Uncut (11/02, p.141) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Showcases some fine second- and third-generation gangstas..."
When the hardcore hip-hop collective known as N.W.A. first appeared on the scene in the '80s, they blew their fair share of minds. Before this Compton crew arrived, no one had heard such mind-blowing beats married to such unapologetically sociopathic lyrics. The combined talents of Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and Dr. Dre made N.W.A. the standard by which all subsequent gangsta rap (and indeed many other hip-hop subgenres) would be judged.
Some 14 years down the road, some members of the crew have gone on to even more successful solo careers, while others (namely Eazy-E) passed away too soon. But the group's glory days are both remembered and celebrated on this compilation. Featured here are a combination of solo tracks from the group members, a couple of full-fledged N.W.A. tracks, and offerings from peers and admirers ranging from Kurupt to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, often with participation from Snoop, Eazy, or Dre. Whatever the format, you can rest assured that this disc is pure gangsta from start to finish.