The rapper NWA couldn’t exist without, according to Ice Cube
NWA are arguably the most influential force in gangsta rap’s history. Without them, the subgenre may never have taken off as it ultimately did.
The group, originally consisting of Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube, with DJ Yella and MC Ren getting involved a little bit later, had a unique character, with each member adding their own flavour. The chemistry between them was essential to the group’s overall aura, but, as Ice Cube sees it, one member in particular was key to the whole thing.
Given his reputation today, one might expect that this key member would be Dr Dre. But that’s not who Cube highlighted. He actually thinks that, without Eazy-E, the group never could have happened.
“NWA would have not existed without Eazy-E,” Cube claimed during an interview with Billboard in 2015. “No doubt in my mind.”
Cube feels that the strength of Eazy’s character was essential for getting NWA off the ground in the early days. “He was bold and not scared of anything,” he said of his bandmate, who died in 1995. “He was 21, 22, I was 16—to me, he was fearless.”
It was this fearlessness and singleness of vision that guided NWA towards doing exactly what they wanted to do. “That’s what he brought,” said Cube. “‘I don’t want to do no corny ass records that try to get on the radio. I want to do hardcore records about what the hell is going on around here.’”
Cube, during this same interview, conceded that Eazy hadn’t initially been the greatest rapper, but he was a dedicated worker. His will to improve, and his discipline to practice, in the end helped him to become so much better.
“Eazy just worked hard,” Cube said. “He worked hard, hard, and actually became a pretty good rapper.”
Eazy wasn’t the most natural of performers, but he forced himself to improve and, eventually, he held his own against his bandmates. “He got better every time he got in front of the mic,” said Cube. “He got better and better and better until he was a bona fide rapper.”