N.W.A. Set A Precedent For West-Coast Music

03/23/2000 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(3/23/00, 4 p.m. ET) - Even though N.W.A. sold millions of records, the Compton group's legacy runs deeper than lofty record sales. Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and Yella revolutionized hip-hop with the groundbreaking Straight Outta Compton album before launching the careers of everyone from Snoop Dogg and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Mack 10 and Tha Dogg Pound.

Ras Kass, a Carson, California rapper who has released two critically acclaimed albums, told LAUNCH why N.W.A. is one of hip-hop's most important groups. "They set a precedent for West Coast music, period," he said. "Especially for Cube and Dre, you know what I'm saying? Like, they created the Old School and our Middle School. That's highly unprecedented. As a fan, I was blown away."

Although N.W.A. began disbanding more than a decade ago, it has been resurrected with a new lineup. Snoop Dogg is now replacing the late Eazy-E, and returning to the clan are Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and MC Ren; at this point, former member Yella is not a part of the group.

The updated N.W.A. debuted with "Chin Check" on the Next Friday soundtrack in late 1999, marking the first time in about a decade Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and MC Ren appeared on a song together. Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and MC Ren performed for the first time in more than ten years on March 11 when they taped an episode of Farmclub.com -- the performance also marked Snoop Dogg's first public appearance as a member of N.W.A. The show, which also features performances from Xzibit and Nate Dogg, is scheduled to air on the USA Network on Monday (March 27) at 11 p.m. ET.

The forthcoming N.W.A. album is expected by the end of the year, while Ras Kass's third album, Van Gogh, is scheduled for a late summer release.

-- Soren Baker, Los Angeles

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