When did Eazy E record the song?
Eazy recorded the song in 1987 and released it as a solo single (titled “The Boyz-n-the-Hood”). A short time later, Eazy and Cube formed N.W.A with another rapper/writer, Dr. Dre, and later that year they included this song on their debut album, N.W.A and the Posse. Eazy-E released yet another version of the song the following year on his 1988 solo …
Eazy-E scored his third Hot 100 hit when his solo version of the song debuted at #50 on the US Hot 100 in 2015. Its arrival on the chart was due to renewed interest following the release of the N.W.A biopic film, Straight Outta Compton. More songs from N.W.A.
This song is about the ghetto life in Compton, California, where N.W.A is from. It’s describing a day in the life of a gangsta as rapped by Eazy-E. The tale of thug life in this song is something that its writer, Ice Cube, witnessed from a comfortable distance.
The songwriting credits have varied by release. The original Eazy-E version lists just Ice Cube as the writer, with Eazy as executive producer. The N.W.A version has Eazy, Dre and Cube credited, and the 1988 Eazy-E version is listed as written by Cube and Eazy. Ice Cube, six years younger than Eazy-E, was far less astute in business matters, …
Ice Cube, six years younger than Eazy-E, was far less astute in business matters, and later claimed that he was cheated out of royalties with N.W.A. Eazy-E was far more accomplished as a businessman than as a rapper when he recorded this song.
This song was the inspiration for the 1991 movie Boyz n the Hood , which starred N.W.A member Ice Cube as Doughboy, a street-smart teenager who had already spent time in prison. It was Ice Cube’s first acting role, and a very successful one. The film earned over $50 million on a $6 million budget, leading to more roles for Ice Cube and a spate …
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