N.W.A was an American hip hop group formed in Compton, California. Among the earliest and most significant figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, the group is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential acts in hip hop music.
Eric Lynn Wright, known professionally by the stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who propelled West Coast rap and gangsta rap by leading the group N.W.A and its label, Ruthless Records. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of Gangsta Rap".
Straight Outta Compton is the debut studio album by American gangsta rap group N.W.A, which, led by Eazy-E, formed in Los Angeles County's City of Compton in early 1987. Released by his label, Ruthless Records, on August 8, 1988, the album was produced by N.W.A members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, with lyrics written by N.W.A members Ice Cube and MC Ren along with Ruthless rapper and unofficial member The D.O.C. Not merely depicting Compton's street violence, the lyrics repeatedly threaten to lead it by attacking peers and even police. The track "Fuck tha Police" drew an FBI agent's warning letter, which aided N.W.A's notoriety, with N.W.A calling itself "the world's most dangerous group."
Delmar Drew Arnaud, known professionally as Daz Dillinger or simply Daz, is an American rapper and record producer. As a member of Death Row Records in the early 1990s, he is credited with the label in pioneering West Coast hip hop and gangsta rap for mainstream audiences. Alongside Kurupt, he formed the hip hop duo tha Dogg Pound in 1992, with whom he has released eight albums.
Tha Dogg Pound is an American hip hop duo composed of West Coast rappers Kurupt and Daz Dillinger. They were among the first acts to sign to Death Row Records in 1992.
Eazy-Duz-It is the debut studio album by American rapper Eazy-E. It was released on November 22, 1988, by Ruthless Records and Priority Records. The album charted on two different charts and went 2× Platinum in the United States despite very little promotion by radio and television. Three singles were released from the album, each charting in the US. The remastered version contains tracks from the extended play (EP), 5150: Home 4 tha Sick (1992). The 25th anniversary (2013) contains two bonus tracks which are 12" remixes of "We Want Eazy" and "Still Talkin.'"
Zhané was an American R&B duo, best known for their 1993 hit "Hey Mr. D.J.", which reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Other popular hits include "Groove Thang" and minor hit "Sending My Love", both released in 1994. The group was part of Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit collective.
5150: Home 4 tha Sick is the debut extended play by American rapper Eazy-E. It was released on December 15, 1992, by Ruthless Records and Priority Records. 5150: Home 4 tha Sick peaked at #70 on the Billboard 200 and #15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was the final original album from Ruthless Records to be released by Priority.
Jerry Buddy Long Jr., better known by his stage name Kokane, is an American rapper and singer best known for his distinctive vocal style and numerous guest appearances, such as on Snoop Dogg's Tha Last Meal.
Balance & Options is the fifth album by West Coast rapper and producer, DJ Quik. It was released on May 16, 2000, on Arista Records. The album debuted at number 18 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, with 68,000 copies in its first-week of sales. It was his first album not certified by the RIAA. It features the single "Pitch in on a Party" whose video was directed by photographer Patrick Hoelck.
The N.W.A Legacy, Volume 1: 1988–1998 is a two-disc compilation by album released on March 23, 1999, through Priority Records. It is composed of 26 songs recorded from 1988 to 1998 by the American hip-hop group N.W.A, including solo material of its members Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and MC Ren, and their affiliates such as The D.O.C., Above The Law, Da Lench Mob, Snoop Dogg, Penthouse Players Clique, Tha Dogg Pound, Westside Connection and 2Pac. Bryan Turner served as executive producer.
The N.W.A Legacy, Vol. 2 is a compilation of tracks from original members of the iconic gangsta rap group N.W.A; Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, as well as artists that were spawned by members of the group, such as Tha Dogg Pound, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and Tha Eastsidaz. Some other tracks are collaborations or songs by associates of the foursome, such as The D.O.C. and D.J. Quik. It is the second album in the series. Songs were originally from various labels, including Ruthless Records, Def Jam, Tommy Boy and Death Row Records. Mark Copeland executive produced the album.
Rapmasters: From Tha Priority Vaults, Vol. 3 is the third of an eight volume budget Compilation series released on October 24, 1996 by Priority Records. Unlike the first two volumes, This volume [and the following volume] was issued in a fully uncut explicit version [as well as an edited version].
Rapmasters: From Tha Priority Vaults, Vol. 4 is the fourth volume of an eight volume budget compilation series released by Priority Records throughout 1996 and 1997. Like the previous volume, This volume was issued in a fully uncut explicit version [as well as an edited version]. On the edited version, Ice Cube's The Wrong Nigga To Fuck Wit is replaced with Ice Cube's Amerikkka's Most Wanted.
Rapmasters: From Tha Priority Vaults, Vol. 5 is the fifth volume of an eight volume budget compilation series released by Priority Records throughout 1996 and 1997. Unlike the previous two volumes, there is no fully uncut explicit version available and this and the remaining three volumes [as well as the first two volumes] are only available in mostly censored edited versions. The version of Brotha Lynch Hung's R.I.P. that appears here is not the same version that is found on Season of da Siccness but is rather the clean remixed and re-recorded version that would also appear on a couple of Brotha Lynch's best of collections and on The Best Of Black Market Records. Also, This volume is the only volume that doesn't feature Ice Cube.
Rapmasters: From Tha Priority Vaults, Vol. 6 is the sixth volume of an eight volume budget compilation series that Priority Records released throughout 1996 and 1997. As is the standard with almost all volumes in the series, This was only released in an edited version that censored many of the profanities that originally appeared in these songs.
Rapmasters: From Tha Priority Vaults, Vol. 7 is the seventh volume of an eight volume budget compilation series released by Priority Records throughout 1996 and 1997. Like almost all of the six previous volumes, no fully uncut explicit version of this release exists meaning that all songs appear here in their censored versions.
Rapmasters: From Tha Priority Vaults, Vol. 8 is the eighth and final volume in the Rapmasters budget compilation series that Priority Records released throughout 1996 and 1997. As usual, there is no fully uncut explicit version of this volume available meaning that all songs appear here in their censored versions. This volume is the shortest-running volume of the entire series.
The following is a partial list of albums released through Priority Records. Any additional record labels involved are specified in brackets.
Eric Darnell Wright, better known by his stage names Lil Eazy-E and Lil Eazy, is an American rapper. He is best known for being the son of Eazy-E. He is the president of Rich & Ruthless Records, an entertainment and business firm for musicians and entertainers. He and his brother E3, formally known as Baby Eazy-E, also founded Rich & Ruthless Cannabis, a cannabis grower and supplier.
