N.W.A. – 10 Legendary Rappers

Politics in inner-city Los Angeles have always been a hot topic especially since the racially charged Watts Riots in the 1960s. The members of N.W.A. -- Ice Cube, Eazy E, Dr. Dre, DJ Yella and MC Ren -- are all old enough to remember the aftermath of the riots while they were growing up. It was then inevitable that their music expressed a certain level of aggression and a call to revolution, in a way that only rappers could pull off.

Their debut LP, 'Straight Outta Compton,' proved to be a defining moment in hip-hop and served as a cornerstone of L.A. rap, helping define the gangsta rap sub-genre. Since the days of N.W.A., Dr. Dre and Ice Cube have surpassed their starting point by far with Cube acting, producing and directing movies and television shows while Dr. Dre has built an empire from producing beats -- both headbangers and headphones.

Watch N.W.A.'s 'Straight Outta Compton' Video