The first release from the estranged frontman of N.W.A. dropped 23 years ago on this day

When the SHTF for “The World’s Most Dangerous Group” back in 1990, the crew’s main rhyme writer O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson decided to break camp from NWA, who were then being managed by Jerry Heller on Ruthless Records. As the only member who didn’t sign the slave contract, Cube took advantage of his creative freedom and dropped AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted. Recording most of the album in NYC, Ice Cube elected production from Hank Shocklee and the Bomb Squad, along with his homie Sir Jinx of the Lench Mob. The 16 track, Five Mic Classic was very sample heavy, fusing a lot of old funk with heavy bass.

Songs like “Once Upon A Time In The Projects” and “Who’s The Mack” painted vivid pictures of good life in South Central LA, while he gave the women a piece of his gangster mind on tracks like “I’m Only Out For One Thang” and It’s A Man’s World”, which featured his up and coming female protege, Yo-Yo.

This album introduced the Hip Hop world to the new & improved Ice Cube and there were no complaints. AMW preceded his EP, Kill At Will, which was the launching pad for the highly anticipated Death Certificate.

Salute to Ice Cube for this Five Mic’er that will forever go down in Hip Hop history!

-Sha Be Allah(@KingPenStatus)