Read N.W.A’s Heartfelt Rock Hall Acceptance Speeches
On Friday night, the members of N.W.A – Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Yella and the late Eazy-E – joined a handful of rap artists who are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s an honor that means a lot to the group. “It means that the group’s mark is kind of solidified,” Ice Cube told Rolling Stone last year. “It’s all legitimized in a way because the whole music industry has to honor the group in a way. It’s just hard to sum up in words.” In another interview, he called making the Hall of Fame “the tip-top.”
After an induction speech by the group’s Compton progeny Kendrick Lamar, N.W.A – who did not perform – took to the mic for the first time to express their gratitude for the honor. Here’s what they told the audience at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center about the recognition.
What’s up Brooklyn? Yeah. What’s up. I want to thank Kendrick Lamar for those beautiful words. Kendrick Lamar is one of the best that ever did it and it’s not a doubt in my mind that he’ll be on this stage one day in the future getting inducted. So yeah, it’s been 30 years, exactly 30 years, since we formed the group N.W.A. Back then, we weren’t thinking about fame or fortune or anything like that. We were just some kids in the studio having fun recording?
And these guys right here are the first people that I had the opportunity to record with before any business was involved. Imagine that. Recording with no business involved. I’m quite sure everybody in the music industry, especially those that make music, understand how precious those times are. Back then, there were a lot of people against us, probably because of what we were saying. I get it. I understand. You know, they weren’t ready for us. The name of our group alone was a shocker. Niggas with Attitudes, you feel me?
But this is proof, this is proof, to all the kids out there, growing up in places like Compton, that anything is possible. Feel me? Me and the guys standing right here? We’re absolutely no different or better than any of you. Feel me. Feel me. You just have to find that thing that’s special about you that distinguishes you from all the others and through true talent, hard work, and passion, anything can happen. Never let them talk about it!
“This is proof to all the kids out there … that anything is possible” – Dr. Dre
One of the first people that believed in me, the first person to invest in my talent, me and this guy used to argue all the time in the studio, but at the end of the day we both realized that we were after the same goal and that was to make great music. And I’m talking about Eazy-E. Make some noise for Eazy-E. I’d like to thank Eric Wright. There is no way that we would be on this stage right now with N.W.A being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without him. Real talk.