continues to produce music to this day. He also records electro hip-hop music under the name Professor X for the Dutch label Clone Records, DJs in Los Angeles nightclubs, and sells various DJ gear on OneFader.com.

I bet you don't know what: He main supporter musical software Reason company, whose products help convert analog music into digital format.

Krazy Dee (1986-1988)
Krazy Dee is also from Compton, California. He joined NWA in 1986, but for unknown reasons, like Arabian Prince, left the group in 1988.
What he did after NWA: He planned to finish his solo album in 1996, but the project was delayed due to the illness of a family member of the record company. Finding nothing else, he abandoned the project for an indefinite period.

What he's doing now: He plans to release an EP (Extended Play) in the summer of 2007, and is working on a movie called "Ghetto Godz", in which he says he plans to reveal the shocking truth about N.W.A. and why he then he left.

Bet you don't know what: Krazy Dee is also known as Culo Popper.

Still alive...
Despite disagreements about money, after Eazy-E's death, the hostility between the band members almost disappeared. The remaining members of the group (almost in full force) teamed up and continued performing with their protégés Eminem and Snoop Dogg.

Since the release of the first album N.W.A. Almost two decades have passed, however, No hip-hop or rap group has ever come close to the success that NWA had...

*This article was prepared specifically for

Eric Wright was expelled from high school and began making money by selling drugs. Based on revenue music label Ruthless Records. When two more members of Ruthless, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube wrote "Boyz-N-The-Hood", ... Read all

Eazy-E (real name Eric Linn Wright) was essentially the author of the Gangsta-rap genre, the founder of the first label on West coast, member and creator of the cult rap group “N.W.A.”

Eric Wright was expelled from high school and began making money by selling drugs. The music label Ruthless Records was founded with the proceeds. When two more members of Ruthless, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube wrote “Boyz-N-The-Hood”, the group “N.W.A.” was formed, which, in addition to Dre and Ice Cube, included DJ Yella and MC Ren.

In a relatively short period of time, Ruthless Records released N.W.A albums and the Posse (1987), Straight Outta Compton (1988) and solo disc Eazy-E Eazy-Duz-It (also 1988). The album sold 2 million copies, making it certified double platinum. The album featured the hits "We Want Eazy" and "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn" (a remix of "Boyz-n-the-Hood", another hit, was also included). The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella.

“Boyz-N-the Hood”, “Fuck The Police”, “Express Yourself” - these are tracks inscribed in the annals of hip-hop in golden letters. The historic, groundbreaking album "Straight Outta Compton" sold millions of copies. Even white teenagers from wealthy families dressed in black jackets and LA Raiders baseball caps and shouted “Fuck The Police.”

A few years later, disagreements arose in the group. Ice Cube was the first to leave, then the creator of the new label, Suge Knight, invited Dre to his label. The incident did not knock Eazy out of the saddle. Despite the fact that NWA's album "Efil4zfagin" ("reversal" of the phrase Niggaz 4 Life), where Eazy-E became the frontman of the team, was not used great success and in some ways turned out to be a step back, Ruthless Records continued to exist and gave a start to the life of the wonderful group from Cleveland Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. But after the release of the weak mini-album “It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa” with another spit in the direction of Dre, Eazy’s importance as a musical figure dropped to a critical level.

Dre left NWA to form his own Death Row Records with Suge Knight in early 1992.

NWA discography:

1987 N.W.A and the Posse (Label - Ruthless)

1988 Straight Outta Compton (Label - Priority)

1991 Niggaz4life (Label - Ruthless)

In 1987, Boyz N "The Hood" gained fame - the debut song of 18-year-old Ice Cube (real name O'shea Jackson) from South Central, Los Angeles. In the 90s, he would become famous as an extremist rapper, a defender of the rights of blacks, as an MC who thoroughly shook America with his socio-political lyrics...

A remix of the song appeared on Eazy-E's (who performed it) 1988 album Eazy-Duz-It, and the original appeared on NWA's album the same year. This group was a real breakthrough in the history of this style, put together in 1987 by Ice Cube and two dudes from Compton (a suburb of Los Angeles) - musician Andre Young, better known as DR. Dre, and crime boss Eric Wright, who took the nickname Eazy-E. Eazy was one of the real heroes of gang rap, who played a big role not as an MC (he mostly read other people's works), but as the creator of the legendary Ruthless Records label and a brilliant producer who knew where to invest his money. In the past, Eazy E sold drugs and, according to rumors, founded a label with the money he earned in this business. It’s not known whether this is true or not, but it’s a fact that when Eazy went on stage he stopped doing it.

