The godfathers of gangsta rap didn't ascend to the pages of history on a smooth seamless path. Between the media outcry, their altercations with the law, and an ugly prolonged breakup, the World's Most Dangerous Group had to fight to change the world and feed their people. Eternal as the genre itself, the five members of NWA were the posterboys of African-American rebellion and the authors of hip-hop's superstardom blueprint. The all-star lineup of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella was unmatched at its time, spawning successful solo careers for generations to come. NWA's debut album Straight Outta Compton released in 1988 is as iconic as music gets, featuring the timeless protest classic "Fuck tha Police." Immortalized by the critically and commercially lauded 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, and inducted into the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame in April 2016, NWA will live forever.
RIP Eazy-E
