Challenges Facing The Sporting Goods Stores - 1407 Words

Introduction â€Å"Over the past five years, the sporting goods stores industry has fared well due to strong demand for sporting goods from more health-conscious individuals. Due to such high demand, Fit-Fem plans to enter the industry by providing a variety of female athletic apparel, athletic footwear, and sporting equipment along with an in-store professional trainer. The main center will be located in Orlando, Florida due to its vast economic growth and increasing demand of healthy lifestyles. In 2013, Orlando was categorized as the second highest fittest city in Florida and it was nationally â€Å"ranked No.34.† Form of Ownership Fit-Fem retail store will be a limited liability company. This form of ownership would be the most preferable selection due to its limited liability in a case of a lawsuit. In an event of a lawsuit, any personal property cannot be liquidated for any final settlements. In addition, it also has an important advantage in protecting personal assets. As stated in an article, â€Å"All your business losses, profits, expenses flow through the company to the individual members. You avoid the double taxation of paying corporate tax and individual tax.† Supply and Demand Fit-Fem will provide the desired products for customers with a regulation on its prices through competition-based pricing strategy. This involves â€Å"setting prices based on competitors’ strategies, costs, prices, and market offerings.† Consumers primarily use their judgments of a product’s value onShow MoreRelatedJ. Penney Corporation Inc.970 Words   |  4 PagesCompany Overview: J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc, also known as JCPenney, is a chain of American department stores specializing in selling affordable clothing, shoes, accessories, and home decor for the entire family. For more than a century, JCPenney has been a regular shopping destination and a dependable retailer for the American family. 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The Function of Teams at Whole Foods Applying the Team...

The function of teams at Whole Foods: Applying the team performance assessment instrument Introduction One of the most successful companies of recent memory is Whole Foods, the all-organic grocery store that caters to customers who are concerned about the sourcing of their foods. A cornerstone of Whole Foods success is its use of team leadership to enable the organization to fulfill its functions and mission. This paper will evaluate how Whole Foods uses teams to advance its interests and create a positive corporate culture. Functional structure Whole Foods designs its teams to serve the goals of the organization. At Whole Foods, the team, not the hierarchy, is the defining unit of activity. Each of the 43 stores is an autonomous profit center composed of an average of 10 self-managed teams produce, grocery, prepared foods, and so on with designated leaders and clear performance targets. 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The importance of the Baghdad School of Sufism Free Essays

string(91) " in order to grow closer to God was important and cemented the path forward for adherents\." Abstract The Baghdad School of Sufism has been argued to have had many important contributions to religion and the world. This study will examine the philosophy with the goal of determining the reach of Baghdadi Sufism and the influence that it has had on the world today. The evidence presented in the study confirms the argument that the tradition is well rooted throughout the religious establishment and has been a defining factor in modern international culture. We will write a custom essay sample on The importance of the Baghdad School of Sufism or any similar topic only for you Order Now This study will be of value to anyone studying the evolution of the Sufi tradition and the influence it has had. The importance of the Baghdad School of Sufism The Baghdad School of Sufism has had a profound impact across the entirety of the world of Islam from its inception to the modern day[1]. The â€Å"Sufiyya†, or Sufis, were forged out of a convergence of differing religious ideals that coalesced into a distinct movement within Baghdad during the second half of the third/ninth century[2]. The critical nature of this evolution of Islam was to give rise to a form of worship that devoted attention to attaining experiential knowledge of God, profound examination of the concept of a spiritual path, as well as the elevated nature of the friends of God[3]. The Sufi school of thought was built on the foundation of emerging trends taking root in the evolving cultural centre of Baghdad[4]. Brought about as a cultural means of bringing together disparate pieces of worship, Baghdadi Sufism serves to form a vital and valuable link to God for many around the world. This study will examine what importance the Baghdad School of Sufism has had on the world. Beginning with an overview that illustrates the definition of the Baghdadi