A little later, MC Ren (Lorenzo Patterson) and DJ Yella (Anthony Carraby), as well as Arabian Prince (Mik Lezan) and The D.O.C (Tray Curry) joined NWA. First, in 1988, their debut album appeared, entitled “NWA & the Posse,” where, besides them, a lot of people read, with whom the guys closely communicated. The album did not become revolutionary, but it paved the way for the group - they began to listen to young guys. And in 1989, Eazy E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, MC Ren and Arabian Prince released the revolutionary, scandalous "Straight Outta Compton", which contained such defiant songs as "F*** The Police", thanks to which In other words, the group was blacklisted by the FBI, designed to preserve the moral image of the nation. Of course, they were not the first to express their dissatisfaction with the “servants of the law”; Ice T had phrases like “fuckin police”; even older rappers expressed dissatisfaction. But to dedicate an entire song to this issue, and very directly and unambiguously - NWA are undoubtedly the first. Also interesting on this disc was the song Gangsta, Gangsta, from which the term gangsta rap originated. Other “immortal” achievements of NWA include the creation of the real gang-hop slogan “Life is ain’t nothing, but bitches and money,” which, when loosely translated into Russian, means something like “Life is nothing but bitches and money.” In general, almost all the songs are, if not cult songs, then definitely demonstrative - they do not call to kill anyone, they do not say to kill everyone left and right. They simply claim that if anyone tries to fuck them, he will have a hard time. They are just talking about their style. life. They show life in the black ghetto in all its glory - violence, police brutality, drugs, murder. There is no assessment of whether it is good or bad. real picture what is happening, no more, no less.

Unfortunately, soon, namely a year later, Ice Cube’s departure marked the beginning of the collapse of this most authoritative rap project. He had a very good fight with Eazy E and Ruthless Records manager Jerry Heller. According to Cube, he received much less than he should have. Later he left for New York, and there he was with his old friend Sir Jinx, the BOMB SQUAD party and group PUBLIC ENEMY began recording a solo album and soon created their own label, Street Knowledge. In their new album, “Efil4Zaggin,” N.W.A gave an unkind word to Ice Cube, who more than repaid them on the album Death Certificate in the song “No Vasiline.” NWA didn't last long without him - Dre soon followed Cube's example, he also had a strong fight with Eazy E and left NWA. Together with Suge Knight, Dre began creating the Death Row Records label, which became the main opponent of Ruthless, and as a result the group as such ceased to exist in '91.

Having broken up, the guys did not abandon their careers, except for the above-mentioned projects of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, everyone associated with NWA went solo. The D.O.C, noticed from the first NWA album, recorded his solo album in 89, it was still on Ruthless, but when Dre and Suge Knight founded Death Row, joined them. Arabian Prince also did not go into oblivion and at the end of 89 he also recorded his solo album. solo albums even before NWA, he again began to read solo, and also promote young talents. MC Ren first limited himself to EPs in 1992, and then began releasing albums. DJ Yella first worked only on music in other people's albums; he released his solo album only in 1996.

In 30 years, hip-hop has changed to the last inch. If the golden hits of the 90s seem like mothballs to today's listeners, but still resonate with the ear, then the work of N.W.A is impossible to get into your head and digest, just as a schoolchild in 2050 will not be able to study from a paper textbook.

It was pumped up music, fast, noisy and clanging. The samples, by today's standards, were crudely layered together. Their edges stuck out like unkempt hairs. Scraps of sounds and phrases crammed into the chorus, alternating melodies of verses and obligatory scratches, stupid curls of soloists and broad shoulders leather jackets, which were then replaced by oversized jeans - young hip-hop has and does not know anything like it. Virtually all musical material N.W.A is a work in progress, with the exception of one track, “Always Into Something,” which is the progenitor of all Dr. Dre’s work during the Death Row period, and therefore of all the gangsta beats of the 90s in general.

It is quite possible that as the listener gets to know it, he will realize the advantages that hip-hop has somewhat lost in the course of its development: masculinity, toughness, intolerance and adrenaline in the presentation of tracks. Most of the verses were read by the participants on the verge of screaming. Most beats are twice as fast as today's hits. The music is loud and doesn't let you catch your breath. And what can I say, even today it sends a chill down your spine when, at the end of the "Always Into Something" video, Eazy-E points a gun at you.

The shock effect of the opening tracks "Straight Outta Compton" and "Fuck The Police" was unsurpassed. Other political rappers were just raising their heads in the late 80s; most artists ran around the stage in wide pants with stupid smiles and rapped about girls and gold chains. Cube, Ren and Eazy smashed their heads through the wall and burst into the audience like robbers. No one read with such rage then and no one reads now. No one gave a damn about the then accepted popular music morality is so zealous, and few people know how to do it now.

It's no joke, the anti-police manifesto "Fuck The Police" was not cut up for the censored version of the album - they were forced to simply remove it entirely.

It’s no joke, the very word nigga, which is now used as “hello,” caused a flurry of public indignation, because it was a word from the dirty corners of the ghetto!

No joke, the group received a letter from the FBI demanding that they put their tails between their legs!

The first album went double platinum despite the unimaginably harsh content at that time. The merciless reality, which was turned “the meat out” into the eyes of the public, plus the varied, terribly professional beats of Dr. Dre - that’s what brought the group to the top and that’s what makes the stars who came to this top in subsequent years respect this disappeared group. Each track of each album contains individual lines or verses and musical moves that gave rise to entire directions and layers of modern music.

N.W.A flaunts gangsterism in “Gangsta Gangsta” - and for 15 years after this, rappers can’t do without gunfire and threats in their lyrics, and the style itself, which the group initially called reality rap, is growing like a cancer under the name gangsta rap.

