N.W.A., an influential American hip-hop group, is renowned for its role in popularizing the gangsta rap sub-genre and is often referred to as the "World's Most Dangerous Group." The acronym N.W.A. stands for "Niggaz Wit Attitudes." The group was active from 1986 to 1991, with a brief reunion in 1999 and 2000.

In 1987, N.W.A. released its first project, the record "Panic Zone / Dope Man / 8-Ball" on Macola Records, which was featured in the compilation "N.W.A. And The Posse." At that time, the group was still evolving and was credited on only four of the eleven tracks. Notable pieces included the atypical electro-hop track "Panic Zone," "8-Ball," and the underground hit "Dopeman," which marked the first collaboration among The Arabian Prince, D.J. Yella, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. The track "Panic Zone," co-written by Hispanic rapper Krazy Dee, was initially titled "Hispanic Zone" until Dr. Dre advised a change to avoid potential sales hindrance. The compilation also featured Eazy-E's solo track, "Boyz-n-the Hood."

In 1988, Arabian Prince left the group, and the rising rapper MC Ren joined N.W.A. That same year, they recorded their debut album, "Straight Outta Compton." Released in early 1989, "Straight Outta Compton" became a significant voice for the underground rap scene, which felt overshadowed by the emerging conscious rap and New Jack Swing styles from the East Coast. The album's street-oriented lyrics helped define gangsta rap as a genre, achieving commercial success with over three million copies sold and reaching number 37 on the Billboard Top 200 in May 1989, along with number 9 on Billboard's Top Soul L.P.s. It produced three singles, two of which charted: "Straight Outta Compton," "Gangsta Gangsta," and the free-speech anthem "Express Yourself."

N.W.A. gained notoriety for their explicit lyrics, particularly with the controversial track "Fuck tha Police," leading to an official warning letter from the F.B.I. to Ruthless Records and its parent company, Priority Records, advising caution regarding their content.

In December 1989, Ice Cube departed from the group due to disputes over royalties. Having contributed nearly half of the lyrics to "Straight Outta Compton," he believed he was not receiving a fair share of the profits. He quickly focused on his solo career, releasing "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" (1990) and collaborating with the Bomb Squad, the renowned production team behind Public Enemy, while steering clear of references to his former group. The remaining members of N.W.A. proceeded without Ice Cube, releasing the E.P. "100 Miles And Runnin'" (1990), which achieved platinum status and sparked a notable feud through diss tracks. Ice Cube retaliated with the powerful diss "No Vaseline." Their subsequent album, "Efil4zaggin" (also known as "Niggaz4Life"), made history as the first hip-hop album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. Shortly after its release, N.W.A. disbanded.

Following the breakup, all members continued their music careers, with Dr. Dre founding the influential Death Row Records alongside The D.O.C., Dick Griffey, and Suge Knight, later introducing prominent artists like Eminem and 50 Cent. Eazy-E maintained Ruthless Records and continued to release music until his passing from AIDS in 1995.

Ice Cube, who has since established himself as a successful entrepreneur and filmmaker, reunited with his former bandmates to produce the biopic "Straight Outta Compton," released in 2015. This collaboration between Cube, Dre, and the estate of Eazy-E grossed over $200 million, making it the most successful music biopic to date. In 2016, N.W.A. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.