Sufism tradition alongside a portion of the rich history that has given this tradition form, this essay will build an infrastructure upon which to develop theory. Following this section by identifying key leaders and teachers within the tradition will serve to demonstrate the nature of the philosophy and its attraction. A combination of the first sections will provide evidence that illuminates the fundamental value and importance that many have come to associate with the Baghdad School of Sufism. Baghdadi Sufism â€Å"Sufism is a reality without a form†[5]—Ibn al-Jala Baghdadi Sufism is argued to have taken shape as a social movement directly challenging the existent interpretive justification of the exoterically minded traditionalists[6]. The city of Baghdad was perceived as a centre of culture during this period of Sufi evolution which adds to the value of the emerging concepts capacity to reach most of the classical world. The rise of the city of Baghdad provided a fertile crossroads for mysticism and religion to come together in classic society[7]. Known as the â€Å"the lords of declaring God one†, there have long been debates regarding the veracity of the Baghdadi Sufi claim to a distinct school[8]. Others hold that the Sufi tradition is deeply unique and separate from all others[9]. The distinction between the Baghdadi Sufi and other classical traditions were evident during this period with some equating the early Sufi’s traditions with a moral laxity and private exploration[10]. Teachers among the early Sufi travelled in every direction with the intent to teach the emerging style of piety, which in turn was a fundamental shift away from existent practice[11]. In every respect, the nature of the Baghdadi Sufi stood ready to change the tradition and instil a growing sense of companionship with God. Ma’ruf al-Karkhi is argued to be present at the inception of the Bagdad School of Sufism[12]. This legendary social figure was born of a Christian background in the karkh quarter of Bagdad. Through his teachings, he brought the element of Kufan ascetic piety to the Sufi tradition[13]. Incorporating the elements of mysticism and Islamic asceticism served to offer insights into the nature of God. Others argued that his combination was adverse to the traditional paths to worship[14]. This element of teaching was of a critical nature as it was a counter point to the ecstatic and uncontrollable religious immersion of the era[15]. Conversly, opposition to this used these very elements to prove that the sect was mistaken[16] Islam is built upon the concept of social religion that compels a believer to take an active role in the family or community as defined by the Qur’an and hadij[17]. This fostered a very important sense of duty and respect for culture and society which in turn was a critical component of the teachings of the Baghdadi Sufism traditions. Bishr al Hafi, the barefooted, served as an important example to the worshipers during the formation of the Baghdadi Sufism[18]. He led the masses to a life of scrupulous expression of religious piety, whereby they grew closer to God. Succinctly, al-Hafi incorporated the simplicity of his worship in these words illustrating his devotion, â€Å"Nothing is left to me of the pleasures of this world but lying down on my side under the heavens in the Dome of the Rock.†[19] This unswerving devotion to God, served to build a following that would develop into Sufism. Leaders and Teachers of Baghdadi Sufism â€Å"If intellect were a man, it would have the form of Junayd†[20].One of the fundamental teachers of the Baghdadi Tradition has been heralded with finding a means to transform the nature of Islam away from excess into a more ‘sober’ form. Junayd is argued to have refined the very art of speaking in isharat, an allusion to the truth that became a fundamental characteristic Sufi writing[21]. The importance of this concept is fundamental as Junayd utilized his connection with God to consistently purify the mind and body in order to be closer to the divine[22]: â€Å"We did not take Sufism from talk and words, but from hunger and renunciation of the world and cutting off the things to which we were accustomed and which we found agreeable†[23].This concept of divesting the individual in order to grow closer to God was important and cemented the path forward for adherents. You read "The importance of the Baghdad School of Sufism" in category "Essay examples" In this tradition, Junayd was able to divide the Sufi tradition into recognizable elements including the renunciation, the devotion and remembrance of God, sincerity and contemplation[24]. This establishment of tradition was vital during an era that had an influx of mysticism and religious devotions. Further, this division led to the formation of understandable steps to finding God[25]. This attainment of spirituality or ‘fana’, or the passing away of self-consciousness taught a believer how to find the wisdom of God in order to live a better life[26]. This approach was a clear