| Niggaz4Life | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | N.W.A |
| Cover: | NWA-Efil.jpg |
| Alt: | A crime scene of a homicide with the bodies covered with white sheets near the curb. The members of NWA are seen as ghosts above their respective bodies. The album's title "NIGGAZ4LIFE" is seen in a black rectangle and is horizontally mirrored. |
| Studio: | Audio Achievements (Torrance, California) |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | 100 Miles and Runnin' |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | Greatest Hits |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
Niggaz4Life (also known as Efil4zaggin as per album cover art, stylized in all caps and horizontally mirrored) is the second and final studio album by gangsta rap group N.W.A, released on May 28, 1991. It was their final album, as the group disbanded later the same year after the departure of Dr. Dre and songwriter and unofficial member of the group The D.O.C. who both left to form Death Row Records; the album features only four members of the original line-up, as Arabian Prince and Ice Cube had already left the group in 1988 and 1989 respectively. Niggaz4Life debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, but in its second week peaked at number 1.[1]
In 1992, several months after the release of the album, N.W.A released a video named , which chronicled the making of the album and its three music videos, "Alwayz into Somethin'", "Appetite for Destruction" and "Approach to Danger".
In 2002, the CD was re-released in two formats. Both had the EP 100 Miles and Runnin' appended to the end of the original track listing, but one was available with a DVD copy of Niggaz4Life: The Only Home Video.
In comparison to its predecessor, the album was also heavier on misogyny, for which it became notorious. The songs on the album's second half featured more profanity, sexist themes, and references to various sexual acts, provoking the ire of the PMRC,[2] liberal and conservative politicians, and civil rights activist C. Delores Tucker.[3]
Upon release, Niggaz4Life generally polarized music critics, as many were divided over its lyrics especially in the 2nd half of the album. The Source declared it one of their albums of the year but more mainstream publications like Rolling Stone condemned the album. In a two star review (out of five), Rolling Stone critic Arion Berger attacked Niggaz4Life as "so hateful toward women, and in such a pathetic and sleazy manner, that it's simply tiresome."[4] Mark Blackwell, of Spin magazine, similarly opined in his interview of N.W.A. that Niggaz4Life "wears thin pretty fast. The main problem is that the old 'niggas' and 'bitches' thing – whether offensive or not – is getting a little tired" before conceding that "Dre and Yella's production is peerless."[5]
In a negative review, Newsweek deemed the album "by N.W.A standards, is a mediocre work, a retreat from cinematic storytelling into simple punk bluster."[6] Time wrote, "N.W.A. raps nasty and righteous, with real ghetto heat, and doesn't give an inch," calling the album "incendiary" and "grotesque."[1]
Later DJ Yella said: “I do like the second album better than the first. The first one had more hits, but production-wise I like this one better. It would have been great if Cube would have got on that album. But it sounds better, we put more into it.” MC Ren also looks back positively to the album: “The people in the streets loved it. That was basically the best review we could get anyway.”[7]
The album received more positive reviews since then, especially for the production. Tom Doggett from Rap Reviews said: "Niggaz4life is a frightening album, jammed with explosive beats, visceral skits, and inciting rhymes. There is an overwhelming sense of sensual stimulation that overcomes the room when this album is playing. The eighteen tracks move by effortlessly, jumping from shootout skits to Ice Cube disses to revolting accounts of sexual acts. Even if you are turned off, it is impossible to deny the kinetic force that exudes from this album."[8]
Jesse Ducker from Albumism also praised the production and said: "Efil4zaggin stands as a very dope, albeit flawed, piece of work."[9]
The album debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart.[12] It went on to top the Billboard 200, gaining 954,000 sales in its first week becoming the first album by a rap group to top the chart,[13] and the first independently distributed album to top the chart.
Songwriting credits are adapted from the CD liner notes.[14] All songs produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella.
| Artist | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| performs on 11 tracks | ||
| performs on 9 tracks | ||
| performs on 9 tracks | ||
| performs on 1 track |
| Chart (1991) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[15] | 50 | |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] | 35 |