N.W.A

N.W.A, an abbreviation for Niggaz Wit Attitudes, was a pioneering American hip hop group formed in Compton, California, in 1986. Widely recognized as a foundational act in the gangsta rap subgenre, the group is often credited with significantly shaping the history of hip hop. Active until 1991, N.W.A faced considerable controversy due to the explicit nature of their lyrics, leading to bans from numerous mainstream U.S. radio stations. Despite these challenges, the group achieved substantial commercial success, selling over 10 million CDs in the United States alone.

The original lineup featured Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and MC Ren. Arabian Prince departed in 1989 to pursue a solo career, followed by Ice Cube's exit in December of the same year due to royalty disputes. Several members would later achieve platinum-selling success as solo artists in the 1990s.