distinction from other forms of worship taught by Junayd that related to the logical expression of mysticism thereby forming the ‘sober’ attribution[27]. The creation of a ‘sober’ Sufism was an important concept in that it sought to rein in those that absorbed themselves in the worship of God to the exclusion of all else[28]. In this form of Sufism it was vital that the adherent allow God to return them to their body in order to retain their footing in the world. This was a very transformative teaching as Junayd asserted that as a person approaches God, they must become separate from their ego or self-consciousness in order to escape the imprisonment or the diminishment of progress[29]. Further, this was a concept that suggested a return to a higher state of spiritual being as in the Day of the Covenant. Junayds teaching demonstrated that the Baghdadi Sufi tradition was a light in the darkness, describing their vital role as: â€Å"God has made them unfurled flags of truth, lighthouses erected for guidance, beaten path for humanity. These are indeed the scholars among the Muslims, the truly trusting among the faithful, the noblest of those who are pious†[30] This set the Sufi apart from the typical adherent in that it allowed them to teach that their approach was mirrored in the eyes of God. Further, these teachers were given important positions in the culture following the teachings of Junayd: â€Å"They are those who guide in the crises of religion and theirs is the light which leads in the darkness of ignorance†¦.God has made them the symbol of His mercy for His creatures, and a blessing of whom He chooses. They are the instruments whereby he instructs the ignorant, reminds the negligent, guides the seeker aright.†[31] This is a concept that divided the tradition as Junayd taught that this state of spirituality could be attained and still provide for God in a person’s everyday life, or the state of baqa[32]. It was this critical formation of fana/baqa that enabled society to understand the devotion necessary to attain spiritual remedies, yet remain effective in the culture. This approach further elevated the Sufi in the eyes of their fellows, making this an important allocation of authority[33]. This Sufi concept as taught by Junayd illustrated the perception that â€Å"Only the extinction of the ego in the divine Oneness could satisfy both the necessity of initiation and religious orthodoxy†[34]. Sufism strives to reach the ideal balance that Junayd taught could be attained between esoterism and exoterism in the expression of Islam. This method early on taught the very important concept that reverberates in the modern era: ‘There is no god but God’[35]. In the Baghdadi tradition, humans are viewed as God-servants, which in turn grant them opportunity for audience on the Day of the Covenant[36]. This illustration of value in the tradition is vital to provide incentive for the believers to work for the promised intimate closeness that is to arrive upon the Day of the Covenant[37]. A far reaching implication of the adherence to the Baghdadi doctrines rests in the cultural adjustment that accompanies the spiritual journey. The piety measures instilled in the sober approach are attained through the domestication of the lower self, through deprivation and reduction, which in many cases means seclusion and poverty[38]. This was broadly appealing to those outside the Sufi circles as well. Upon Sufism becoming a recognized tradition these same principles attracted a substantial number of Jews interested in Conversion[39]. Judaism is credited with having a large influence during the early years of Sufi emergence enhancing the ease of inco rporated elements of each tradition, which in turn added depth and attraction for potential followers. This formation of tradition based on Baghdadi Sufism resulted in an important cultural result including the formation of Sufi communities[40]. Utilizing the core teaching of the Baghdadi Sufi tradition enabled a thriving community to grow, which in turn elevated the leaders into positions of societal power. Alongside the expansion of reach and power of the Sufi tradition rests the leaders, or Shayks ascension into the leadership opportunities[41]. This is a direct result of the religious expression of value within the Sufi society that has allowed the society to take a greater control in the governing of their world. The Baghdadi Sufism tradition As the Baghdadi Sufi tradition gained ground there was a very real expansion of the philosophical conception that served to influence generations of worshipers[42]. The Sufi tradition began to spread across Western Iran into Arabia and beyond. This in itself signalled a growing integration that has led to modern issues. Many equate the Sufi movement with a branch of the Sunni Islam, which is a division of wider cultural identifications[43]. This modern cultural division has arisen in part due to the separate interpretations of the means to attain spirituality. The modern world of Sufi has a clear