Niggaz4Life, frequently stylized as "EFIL4ZAGGIN," is the second and final studio album by the seminal American hip-hop group N.W.A. Released by Ruthless Records and Priority Records on May 28, 1991, it marks the last N.W.A album featuring founding member Eazy-E.
Following the departure of Ice Cube in 1989 over financial disputes, N.W.A moved forward as a four-man outfit, with members Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. They recruited rapper The D.O.C. and Above the Law's Big Hutch for lyrics, making this record more lyrically dense.
Despite settling into a funkier, smoother, and slower sound characterized by a leaning towards G-funk, N.W.A managed to retain the explicit content and real-life narrative that characterized their earlier work. Reflecting the socio-political environment of the late 1980s-early 1990s in urban America, themes of street life, police brutality, and racial tension form the core of the album.
Upon its release, Niggaz4Life faced controversy due to its explicit lyrics but scored commercial success, debuting at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart before reaching the top spot in its second week, making it the first hardcore rap album to do so. The album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) just over two months after its release in July 1991.
While N.W.A disbanded later in 1991 due to internal disputes, notably between Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, Niggaz4Life left a lasting legacy. It is credited with pioneering G-funk and influencing countless hip-hop artists in the subsequent years, effectively cementing N.W.A's legacy as "The World’s Most Dangerous Group."
