When We Wuz Bangin' 1989–1999: The Hitz

• Artist: Compton's Most Wanted
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 23, 2001
• Type: Contains explicit content, Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rap

Review

The 1989-1999 time span cited in the subtitle of When We Wuz Bangin' is a little misleading. Compton's Most Wanted did in fact span a decade, forming in 1989 and debuting a year later, but the group spend most of the ensuing decade inactive, releasing only three albums during a three-year span (1990-1992). Throughout most of the '90s, group leader MC Eiht trudged on with his up-and-down solo career and took producer DJ Slip along for part of the ride. The remaining members of CMW meanwhile remained mostly confined to old-school obscurity. As short-lived as the talented group had been, though, they did release a wealth of blueprint West Coast gangsta rap during their three-album span, each album -- It's a Compton Thang (1990), Music to Driveby (1991), and Straight Checkn 'Em (1992) -- offering a few standout singles. Many of those singles are compiled here ("One Time Gaffled 'Em Up," "Late Night Hype," "Growin' Up in the Hood") as are several of Eiht's bigger solo hits ("All for the Money," "Streiht Up Menace," "Days of '89") and even some rare recordings (DJ Premier's remix of "Def Wish II"). The inclusion of Eiht's solo work is key, since he did have a few great gangsta ballads, but you could argue that those songs had little to do with Compton's Most Wanted and occupy precious disc space that could have instead featured gang-bangin' songs like "Hood Took Me Under" or "Straight Checkn' Em." ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
One Time Gaffled 'Em Up	Terry Allen, A. Tyler, Andre Manuel	Compton's Most Wanted	(3:56)
Duck Sick (Lyrics)	Terry Allen, Andre Manuel, A. Tyler	Compton's Most Wanted	(4:30)
Late Night Hype	Sandra Sully, A. Tyler, Anita Baker, Patrick Moten	Compton's Most Wanted	(4:48)
Whose Is It? (Give It Up, Pt. 2) [Very Street mix]	Andre Manuel, A. Tyler, Terry Allen	Compton's Most Wanted	(5:23)
Growin' Up in the Hood (Lyrics)	Terry Allen, MC Eiht, Joe Simon, Aaron Tyler, Andre Manuel	Compton's Most Wanted	(4:12)
I'm Wit Dat	Terry Allen, Andre Manuel, A. Tyler	Compton's Most Wanted	(4:53)
N 2 Deep (Lyrics)	Isaac Hayes, MC Eiht, Terry Allen	Scarface, Compton's Most Wanted	(3:51)
Def Wish II [DJ Premier Remix]	DJ Premier, MC Eiht, Andre Manuel	Compton's Most Wanted	(4:12)
All for the Money	MC Eiht, D Ellis, Paul Richmond	Compton's Most Wanted	(4:06)
1990-Sick (Kill 'Em All)	A. Tyler	Spice 1, Compton's Most Wanted	(4:26)
Streiht Up Menace	MC Eiht, Terry Allen	Compton's Most Wanted	(4:34)
Automatic	Fredwreck Nassar, A. Tyler	MC Eiht, Compton's Most Wanted	(4:16)
Days of '89	Terry Allen, A. Tyler	Compton's Most Wanted, MC Eiht	(4:50)

Credits

Liz Manon (Production Assistant), Tom Cartwright (Executive Producer), Spice 1 (Vocals), Marc Regan (Mastering), Charles Levan (Production Assistant), Chill MC (Vocals), Phyllis Pollack (Liner Notes), Mike Edwards (Engineer), Bernadette Fauver (Production Assistant), Bryan Kelley (Production Assistant), MC Eiht (Vocals), Chris Clough (Production Assistant), Fred Wreck (Producer), DJ Mike T (Scratching), DJ Slip (Producer), Peter Dokus (Photography)

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