delineation for those that rest outside of their philosophy[44]. Yet, this value of tradition among the Baghdadi Sufi culture has the potential to lead to tremendous examples of piety[45]. Over time the Sufi communities that have sprung up due to the teaching of Baghdadi Sufism tradition, have become a brotherhood that profess specific forms of worship[46]. This practice continues the teaching of the Sufi and enables interpretation of the traditions. In every facet of life the modern impact of the Baghdadi Sufi tradition influences adherent’s day to day existence in a dramatic fashion[47]. Conclusion Junayd described the Baghdadi Sufi tradition as: â€Å"†¦noble qualities made manifest by the Noble One (Al-Karim) at a noble time through a noble man from among a group of noble men†[48]. This philosophy served to provide the mystical essence of Islam a place to take form. Serving the vital purpose of welding the diverse cultures and beliefs together into an understandable concept, the very inception of the Baghdadi Sufi tradition was a very important religious evolution. The subsequent adherence to the ‘sober’ Sufi led to a piety movement that has transformed a culture, shaping the very means by which believers live their daily lives. Lessons espoused by the Baghdadi Sufi’s, including the need to step away from the self in order to find God have found their way into people’s lives across the world. Further, the concept that it is possible to both find God and still walk in the world enable the Sufi culture to thrive in a very complicated religious environment. The influence of the Baghdad School of Sufism has managed to touch even those that are unaware of it as followers continue to live their life as an example of what it means to be truly spiritual. In the end, the Baghdadi Sufism expression of reverence has not only been fundamentally important to the evolution of modern religion it has incorporated many elements that are continually echoed around the modern world. Bibliography Abun-Nasr, J. 2007. Muslim communities of grace. New York: Columbia University Press. Chiabotti, F. 1970. A Soaring Minaret. Abu Bakr al-Wasiti and the Rise of Baghdadi Sufism (Albany, 2010). Bulletin d’’etudes orientales. Ephrat, D. 2008. Spiritual wayfarers, leaders in piety. Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed for the Center for Middle Eastern Studies of Harvard University by Harvard University Press. Frank, D. and Leaman, O. 1996. Routledge history of world philosophies. London [etc.]: Routledge. Geoffroy, E. and Gaetani, R. 2010. Introduction to Sufism. Bloomington, Ind.: World Wisdom. Karamustafa, A. 2007. Sufism. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Knysh, A. 2000. Islamic mysticism. Leiden, the Netherlands: Brill. P. 1-200 Landolt, H. and Lawson, T. 2005. Reason and inspiration in Islam. London: I.B. Tauris. Melchert, C. 2001. The hanabila and the Early Sufis. Arabica, 3 (1), pp. 352-367. Melchert, C. 2005. Ba?ran Origins of Classical Sufism. Der Islam, 82 (2), pp. 221–240. Melchert, C. 2001. Sufis and competing movements in Nishapur. Iran, 39 pp. 237–247. Neale, H. 2007. Sufism, godliness and popular Islamic storytelling in Fari?d al-Di?n ?At?t?a?r’s Tad?kiratu-l- ?awliya. Renard, J. 2009. Tales of God’s friends. Berkeley: University of California Press. Schimmel, A. 1975. Mystical dimensions of Islam. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. Sells, M. 1996. Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Koran, Mi’raj, Poetic and Theological Writings. Mahway, New Jersey. Pauliast Press. Silvers, L. 2013. A soaring Minaret: Abu Bakr al-Wasiti and the Rise of the Baghdadi Sufism. Wong, E. 2005. Sufis Under Attack as Sunni Rifts Widen. NYTimes, 1 (2), pp. 1-3. [Accessed: 2 Dec 2013]. Wright, J. 1995. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. Cambridge Univ Press. [1] Karamustafa, A. 2007. Sufism. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 20 [2] Ibid p. 20 [3] Ibid p. 20 [4] Knysh, A. 2000. Islamic mysticism. Leiden, the Netherlands: Brill. p.48 [5] Geoffroy, E. and Gaetani, R. 2010. Introduction to Sufism. Bloomington, Ind.: World Wisdom. p. 1 [6] Silvers, L. 2013. A soaring Minaret: Abu Bakr al-Wasiti and the Rise of the Baghdadi Sufism p. 3. [7] Ibid. p. 3 [8] Ibid, p. 26 [9] Geoffroy et al p. 2 [10]Melchert, C. 2001. The hanabila and the Early Sufis. Arabica, 3 (1), p. 352. [11] Karamustafa, A. 2007 p. 30 [12] Frank, D. and Leaman, O. 1996. Routledge history of world philosophies. London [etc.]: Routledge. [13] Ibid p. 49 [14] Schimmel A. 1975. Mysitical Dimensions of Islam. Chapel Hill: University fo North Carolina Press. P. 57 [15] Ibid. p. 58 [16] Neale, H. 2007. Sufism, godliness and popular Islamic storytelling in Fari?d al-Di?n ?At?t?a?r’s Tad?kiratu-l- ?awliya? [17] ?.Ibid, p. 20 [18] Ephrat, D. 2008. Spiritual wayfarers, leaders in piety. Cambridge, Mass. p. 16 [19] Ibid, p. 18 [20] Schimmel, A. 1975. p. 58 [21] Schimmel, A. 1975 p. 61 [22] Ibid, p. 58 [23] Ibid, p. 59 [24] Sells, M. 1996. Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Koran, Mi’raj, Poetic and Theological Writings. p. 27. [25] Sells M. 1996. p. 28. [26] Karamustafa, A. 2007 p. 2 [27] Ibid p. 28 [28] Geoffroy, E. and Gaetani, R. 2010. Introduction to Sufism. Bloomington, Ind.: World Wisdom. p. 72. [29] Karamustafa, A. 2007 p. 3 [30] Ibid. p. 18 [31] Karamustafa, A. 2007 p. 18 [32] Ibid. p. 72. [33] Ibid p. 72 [34] Ibid. p. 72 [35] Karamustafa, A. 2007. p. 19 [36] Knysh 2000 p. 755 [37] Ibid. 20. [38] Ibid. 21 [39] Knysh 2000 p. 755 [40] Karamustafa 2007 p. 31 [41] Ibid. p. 31 [42] Karamustafa, A. 2007 p. 56 [43] Wong, E. 2005. Sufis Under Attack as Sunni Rifts Widen. NYTimes, 1 (2), pp. 1-3. [Accessed: 2 Dec 2013]. [44] Ibid. p. 2 [45] Ibid. p. 3 [46] Abun-Nasr, J. 2007. Muslim communities of grace. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 1 [47] Ibid. p. 140 [48] Renard, J. 2009. Tales of God’s friends. Berkeley: University of California Press. How to cite The importance of the Baghdad School of Sufism, Essay examples

Variation Orders in Highway Projects in Oman- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theVariation Orders in Highway Projects in Oman. Answer: The type of the variation order can be established by analyzing the cause of their occurrence and their respective effects. Variation orders can be divided in to two types and they are beneficial and the detrimental orders. The issue of the beneficial order is done to ensure improvement in the quality, cost reduction, degree of difficulty and the standard of the project. The balance between the functionality, cost and the durability of the project is obtained by initiating a value analysis (Han, Love and Pea-Mora 2013). This type of variation order is issued to reduce the unnecessary cost involved in the project. Detrimental variation order has a negative impact on the value of the client and project performance. The financial problems of a client can be resolved by using detrimental variation order. Causes of variation orders by client The project is initiated by the client and plays an important part throughout the project. The client is the one who decides on the objective and the respective needs of the project. The quality standard of the project is determined as per the requirement of the client. The variation has to be reduced by the client during the construction and the design of the project. The scope of the project is very important as it helps to identify the clear baseline for the project (Kikwasi 2013). Moreover, there are two types of clients, one who has the knowledge regarding the construction industry and others are the clients who have minimal knowledge regarding the construction industry. These clients are totally dependent on their designer and so it is necessary to identify the exact needs of the client. The clients who do not have any knowledge regarding the industry are the ones who frequently change the variation order are they keep on changing the requirements through the commencement of th e project. Moreover, the changes proposed by these clients will be major, it will result in the degradation in the quality of the project, and at the same time will increase the cost of the project (Mubarak 2015). Causes of variation orders by consultant Architects, specialists, designers, engineers, cost consultants and project managers are the members of the consultant team. The goals and the scope of the project have to be clearly understood by the consultants. The consultants will always feel superior to the contractors, which may result to less focus on the request of the contractor (Mohammad, Ani and Rakmat 2017). When the consultants are unable to understand clearly the needs and requirement of the client, it will result in variation orders, which will be issued in context to the requirement of the clients. The consultants may be unaware of the availability of new products and materials which could act as a replacement and this may lead to a variation order which will be issued to give the project a better method of construction. Causes of variation orders by contractors Contractors are responsible for the issue of the variation order when there are technical issues in the documentation of the project. The information provided is not fully accurate all the time and it may happen that the contractor suggests appropriate method for the better execution of the project (Mohammed, Mohammed and Hassan 2017). Contactors may suggest alternate method, which are suitable for the execution of the project in their field of expertise. Moreover, the contractors may identify various omissions, discrepancies, conflicts and errors in the documentation of the project. The contractors may request an issue of a variation order to resolve the issue by allotting additional cost to the project. Causes of variation order by external factors There are various external factors, which cause the issue of the variation order, and they are change in the government regulation, changes in weather, changes in economic condition