Niggaz4Life

Niggaz4Life
Studio album by N.W.A
Released May 28, 1991 (1991-05-28)
Recorded 1990–1991
Audio Achievements,
Torrance, California[1]
Length 55:35
Label
Producer Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, Eazy-E (exec.),
N.W.A chronology
100 Miles and Runnin'
(1990)		 Niggaz4life
(1991)		 Greatest Hits
(1996)
Singles from Niggaz4Life
  1. "Alwayz into Somethin'"
    Released: April 15, 1991
  2. "Appetite for Destruction"
    Released: 1991

Niggaz4Life (also known as EFIL4ZAGGIN or Efil4zaggin) is the second and final studio album by gangsta rap group N.W.A, released in 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, selling over 954,000 copies in the first week, but in its second week peaked at #1.

In 1992, several months after the release of the album, N.W.A released a video entitled 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,[2] liberal and conservative politicians, and civil rights activist C. Delores Tucker.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Robert ChristgauC−[5]
Pitchfork Media8.8/10[6]
RapReviews9/10[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]

Commercial performance

The album debuted number 2 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart, selling over 954,000 copies.[10] The second week it climbed up to number 1, making it the first hardcore rap album ever to do so. As of 1991 the album has sold 2.1 million copies in the US alone.

Track listing

Songwriting credits are adapted from the CD liner notes.[11] All songs produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella.[11]

No. TitleWriter(s)Performer(s) Length
1. "Prelude"  MC RenMC Ren, Above The Law 2:27
2. "Real Niggaz Don't Die"  MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E 3:40
3. "Niggaz 4 Life"  MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E 4:59
4. "Protest" (interlude)   0:53
5. "Appetite for Destruction"  MC Ren, The D.O.C., KokaneMC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E 3:22
6. "Don't Drink That Wine" (interlude)   1:07
7. "Alwayz into Somethin'"  MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre 4:29
8. "Message to B.A." (interlude)   0:48
9. "Real Niggaz"  MC Ren, Eazy-EMC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E 4:27
10. "To Kill a Hooker" (interlude)   0:50
11. "One Less Bitch"  The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre 4:47
12. "Findum, Fuckum & Flee"  MC Ren, Eazy-EMC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E 3:55
13. "Automobile"  Eazy-EEazy-E, Dr. Dre 3:15
14. "She Swallowed It"  MC RenMC Ren, Eazy-E 4:13
15. "I'd Rather Fuck You"  Eazy-EEazy-E 3:57
16. "Approach to Danger"  MC RenMC Ren, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E 2:45
17. "1-900-2-Compton" (interlude)   1:27
18. "The Dayz of Wayback"  MC Ren, The D.O.C.MC Ren, Dr. Dre 4:15

Sample credits

"Prelude"
"Real Niggaz Don't Die"
"Niggaz 4 Life"
"Appetite for Destruction"
  • "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
  • "Funky Stuff" by Kool and the Gang
  • "Get Me Back on Time, Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett
  • "Niggers vs. the Police" by Richard Pryor
"Don't Drink That Wine"
  • "I've Been Watching You (Move Your Sexy Body)" by Parliament
  • "If It Ain't Ruff" by N.W.A
"Alwayz into Somethin'"
"Message to B.A."
  • "Prelude" by N.W.A
"Real Niggaz"
  • "Give it Up" by Kool & the Gang
  • "Got to Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn
  • "Gashman" by The Last Poets
  • "The Lovomaniacs" by Boobie Knight & the Universal Lady
"To Kill a Hooker"
"One Less Bitch"
"Findum, Fuckum & Flee"
"Automobile"
  • "My Automobile" by Parliament
"She Swallowed It"
  • "Cardova" by The Meters
  • "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Babe" by Barry White
  • "That Girl is a Slut" by Just-Ice
  • "Slack Jawed Leroy" by Leroy & Skillet with LaWanda Page
"I'd Rather Fuck You"
  • "I'd Rather Be with You" by Bootsy Collins
"Approach to Danger"
"1-900-2-Compton"
"The Dayz of Wayback"

Appearances

Artist Notes
MC Ren performs on 11 tracks
Dr. Dre performs on 9 tracks
Eazy-E performs on 9 tracks
DJ Yella performs on 1 track
Above The Law performs on 1 track
The D.O.C. songwriter
Admiral Dancehall performs on 2 tracks
Warren G Uncredited vocals on "1-900-2-Compton"

Charts

Chart positions

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Billboard 200 1
Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1

Singles

Year Song Chart positions
US R&B
Singles		 US Rap
Singles
1991 "Appetite for Destruction" 45 2
"Alwayz into Somethin'" 37 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[12] 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. ↑ "Popular music restrictions in america in the late 1980s/early 90s (1991)". Ed Cox. 1990-06-09. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  3. ↑ "Gangsta Misogyny by Edward G. Armstrong - JCJPC, Volume 8, Issue 2". Albany.edu. 1998-04-19. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  4. ↑ Jason Birchmeier (1991-05-28). "Niggaz4life - N.W.A | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  5. ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: N.W.A". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  6. ↑ "N.W.A.". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  7. ↑ "N.W.A. :: Efil4Zaggin :: Ruthless/Priority Records". Rapreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  10. ↑ Brandon Gaille (5 February 2015). "25 Good Hip Hop Demographics". BrandonGaille.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  11. 1 2 Efil4Zaggin [inside sleeve] (Media notes). N.W.A. Ruthless Records. 261 464.
  12. ↑ "American album certifications – NWA – Niggaz4Life". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
Preceded by
Spellbound by Paula Abdul		 Billboard 200 number-one album
June 22–28, 1991 		Succeeded by
Slave to the Grind by Skid Row
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