N.W.A released “Straight Outta Compton” in 1988, helping define West Coast gangsta rap.
The group’s name abbreviates “Niggaz Wit Attitudes,” a phrase that reflected its confrontational identity. Its best-known lineup included Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and MC Ren, although membership changed during the group’s short but influential run.
“Straight Outta Compton” was N.W.A’s debut studio album. Its songs presented vivid, controversial accounts of life in Compton and Los Angeles, while the group’s aggressive production and delivery challenged mainstream ideas about what rap music could say. The album later received triple-platinum certification in the United States.
N.W.A is sometimes reduced to a single style, but its importance also came from regional identity, independent business, and production innovation. The group’s story was dramatized in the 2015 biographical film “Straight Outta Compton,” which introduced its history to another generation.