Review
'It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa' represents Eazy-E at his most confrontational, a direct response to the ongoing feud with his former N.W.A bandmate Dr. Dre. Released in 1993, this EP abandoned Eazy's original plans for a double album called 'Temporary Insanity,' instead focusing on a targeted counterattack to Dre's verbal assaults on 'The Chronic.' The minimal production emphasizes bass-heavy, menacing beats that perfectly complement Eazy's distinctive nasal delivery and street-oriented persona. Tracks like 'Real Muthaphuckkin G's' serve as calculated strikes aimed at undermining Dre's street credibility, portraying him as a fabricated studio personality rather than an authentic gangsta figure.
While the EP succeeds when channeling raw antagonism, it sometimes stumbles with less substantial material. 'Gimmie That Nutt' relies too heavily on crude sexuality, and the 'Boyz-N-Tha-Hood (G-Mix)' feels like unnecessary recycling of previous material. Despite these inconsistencies, the project stands as a fascinating document of hip-hop's golden age battle culture, capturing a critical moment in West Coast rap history when personal vendettas transformed into musical warfare. The unfiltered aggression and territorial defense showcased throughout make 'It's On' a significant, if narrowly focused, entry in Eazy-E's catalog that continues to resonate with fans of 90s gangsta rap. - Ellis
