On this date in 1990, the self-proclaimed âworldâs most dangerous groupâ released their second overall project and only EP, 100 Miles and Runninâ, through Ruthless/Priority Records.
This was N.W.A.âs first release without their lead songwriter and most celebrated emcee, OâShea âIce Cubeâ Jackson, whose bitter contract dispute with the group led to his now-infamous departure. The five-track project marked the opening shot in the highly publicized feud between Cube and his former groupmatesâa war of words that would later give birth to Cubeâs legendary diss track âNo Vaseline.â
Even without Cubeâs pen and presence, 100 Miles and Runninâ became a commercial success, earning platinum certification in less than two years. For the first time, the group also benefited from radio support, which helped propel the EPâs visibility far beyond their core fan base.
The title track stands out as the projectâs most recognizable song, appearing not only on the EP but later on N.W.Aâs Greatest Hits. Another standout, âReal Niggaz,â emerged as a fan favorite and eventually found its way onto the groupâs final studio album, Niggaz4Life.
More than three decades later, 100 Miles and Runninâ remains a pivotal chapter in N.W.Aâs story; a bridge between their groundbreaking debut and their final album, as well as a key moment in West Coast rap history. Salute to DJ Yella, MC Ren, Dr. Dre, and the late Eazy-E for crafting a project that still resonates in Hip Hop culture.