NWA's EFIL4ZAGGIN 25th Anniversary

After all's said and done, EFIL4ZAGGIN is one of the most influential albums ever produced.

​Label:

• Ruthless Records

Release Date:

• 28th May 1991

Producers:

• Dr. Dre
• DJ Yella
• Eazy-E

Features:

• Above The Law

Genre:

• Hip Hop​/ Rap

Today N.W.A. celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its history-making second and final full length album EFIL4ZAGGIN. The album that brought the group to the next level because of their hardcore lyrics and image behind them. It represented a lifestyle that people in the hood felt proud about and people in the suburbs wanted to achieve and it had no qualms about what it was. The life of a Gangsta and takin no shit. 

EFIL4ZAGGIN achieved a historic highpoint in the music industry. It was the first hardcore Rap album to reach the number one spot on Billboards Top 100 Pop Album chart and there were strong reasons for it. The loss of Ice Cube could've been a detriment to the group but they made it a positive by featuring more Dr. Dre verses and stepping their game up lyrically thanks to a more polished MC Ren and the highly underrated songwriting of The D.O.C. The other major factor is the elevated level of Dre's production at that point. 

He had secured the title of best producer on the Westcoast and it was because of how dope his beats had become. They started with hardcore drums and kicks, then he'd always lay a heavy bassline and add crazy synths and the shit would come out funky as hell and hard as fuck. The shit that gets you hype. We didn't know at the time but that was the beginning of the G Funk Era, continued and originated with Cold 187um and Warren G and eventually many others.
​

It then goes to their magnum opus 'Real Zaggin Don't Die' which really sets the tone of the record with a dark and violent beat with hard drums. The first single is 'Always into Somethin' and they talk about making big money, however you have to do it. Whether it's robbin, pimpin or selling drugs it doesn't matter as long as you’re getting paid. They also give a shout out to Ice Cube, or as they say "That Bitch O'Shea".

One of the more comical songs is 'Findum, Fuckem and Flee' about the fine art of Finding, Fucking and Fleeing. The overall theme again is living that Gangsta lifestyle by all means necessary.
​

The album starts with a sick intro by Above the Law's Cold 187um & KMG and Kokane talking about how dope N.W.A. is and then goes into two verses by MC Ren rappin about no one being on their level and how their running the rap game.
​

"EFIL4ZAGGIN achieved a historic highpoint in the music industry. It was the first hardcore Rap album to reach the number one spot on Billboards Top 100 Pop Album chart "

After all's said and done, EFIL4ZAGGIN is one of the most influential albums ever produced. Having spawned Eazy E's solo projects and all the acts that created careers from his label like Bone, ATL and Kokane.

Then you have Dr.Dre and his Death Row and Aftermath labels which have gone on to sell hundreds of millions of albums over the years from artists like Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. Lastly you end up with the Straight Outta Compton movie which will end up grossing close to half a billion dollars and you can see how much effect this album has had on the music industry.
​

9.5/10

Written by Derek AKA Norman Voorhees.
​

​​Ronon's Reviews Merch! Only at REDBUBBLE! Click the photo to check the shop.
​

Related Reviews:

What a magical times the 90s were. The Craft is a beautiful reminder of all the great stuff that decade brought us.

Super Mario Bros. the Video Game? We all love that... The 1993 movie, maybe not so much.

Machine Gun Kelly's Bloom.