N.W.A.
Gangsta rap pioneers
N.W.A. is a hip-hop group from Compton, California, whose name stands for Niggaz Wit Attitudes.
Active from 1987 to 1991, they pioneered gangsta rap with confrontational lyrics about police brutality, street violence, and life in South Central Los Angeles.
The group launched the careers of Ice Cube, Dr.
Dre, and Eazy-E.
Late Compton rapper
- Ice CubeFrozen water block
- gangsta rapUrban struggle set to beats
- ComptonLos Angeles suburb
- supergroupBand of already-famous musicians
Dr. Dre · pioneers · collective · lineup · members · formation · disbandment · reunion
- Express YourselfConvey your inner self
- albumsBound music collections
- tracksMarks showing passage
- beatsPulses or defeats
lyrics · rhymes · flow · samples · production · basslines · explicit · controversial
Public expression of disapproval
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- police brutalityUnjustified force by officers
- social commentaryAnalysis of societal conditions
- inner cityDense central metropolitan zone
streets · voice · movement · censorship · First Amendment · free speech · controversy · banned
Power to affect others
- G-funkSynth-laden West Coast rap
- Death Row RecordsNineties hip-hop powerhouse
- West Coast soundPacific state rap style
- blueprintDetailed technical drawing
pioneers · trailblazers · Hall of Fame · biopic · documentary · tribute · sampling · homage
Eazy-E
Late Compton rapper
- Ice CubeFrozen water block
- gangsta rapUrban struggle set to beats
- ComptonLos Angeles suburb
Dr. Dre · supergroup · pioneers · collective · lineup · members · formation · disbandment · reunion · legacy
Straight Outta Compton
- Express YourselfConvey your inner self
- albumsBound music collections
- tracksMarks showing passage
beats · lyrics · rhymes · flow · samples · production · basslines · explicit · controversial · censorship
protest
Public expression of disapproval
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- police brutalityUnjustified force by officers
- social commentaryAnalysis of societal conditions
inner city · streets · voice · movement · censorship · First Amendment · free speech · controversy · banned · underground
influence
Power to affect others
- G-funkSynth-laden West Coast rap
- Death Row RecordsNineties hip-hop powerhouse
- West Coast soundPacific state rap style
blueprint · pioneers · trailblazers · Hall of Fame · biopic · documentary · tribute · sampling · homage · classic
- California MusicDr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Tupac, Eazy-E
N.W.A.De La Soul
A Tribe Called Quest · The Roots · conscious rap · MC Hammer
N.W.A.law enforcement
Upholding legal codes
Toby Keith · mainstream pop · police · police unions · LAPD