“The World’s Most Dangerous Group” has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the fifth rap act to do so.
The 31st induction was held on Friday, April 8 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. Rapper Kendrick Lamar had the honor of introducing the rap group with powerful words adding, “The fact that a famous group can look just like one of us and dress like one of us, talk like one of us. Proved to every single kid in the ghetto that you can be successful.”
N.W.A gained recognition as one of the most controversial music groups in music history with their brutally honest lyrics that shook up the nation in the late 80s.The original members Ice Cube, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and the late Eazy E make up the supergroup that formed N.W.A. The native Compton members led a revolution by painting a picture of what their lives were really like. They stood out and creatively rose to fame as the pioneers of gangsta rap.
In 2015 N.W.A. released a biopic titled Straight Outta Compton that summed up their history in a motion picture. The film brought back life to the struggles they had to face which ultimately gained their rightful spot in the Hall of Fame.
In a recent interview with the New York Times, member Ice Cube expressed his thoughts on how Straight Outta Compton led to their induction.
“I think it was the thing that put us over the top,” Cube remarked. “The movie was able to remind them of the impact of the group on pop culture and that the music is just as much rock ’n’ roll as anything. Rock ’n’ roll is a form of sped-up blues to me.”
After a series of disagreements by critics, the group earned a much honored spot in the Hall forever. Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy have all held the honor of induction as rap acts also.
“Rock ’n’ roll is a spirit connecting hip-hop to a century-long musical lineage of blues, jazz, R&B and punk rock,” said Ice Cube. “Rock ’n’ roll is not conforming to the people who came before you. But creating your own path in music and in life. That is rock ’n’ roll, and that is us.”
The 31st Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction will air on HBO April 30