N.W.A takes credit for dozens of murders - and following this, hundreds of artists invent bloody tales about themselves for the pleasure of listeners.

N.W.A savors the details of aggressive sex - after this, rappers build entire careers on explicit audio porn. Participants give each other deadly diss songs after breaking up - from now on, the angry confrontation between rappers becomes an important part of this culture.

N.W.A simultaneously with Public Enemy raises difficult questions racial inequality: without them, the phrase from Kendrick Lamar’s song “We gon’ be alright!” when chanted in the streets would simply mean “we’re fine,” and between the lines the defiant “Fuck the police” would not be heard.

Your favorite producer cranks out big bass lines because Dr. Dre taught him how to do it. Your favorite rapper breaks the mold of morality and talks about the most evil and disgusting things because MC Ren already wrote all this before him. Your favorite MC takes scalps with his rapping because Ice Cube taught him such a degree of confidence, and is proud of killing enemies because Eazy-E did it. Your favorite music makes people shiver and fear because N.W.A made it possible.

In response to the question "What is hip-hop to you?" Ice Cube, in an interview many years after the group's breakup, said only one word: "Freedom." The crafty, round-faced veteran did not clarify that it was he and his fellow members of the group who gave this freedom to hip-hop.

As I leave, believe I"m stomping, But when I come back boy, I"m coming straight outta Compton.

WHAT ARE THEY?

Ice Cube

On the first album - the brightest and most active MC of the group, who also wrote all the lyrics. He achieved a shock effect in his verses as quickly as possible, his delivery was universal and win-win. After finishing work on the first album, he was outraged by the modest reward for his work and left the group, starting solo career, full of victories and defeats, but incredibly long and, in general, successful. In 1990-1992, he exchanged disses with former partners, which included references to violence and murder. In the early 90s he became the god of black revolutionaries, in the late 90s he dressed up as a mafioso, and at the same time tried himself as a film actor. Then he tried on a party-goer outfit, then mixed it all up and remained forever young.

Dr.Dre

The center and engine of the entire team, the author of the arrangements. On the first album I read less, leaving the most aggressive verses to other participants and working on pumping up the musical component. After leaving, Ice Cube matured and began to share the functions of frontman with MC Ren, rapping in almost every track and not shy about nihilism and aggression, including towards Cube. I didn’t write the lyrics myself. After the second album, he left Ruthless Records, becoming one of the founders of Death Row and promoting such talents as Snoop Dogg and Dogg Pound in subsequent years. Together with them, former partner Eazy-E was brutally dissed. After Eazy's death and departure from Death Row, he gradually took his career to cosmic heights. On this moment one of the main rap musicians in general.

Eazy-E

The founder of the group - and later the CEO of his own label, Ruthless. The first solo tracks were a serious success, and on the first album of the group E was one of the frontmen, although learning to read was given with with great difficulty. He was distinguished by his short stature and high-pitched voice, which, in contrast to the nihilistic texts, gave the necessary effect on the public. On the second album I found myself in the shadows. After the collapse of the group in 1991, he was forced to write his own lyrics, rude and angry solo work was built around disses towards Death Row and was not particularly innovative. He died of AIDS in 1995, having previously discovered the talent of the group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

MC Ren

After Ice Cube became the main lyricist of the group (not without help The D.O.C.). The owner of a low voice and a stubborn immorality, the abundance of cruelty and violence in the lyrics of the second album is directly his merit. In 1988-1992 he wrote texts that were complex in structure, very politicized and negative. In the second half of the 90s he switched to simpler, dumber gangsta rap. In the early 2000s, he worked on the albums of Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, but was unable to take advantage of this and got lost. However, he is preparing a solo EP for the release of the biopic.

DJ Yella

The second beatmaker of the group. Possibly the main supplier of musical raw materials for Dr. Dre's arrangements. After the breakup of the group, he worked solo and disappeared.

WHAT TO LISTEN TO?

The first album, thanks to the deafening popularity of the "forbidden fruit" singles, burst into the industry by storm. Was brainstormed shortly before release. Musically, despite the abundance of noisy samples and scratches, it was ahead of its time - cleaner bass, diversity of rhythms and melodies and the abundance of their sources, complexity and aggressiveness. Shattered the moral habits of the public of that time and plunged society into shock, simultaneously becoming double platinum. Dozens of quotes from the album still circulate on modern releases. Even the cover has achieved cult status.

A small EP with gold sales status. Contains the adrenaline-pumping title track and sets the stage for the group's second album.

The first half of the second album is a triumph of masculinity, gunshots, impudent bravado and mountains of corpses. The second half is misogynistic horror, written specifically to provoke the public. The music of this album completely eliminated the trends of the 80s, the sound became fuller, cleaner and smoother, with full-bodied melodies and leisurely luxury of drums - one of the diamonds in Dr. Dre's rich track record. The album went double platinum the year it was released, was the first ever uncensored release to reach number one on the Billboard charts, and was one of the albums that earned the "parental advisory" sticker.