Their second album, Straight Outta Compton, marked the beginning of the new gangsta rap era as the production and the social commentary in their lyrics were revolutionary within the genre.
radio stations and even at times prevented from touring - yet the group has still sold over 9 million units in the U.S. They were subsequently banned from many mainstream U.S. Active from 1986 to 1991, the group endured controversy due to the explicit nature of their lyrics. N.W.A ( also known as 'Niggaz With Attitude' ) was a Compton, California-based hip hop group widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre.