Panic Zone

"Panic Zone" is the debut single by American hip hop group N.W.A. The song is also the second single off the compilation album 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 1,000 copies. The single introduced rap artists Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Krazy Dee, and Arabian Prince.

"Panic Zone"
Single by N.W.A
from the album N.W.A. and the Posse
B-side	"Dope Man , 8Ball"
Released	August 13, 1987
Recorded	1987
Genre	Breakbeat West Coast hip hop
Length	4:30
Label	Ruthless Macola
Songwriter(s)	Arabian Prince Dr. Dre Ice Cube Krazy Dee
Producer(s)	Dr. Dre
N.W.A singles chronology
"Panic Zone" (1987) "Straight Outta Compton" (1988)

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 version and remix version of "Dopeman" appear on side B of the split, while the original version and the remix version 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 of "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."

Track listing

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

Personnel

• Eazy-E – executive producer, vocals (on "8-Ball" and "Dopeman")
• Dr. Dre – engineer, producer, vocals
• Donovan Smith – engineer
• Brian Gardner – mastering engineer
• Phil Bedel – photography
• Ice Cube – writer and vocals (in "Dopeman")
• Arabian Prince – vocals (on "Panic Zone")
• Krazy Dee – writer and vocals (on "Dopeman")

References

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