YO! MTV Raps Classic Season 1 Episode 2 N.W.A.

  • April 7, 1989
  • 43 min

Yo! MTV Raps Classic season 1 episode 2 focuses on the iconic rap group, N.W.A. The episode takes a deep dive into the formation and legacy of the group, featuring interviews with its members: Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and DJ Yella.

The episode starts with a montage of some of N.W.A's most recognizable hits, including "Straight Outta Compton" and "F*** tha Police." We hear from Ice Cube, who talks about the group's origins, saying "The group formed when Eazy-E wanted to start a record label, and he wanted me and Dre to write the songs." Cube goes on to talk about the group's early days, and how they embraced a raw, unfiltered sound that spoke to their experiences growing up in Compton.

Next up is MC Ren, who talks about the influence of Compton on the group's music, saying "Growing up in Compton, you got a lot to say. You see a lot of things and you experience a lot of things, so it just came natural for us to rap about it." We also hear from DJ Yella, who talks about the role of sampling in N.W.A's music. He says "We were on a budget, so we had to sample a lot of stuff. But we made it work, and it became our signature sound."

The episode also delves into the controversy surrounding N.W.A's lyrics, particularly the song "F*** tha Police." We hear from Ice Cube and MC Ren, who defend the song, saying that they were speaking out against police brutality and the mistreatment of black people by law enforcement. The episode also features footage of protests that occurred after the song's release, as well as news reports of the group's concerts being cancelled due to concerns about the song's content.

The episode then moves on to the dissolution of N.W.A. Ice Cube left the group in 1989, citing creative differences with the other members, and went on to have a successful solo career. We hear from Ice Cube about his departure, as well as from MC Ren, who talks about the impact it had on the group. "It was a blow to us, losing Cube," he says. "But we had to keep going. We had to prove to people that we were still N.W.A."

The episode wraps up with a look at the legacy of N.W.A. We hear from Dr. Dre, who talks about the impact the group had on hip hop. "We opened up doors for a lot of people," he says. "We showed that you could be from anywhere and make it in this game." We also hear from Ice Cube, who talks about the group's influence on society as a whole. "We were speaking for a whole generation of people who didn't have a voice," he says. "That's what N.W.A was all about."

Overall, Yo! MTV Raps Classic season 1 episode 2 is a fascinating look at one of the most important groups in hip hop history. The episode does a great job of exploring the origins of N.W.A, their music, and the impact they had on society. It's a must-watch for hip hop fans and anyone interested in the history of popular music.

Description
Watch YO! MTV Raps Classic - N.W.A. (s1 e2) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
YO! MTV Raps Classic, Season 1 Episode 2, is available to watch and stream on Paramount+. You can also buy, rent YO! MTV Raps Classic on demand at Prime Video online.
  • First Aired
    April 7, 1989
  • Runtime
    43 min
  • Language
    English