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N.W.A.

N.W.A., an acronym for Niggaz Wit Attitudes, was a pivotal force in the evolution of hip-hop, credited with establishing and popularizing gangsta rap in the late 1980s. The group originated from Compton, California, and its core members included Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. N.W.A. shook the music world with their stark and unflinching portrayals of life in the urban streets, addressing themes of police brutality, racial profiling, and the reality of living in gang-controlled neighborhoods. Their explicit lyrics and confrontational style drew both acclaim and controversy, emboldening a generation of artists to speak out about societal issues.

Their 1988 album, "Straight Outta Compton," was a groundbreaking release that firmly put both N.W.A. and the West Coast on the rap map. The album featured hits such as the title track "Straight Outta Compton" and "Express Yourself," painting a vivid picture of life in South Central L.A. Despite limited radio play and mainstream exposure due to its explicit content, the album achieved monumental success. The group's follow-up in 1990, "Efil4zaggin" (also stylized as "Niggaz4Life"), would be their last studio album and marked the peak of their career, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Although N.W.A. disbanded in the early '90s, its legacy has endured, influencing countless artists and being immortalized in the 2015 biographical film "Straight Outta Compton." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, further cementing their place in music history.

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