PW's Song Of The Week: SONG OF THE WEEK: 3-1-2026

SONG: "100 Miles And Runnin'"

ARTIST: N.W.A.

ALBUM: "100 Miles And Runnin'" EP

YEAR: 1990

PLACE OF ORIGIN: Compton, California

YEARS ACTIVE: 1987 - 1991

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The song "100 Miles and Runnin'" serves as the title track of N.W.A's 1990 extended play, representing a pivotal transition for the group following the departure of their primary lyricist, Ice Cube. Musically and lyrically, the song functions as a high-octane narrative of survival, a defiant response to law enforcement pressure, and a public declaration of the group's continued viability as a four-piece ensemble.

N.W.A. DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1989 - Straight Outta Compton (Ruthless/Priority Records)

* Peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 3X Platinum

1991 - NIGGAZ4LIFE (Ruthless/Priority Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

MY THOUGHTS ON N.W.A.:

N.W.A. formed as a group back in 1987, hailing from Compton, California. Funded by Compton drug dealer Eazy-E and record producer Jerry Heller, the group consisted of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Arabian Prince. In 1987 the group put out a compilation album called "N.W.A. And The Posse". This was a compilation of not only N.W.A. members but also some other associated groups as well. In 1988 MC Ren joined the group. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Dre protege The D.O.C. also joined as a writer. The first collaboration of the group would be Eazy-E's debut release "Eazy-Duz-It". MC Ren, Ice Cube and The D.O.C. all contributed the lyrics for that album. A few months later, N.W.A. released it's debut album, the legendary "Straight Outta Compton". This album was fueled by the 1, 2, 3 punch of the songs "Straight Outta Compton", "Fuck Tha Police" and "Gangsta Gangsta". The controversial "Fuck Tha Police" helped N.W.A. explode, becoming a group that parents hated but kids loved! Arabian Prince would leave the group in 1989, as he wasn't much of a contributor anyway. A tough blow for the group would also come in 1989 when Ice Cube left the group over a royalties dispute. The final track on The D.O.C.'s 1989 "No One Can Do It Better" album, called "The Grand Finale", would be the last song that Ice Cube, MC Ren, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E would appear on together. N.W.A. continued on as a foursome (along with The D.O.C. still contributing lyrics) for their sophomore effort, 1991's "NIGGAZ4LIFE". This album, to many, is the origins of the "G-Funk" era of hip hop. Though the album was lauded for it's production by Dr. Dre and it topped the Billboard 200 charts as well, there was dissention amongst the band members. Dr. Dre would soon depart to help create Death Row Records with Suge Knight and take The D.O.C. with him. MC Ren stuck around with Ruthless as well as DJ Yella but they would both depart eventually as well leaving just Eazy-E as the only original N.W.A. member still with Ruthless, of course, he was part owner of the label. There was plenty of feuding between the members as well. Before N.W.A. broke up in 1991, they fired the first shots at Ice Cube with their song "100 Miles And Runnin'". There were little back and forths between N.W.A. and Ice Cube until Ice Cube released the diss track "No Vaseline" which basically ended that war. Dr. Dre then went after Eazy-E on his "The Chronic" album with the diss track "Fuck Wit Dre Day". Eazy responded with "Real Muthafuckin' G's". After the smoke cleared for a few years, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre reconciled. There was also rumors that Cube and Eazy-E had also cleared the air and were even talking about doing a N.W.A. reunion but on March 26, 1995, Eazy-E died of AIDS, ending any shot of a full blown reunion. In 1999, Ice Cube, MC Ren and Dr. Dre released a track as N.W.A. called "Chin Check" for the soundtrack to the film "Next Friday". The last I guess official N.W.A. song was "Hello", which could be found on Ice Cube's "War & Peace Vol. 2" album. In 2015, a movie was made called "Straight Outta Compton" which was a bio/movie about the rise and fall of N.W.A. As all the members of N.W.A. were involved with the project, there were some rumors of a reunion for the group and even a new album. Due to the busy schedules of especially Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, the whole reunion thing kinda fell through. There was also some dispute over the records labels as at that time all the members were all on different labels. In 2016, N.W.A. was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and they even reunited for a one-off show at Coachella Festival in that same year. The members do make appearances on each other's tracks every now and then and Ren often tours with Ice Cube. N.W.A. is definitely one of the most influential rap groups out there. If Ice-T was the one who kicked down the door for west coast gangsta rap, N.W.A. blew up the whole building! Together, N.W.A. was just a force to be reckoned with. Seperately, all the members went on to have success, especially Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. It's amazing that their lifespan as a group is so short but they are so iconic. No one was as in your face as N.W.A. back in 1989. They really changed the direction of hip hop much like Nirvana did with rock. I still put "Straight Outta Compton" up there with one of the best albums in rap ever. My list includes "Straight Outta Compton", Public Enemy's "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" and Wu-Tang Clan's "Enter The 36 Chambers". Iconic shit!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Eazy-E

Ice Cube

Dr. Dre

MC Ren

The D.O.C.

TEN N.W.A. SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Straight Outta Compton

2. The Grand Finale

3. Parental Discretion Iz Advised

4. Gangsta Gangsta

5. Dopeman