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	Dr. Dre
Certification	PMA.K
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.

Apart from the title track and "8-Ball", the record also included "Dopeman", 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 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 two years later, 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 "Dopeman" was included.

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, "Dopeman" 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[1] a .38 slug."

Track listing

1. "Panic Zone" – 4:30
2. "Dopeman (Radio Edit)" – 4:42
3. "8-Ball (Radio Edit)" – 4:20
4. "Dopeman" – 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