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100 Miles And Runnin' Review
07/13/2005 4:07 AM, AMG
Released almost two years after the seminal Straight Outta Compton and a little less than a year before the flawed Niggaz4life, 100 Miles and Runnin' effectively accomplishes what an EP should. It both built upon the lingering hype that had surrounded Straight Outta Compton and foreshadowed the Niggaz4life-era N.W.A, a group that had grown increasingly dissident yet also much wiser after experiencing seemingly endless controversy. This EP's title track remains one of the group's best moments, and with the MTV-aired video picturing them fleeing from police, it was a fitting song for N.W.A to release at the time; furthermore, the song's thick, heavy production showcases rather brilliantly the fact that Dr. Dre had furthered his production talents immensely. Though perhaps hard to stomach for some, "Just Don't Bite It" is anything but forgettable, with Eazy-E's and MC Ren's prerogatives transcending farce and heading into much more potent territory, making this they group's most amusing (in a sense) yet also its most effectively disturbing venture into misogynistic porno rap. The next song, "Sa Prize, Pt. 2," functions as a sequel to "Fuck tha Police" while "Real Niggaz" then provides a sample of the racial belligerence that would fill the first half of Niggaz4life and "Kamurshol" promotes the upcoming album over a foreboding beat. Poignantly employing a heavy use of cinematic skits in addition to the songs themselves, 100 Miles and Runnin' showcases N.W.A's strengths succinctly, balancing them perfectly across just five songs, each representing different aspects of the group's tainted ideology. Any more is almost too much -- as would arguably be the case with Niggaz4life. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
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