"N.W.A. and the Posse" is a compilation album that re-released underground rap songs from N.W.A and associated groups within the Los Angeles rap scene. It was released on November 6, 1987, and is regarded as N.W.A's first but largely neglected album. However, it was not intended to be their official debut. That distinction went to Straight Outta Compton, which was released a year later in August 1988. While Straight Outta Compton went on to be certified platinum, N.W.A. and the Posse was certified gold in 1994, selling half as many copies.
The album was released by Macola Records, which at the time was a major distributor in the Los Angeles hip-hop scene. Macola collected songs primarily from N.W.A's EP, N.W.A (which had been distributed by Macola under the group's record label, Ruthless Records), and released them as N.W.A. and the Posse. However, the track "A Bitch iz a Bitch," which had been recorded around the same time, was omitted by Macola in favor of more party and electro-themed tracks like "Panic Zone," which were more in line with the sounds that dominated the local rap scene before N.W.A's breakthrough with Straight Outta Compton. Later, after Straight Outta Compton became a success, the album was re-issued with "A Bitch iz a Bitch" replacing the track "Scream."
The album features six tracks from the original members of N.W.A: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Arabian Prince. However, MC Ren and DJ Yella, who were not yet part of the group at the time of the album's creation, do not contribute to the music, though Ren is featured on the cover photo. The album also includes tracks from Microphone Mike (later known as Myka 9) and Rappinstine, who were part of the DJ crew World Class Wreckin' Cru. These artists, along with Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, were foundational to the rise of N.W.A.
Four of the album’s tracks come from the Fila Fresh Crew, a Texas-based rap group discovered by Dr. Dre. This group was notable for featuring Doc-T, who later renamed himself The D.O.C. These tracks were also distributed by Macola.
Macola was the main distributor for the area’s hip-hop scene and had a strong presence in rap music during this era. The World Class Wreckin' Cru, led by Grandmaster Lonzo, was signed to Macola under Lonzo’s Kru-Cut Records label. The success of Eazy-E's "Boyz-n-the-Hood" led to the creation of the N.W.A EP, which was also distributed by Macola. After the EP’s release, N.W.A left Macola for Priority Records, which did not sit well with the distributor. As a result, Macola decided to cash in on the group’s rising fame and compiled songs from the EP and other tracks from their catalog to create N.W.A. and the Posse.
The cover photo of the album, which was also used for the EP, was taken in a Hollywood alley near Macola's office. The photo shoot reportedly involved members of N.W.A and others being summoned by Eazy-E, with some members showing up simply by driving through the area. Although future N.W.A member MC Ren was photographed, he had not yet joined the group at the time. DJ Yella, who was closely associated with the group, was absent from the shoot due to illness, even though he was not yet officially part of N.W.A when the photo was taken. He would join the group later in the year, shortly before Ren.
