Before we begin this, let us be clear: American Songwriter does not condone violence. Not against peaceful American citizens, not against law enforcement. However, as the country and its people witnesses yet another video in which police brutally murder a non-violent, non-threatening citizen—this time Tyre Nichols—it’s important to understand the emotion and the experience that […]
Antione “DJ Yella” Carraby is not only one of the original riders of the west-coast hip-hop and gangsta rap wave, he is also a published author, key innovator and pioneer of the record-scratching technique. Oh, and what caught all y’alls’ eyes: He’s also founding member of the breakthrough rap sextet from Compton, California, the one […]
La-da-da-da-da, it looks like the next episode in Dr. Dre’s musical career will see him letting go of his musical assets in a huge deal with Universal Music Group and Shamrock Holdings. I’ll explain. According to Variety, The Chronic rapper is set to be nearing the close of a deal between the two companies, which […]
Ruthless Records producer Larry Goodman, better known as Laylaw, has died. Compton’s Most Wanted rapper Tha Chill confirmed the news on Thursday (January 12) with an Instagram post that read simply: “R.I.P. @laylaw_og_nwa_gone miss you BIG BRO. #NWA #ABOVETHELAW.” Snoop Dogg was among the first to hop in the comments, writing, “Damn.” Many of Laylaw’s […]
Ice Cube, MC Eiht and several other members of the West Coast Hip Hop community have paid tribute to producer Laylaw, who has died. The beloved producer’s death was confirmed on Thursday (January 12) in an Instagram post by rapper Tha Chill, who co-founded Compton’s Most Wanted with MC Eiht. Ice Cube, who collaborated with […]
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Monday she was locked out of her Twitter account after using music by hip-hop giant Dr. Dre without permission. The N.W.A. artist born Andre Romelle Young took exception to the right-wing politician using a clip from his 1999 song “Still D.R.E.” in a posting in which Greene warns Washington […]
After a split with N.W.A, the rapper-producer’s solo debut introduced the G-funk sound, launched multiple careers and changed hip-hop forever. As of Dec. 15, 2022, we’ve had 30 years of The Chronic, hip-hop legend Dr. Dre’s breakout solo debut album. That’s three decades of house parties, backyard BBQs, collegiate ragers, beach/lakeside hangouts and slow drives […]
NWA was the result of members of already established Los Angeles groups such as CIA and The World Class Wreckin’ Cru uniting to form a supergroup of sorts. Ice Cube was a central figure as early as 1987 writing “House Calls” and “The Cabbage Patch” for The World Class Wreckin Cru as well as Eazy […]
Iconic artists Ice Cube and Too $hort will again take the Allegiant Stadium mainstage at halftime of Sunday’s Las Vegas Raiders-San Francisco game to give Raider Nation an encore performance. Longtime members of the Raider Nation, Ice Cube and Too $hort previously performed at intermission of the Raiders’ first-ever regular season game in Las Vegas […]