Originally a hip-hop group from Los Angeles, California called C.I.A. in 1997, N.W.A was reformed in 1998 by Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E. The group has been credited with putting gangsta rap on the map, both as a collective and in their individual careers, and the unfiltered approach to their writing styles has done an incredible job of highlighting the realities of life in their communities.