N.W.A. - N.W.A. And The Posse

Released in 1987

Before the notorious release Straight Outta Compton there was N.W.A. and the Posse, a pretty enjoyable first look at what would soon become one of rap history's most controversial groups. Whereas Straight Outta Compton and the band's later albums focused almost purely on hardcore, violence and sex-filled gangster rap, N.W.A. and the Posse is actually a transition of the past and what was to come.

Tracks like the humorous, yet decidedly politically incorrect, Fat Girl and Drink It Up are offered up purely for entertainment value, whereas tracks like Boyz-n-the-Hood and Dopeman were the beginnings of the Compton group's genesis into gangster rap. Much of the beats on the tracks lean towards the old school feel, rather than the modernized hardcore beats that defined N.W.A.

Some of the album's highlights are:

• Drink It Up – Performed by the Fila Fresh Crew, this ode to liquor based its melody off of the Isley Brothers' famous song Twist and Shout.
• Panic Zone – Highly unusual for N.W.A., yet somehow a track I never grow weary of listening to. It possesses an irresistible techno sound.
• Fat Girl – An offensively humorous story of a rotund girl that's seeking the romantic attentions of Eazy-E.

I can hear some of you say now, "How dare you not include Boyz-n-the-Hood or Dopeman in the album highlights!?" Good question! The reason I don't highlight them here is because they were such powerful tunes that they were later included in future albums (Dopeman was included on N.W.A.'s next album, Straight Outta Comptom, and Boyz-n-the-Hood was included on Eazy-E's solo album). So yes, they are highlights, but they are highlights that actually suit the vibes of the future albums a bit better than this fun, less intense release.

This is the N.W.A. release that managed to slip under the radar of some fans, and while it's not solely gangster rap, it's definitely worthy if you can appreciate less intense older school rap.

Rating: 7 stars

Track List Boyz-n-the-Hood 8 Ball Dunk the Funk A ***** Iz A ***** Drink It Up Panic Zone L.A. Is the Place Dopeman Tuffest Man Alive Fat Girl 3 the Hard Way

Additional Resources:

• Straight Outta Compton Review

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