Summary
Career Longevity & Personal Balance
In an interview with
Kendrick Lamar, the N.W.A. members revealed their strategies for maintaining sanity through 30+ years in the music industry, emphasizing the importance of authentic self-preservation despite industry pressures. They made early career vows to remain true to themselves "from the clubhouse to corporate." Regarding work-family balance, approaches varied from complete separation to integrated support, with one member providing industry opportunities to his children while stressing that success depends on their own talent and drive. They identified the business aspects of music as their greatest challenge, admitting they initially "didn't make a nickel" due to business inexperience.
Artistic Philosophy & Current Generation
When discussing today's hip-hop generation, they praised artists like Kendrick and
Pusha T while advising creators to prioritize authenticity over commercial expectations. One member cautioned against focusing on sales metrics, emphasizing that hip-hop should be "for the love" rather than money. They valued innovation and differentiation in newer artists, drawing parallels to N.W.A.'s own groundbreaking approach. The group had no expectations of widespread success when creating their music, initially targeting only Los Angeles audiences and recording "Straight Outta Compton" in just six weeks of weekend sessions.
Cultural Impact & Legacy
N.W.A. transformed not just music but global pop culture by demonstrating that artists could achieve mainstream success without projecting sanitized images. Their raw storytelling allowed listeners outside urban communities to experience these environments "from a safe distance," generating broader interest and concern about conditions in places like Compton. They served as "underground reporters," bringing authentic neighborhood experiences to wider awareness. The members aspire to leave a legacy as "the most dangerous group" that inspired authenticity, showing that people "from nothing" could create something innovative and successful despite convention. Despite facing scrutiny from powerful entities including the FBI and PMRC, they remained unsilenced.
Brotherhood & Eazy-E
The group reflected on their unbreakable bond—one that "you can't manufacture" but must be forged through shared experience. They shared fond memories of Eazy-E, describing him as "super cool," "smart," and "visionary." They recalled how Eazy insisted on the hardcore nature of their music while maintaining a fun, energetic studio environment. One member noted that the group "had to break up, not fade away" to achieve their enduring legacy, with their impact becoming even more significant 26 years later, culminating in a major film about their journey from "kids from the street" to cultural icons.*There may be errors on this page.