Niggaz4Life

Niggaz4Life
Studio album by N.W.A
Released May 28, 1991 (1991-05-28)
Recorded 1990–1991
Studio Audio Achievements, Torrance, California[1]
Genre
Length 55:35
Label
Producer
N.W.A chronology
100 Miles and Runnin'
(1990)100 Miles and Runnin'1990		 Niggaz4life
(1991)		 Greatest Hits
(1996)Greatest Hits1996
Singles from Niggaz4Life
  1. "Alwayz into Somethin'"
    Released: April 15, 1991
  2. "Appetite for Destruction"
    Released: May 18, 1991
  3. "The Dayz of Wayback"
    Released: 1991

Niggaz4Life (also known as Efil4zaggin) is the second and final studio album by gangsta rap group N.W.A, released on May 28, 1991. It was their final album, as the group disbanded later the same year after the departure of Dr. Dre and songwriter The D.O.C. to form Death Row Records; the album features only four members of the original line-up, as Ice Cube had already left the group in 1989. Niggaz4Life debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, but in its second week peaked at #1.

In 1992, several months after the release of the album, N.W.A released a video named Niggaz4Life: The Only Home Video, which chronicled the making of the album and its three music videos, "Alwayz into Somethin'", "Appetite for Destruction" and "Approach to Danger".

In 2002, the CD was re-released in two formats. Both had the EP 100 Miles and Runnin' appended to the end of the original track listing, but one was available with a DVD copy of Niggaz4Life: The Only Home Video.

In comparison to its predecessor, the album was also heavier on misogyny, for which it became notorious. The songs on the album's second half featured more profanity, sexist themes, and references to various sexual acts, provoking the ire of the PMRC,[6] liberal and conservative politicians, and civil rights activist C. Delores Tucker.[7]

Release and reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Blender[9]
Robert ChristgauC−[10]
Pitchfork Media8.8/10[11]
Los Angeles Times[12]
RapReviews9/10[13]
The Rolling Stone[14]
Washington Post(favorable)[15]

Accolades

  • Ranked #1 in The Source's Top 15 Albums of 1991 list in 1991[16]
  • Ranked #7 in MTV's Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time list in 2005[17]

Commercial performance

The album debuted number 2 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart.[18] The second week it climbed up to number 1, making it the first hardcore rap album ever to do so. The album has sold over 2 million copies in the US alone.

Track listing

Songwriting credits are adapted from the CD liner notes.[19] All songs produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella.[19]

No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Prelude"MC RenMC Ren, Above The Law2:27
2."Real Niggaz Don't Die"MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E3:40
3."Niggaz 4 Life"MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E4:58
4."Protest" (Interlude)  0:53
5."Appetite for Destruction"MC Ren, The D.O.C., Kokane,MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E3:22
6."Don't Drink That Wine" (Interlude)  1:07
7."Alwayz into Somethin'"MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre4:24
8."Message to B.A." (Interlude)  0:48
9."Real Niggaz"MC Ren, The D.O.C.,MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E4:27
10."To Kill a Hooker" (Interlude)  0:50
11."One Less Bitch"MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre4:47
12."Findum, Fuckum & Flee"MC Ren, The D.O.C., CPO,MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E3:55
13."Automobile"Eazy-EDr. Dre, Eazy-E3:15
14."She Swallowed It"MC RenMC Ren4:13
15."I'd Rather Fuck You"Eazy-EEazy-E3:57
16."Approach to Danger"MC Ren, Eazy-EMC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E2:45
17."1-900-2-Compton" (Interlude)  1:27
18."The Dayz Of Wayback"MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre4:15

Sample credits

Appearances

ArtistNotes
MC Renperforms on 11 tracks
Dr. Dreperforms on 9 tracks
Eazy-Eperforms on 9 tracks
DJ Yellaperforms on 1 track

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[20] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ "N.W.A* - Efil4zaggin / 100 Miles And Runnin' (CD, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  2. ↑ https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2951/title.efil4zaggin-n-w-a-s-4gotten-masterpiece#
  3. ↑ https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2951/title.efil4zaggin-n-w-a-s-4gotten-masterpiece#
  4. ↑ https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2951/title.efil4zaggin-n-w-a-s-4gotten-masterpiece#
  5. ↑ https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2951/title.efil4zaggin-n-w-a-s-4gotten-masterpiece#
  6. ↑ "Popular music restrictions in america in the late 1980s/early 90s (1991)". Ed Cox. 1990-06-09. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  7. ↑ "Gangsta Misogyny by Edward G. Armstrong - JCJPC, Volume 8, Issue 2". Albany.edu. 1998-04-19. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  8. ↑ Jason Birchmeier (1991-05-28). "Niggaz4life - N.W.A | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  9. ↑ Chairman Mao. "N.W.A: Straight Outta Compton/Efil4Zaggin". Blender. New York. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: N.W.A". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  11. ↑ "N.W.A." Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  12. ↑ Gold, Jonathan (June 2, 1991). "Cringe a Minute (Again) With N.W.A". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  13. ↑ "N.W.A. :: Efil4Zaggin :: Ruthless/Priority Records". Rapreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  14. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  15. ↑ "STRONG WORDS FROM ICE-T AND N.W.A." washingtonpost.com.
  16. ↑ thesource.com
  17. ↑ MTV.com
  18. ↑ Brandon Gaille (5 February 2015). "25 Good Hip Hop Demographics". BrandonGaille.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  19. 1 2 Efil4Zaggin [inside sleeve] (Media notes). N.W.A. Ruthless Records. 261 464.
  20. ↑ "American album certifications – NWA – Niggaz4Life". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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