Panic Zone

"Panic Zone"
Single by N.W.A
Released	1987
Format	12"
Genre	Hip hop
Length	19:32
Label	Ruthless / Macola
Writer(s)	Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Krazy Dee
Producer(s)	Dr. Dre
Certification	4x Platinum (RIAA)
N.W.A singles chronology
"Panic Zone" (1987) "Straight Outta Compton" (1988)

"Panic Zone" was the 1987 debut EP by American hip hop group N.W.A, whose songs were later featured on the compilation N.W.A. and the Posse, which was a reissue of 12" EPs and singles released by Macola Records, the then manufacturer and distributor of Ruthless Records, N.W.A's label. Despite its independent release, the tape has sold over 4,000,000 copies. The EP introduced to the world legendary rap artists Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre.

Apart from the title track and "8 Ball", the record also included "Dope Man", a song about a local drug dealer who is waited on hand and foot by frequent clients whose lives have been ruined as a result of their consumption of his products.

Cover of the 1989 split single containing the remix

This track was also the B-side of a split single release with Eazy-E's Boyz-n-the-Hood, which was released in 1989, following the commercial success of Eazy-E's solo debut Eazy-Duz-It and the group's first album proper, Straight Outta Compton, on which a remix of "Dope Man" was included. Both the original remix version of "Dopeman" appear on side B of the split, while the original version and the remix versions of "Boyz-n-the-Hood" appear on side A.^[1]

The song later appeared on The Best of N.W.A. - The Strength of Street Knowledge. It contains a sample from Funky Worm by the Ohio Players.

Despite its notoriety and popularity, "Dope Man" was never released as a single proper. At 0:58 the song contains a reference to Scarface: "To be a dopeman, boy, you must qualify - don't get high off your own supply."

Featured MC Krazy Dee raps towards the end of the song: "Yo, Mr Dopeman, you think you're slick, You sold crack to my sister, and now she's sick, But if she happens to die because of your drugs, I'm putting in your culo a .38 slug."

Track listing

1. "Panic Zone" – 4:30
2. "Dope Man (Radio Edit)" – 4:42
3. "8 Ball (Radio Edit)" – 4:20
4. "Dope Man" – 6:00
5. "8 Ball" – 4:00

Personnel

• Eazy-E - Executive Producer
• Dr. Dre - Engineer, Producer
• Donovan Smith - Engineer
• Brian Gardner - Mastering Engineer
• Phil Bedel - Photography
• Ice Cube - MC

References

1. ↑ Eazy-E / N.W.A* - Boyz-N-The-Hood / Dopeman (Vinyl)