N.W.A. took the fledgling genre called gangsta rap and turned it into a huge phenomena by bringing in real life tales and hard beats. The group started with rappers Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube in 1986 in Compton, California. They penned their first song "Boyz-N-The Hood" before also adding DJ Yella, The D.O.C. and Arabian Prince.

The group took topics like drugs, womanizing and violence and turned them into hits on their first album in 1987 called N.W.A. and the Posse. The album didn't get much attention and they needed to add something to their sound. That something came in the form of MC Ren, who joined before the 1988 release of Straight Outta Compton.

The lyrics from their songs were so provocative that their record company soon had a visit from the FBI. It was this bad-boy image that helped them sell albums. Ice Cube left in 1989 and took some of the group's magic with him. They came out with 100 Miles and Runnin', an EP, in 1990 and Efil4zaggin, which is Niggaz 4 Life spelled backwards, in 1991. Dr. Dre soon wanted out as well because of conflicts within the group, and the group began to fold inward. He left in 1992 and formed Death Row Records.

Dr. Dre and Ice Cube continued to feud with Eazy E after leaving the band. Luckily, they had made amends by the time Eazy E died from AIDS in March of 1995. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube have gone on to not only have successful solo careers, but success elsewhere as well. Dr. Dre has produced albums for some of the best rappers, and Ice Cube has since become a successful actor in movies like xXx State of the Union, Three Kinds and Barbershop.