and changes in the needs of the local resident. There are instances where the government policies and regulations change which cause the change in the construction design and other factors (Senouci et al. 2016). Variation order has to be issued to make changes to the documentation of the project. There are instances when extreme weather conditions such as rain can hamper the construction and measures have to be taken to reschedule the construction and documentation of the project. The economic scenario may change due to instances such as corruption. When anyone in the project is involved in corruption, variation order will have to be issued so that the documentation has to be changed. The corruption may be in the field of money laundering which will cause the change in the entire cost of the project. The requirement of the client has to be fulfilled and the changes in the documentation have to be done to meet the needs of the client. The management team will have to be changed if anyone is involved in the fraud and will have to be removed immediately as a best interest of the client (Hanif et al. 2016). There are instances where the construction will cause issues for the residents in the neighbouring areas and the management team will have to change their course of action to accommodate the needs of the nearby residents. Impact of variation order The various impact of the variation orders are cost overruns, quality degradation and time overruns. The issue of the variation order will have always have an impact on the cost of the project. The changes will increase the cost associated with overall construction of the project and the costs that are associated with the variation orders are material and time charges, standing time, effect of timing, change of inflation to cash flow and time of management (Oyewobi et al. 2016). There are variation orders, which are issued at different phases of the project, and this will negatively affect both the time of completion and overall cost of the project. The issue of frequent variation orders will degrade the quality of the project as the contractors will try to compensate the extra time and cost incurred by degrading the quality of the project. Reference Han, S., Love, P. and Pea-Mora, F., 2013. A system dynamics model for assessing the impacts of design errors in construction projects.Mathematical and Computer Modelling,57(9), pp.2044-2053. Hanif, H., Khurshid, M.B., Lindhard, S.M. and Aslam, Z., 2016. Impact of Variation Orders on Time and Cost in Mega Hydropower Projects of Pakistan.Journal of Construction in Developing Countries,21(2), p.37. Kikwasi, G., 2013, February. Causes and effects of delays and disruptions in construction projects in Tanzania. InAustralasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building-Conference Series(Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 52-59). Mohammad, N., Ani, A.I.C. and Rakmat, R.A.O., 2017. Causes and effects of variation orders in the construction of terrace housing projects: A case study in the State of Selangor, Malaysia.International Journal of Supply Chain Management,6(1), pp.226-232. Mohammed, E.A.E., Mohammed, S.Y. and Hassan, A.S., 2017. Preliminary Investigation on the Causes of Variation Orders in Building Projects-Studied Cases in the State of Khartoum, Sudan. Mubarak, S.A., 2015.Construction project scheduling and control. John Wiley Sons. Oyewobi, L.O., Oyewobi, L.O., Jimoh, R., Jimoh, R., Ganiyu, B.O., Ganiyu, B.O., Shittu, A.A. and Shittu, A.A., 2016. Analysis of causes and impact of variation order on educational building projects.Journal of Facilities Management,14(2), pp.139-164. Senouci, A., Alsarraj, A., Gunduz, M. and Eldin, N., 2016. Analysis of change orders in Qatari construction projects.International Journal of Construction Management, pp.1-13.

THE N.W.A free essay sample

N. W. A (an abbreviation of Niggaz Wit Attitudes)[1][2][3] was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap and west coast hip hop sub-genres, sometimes credited as the most important group in the history of rap music. [4] Active from 1986 to 1991, the rap group endured controversy due to the explicit lyrics that many considered to be disrespectful to women, and glorifying drugs and crime. The group was subsequently banned from many mainstream American radio stations. In spite of this, the group has sold over 10 million units in the United States alone. The original lineup consisted of Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. MC Ren joined in 1988, with Arabian Prince leaving the group later that same year. Ice Cube left in December of 1989 over royalty disputes. Several members would later become platinum-selling solo artists in the 1990s. Their debut album Straight Outta Compton marked the beginning of the new gangsta rap era as the production and social commentary in their lyrics were revolutionary within the genre. We will write a custom essay sample on THE N.W.A or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page [3] Rolling Stone ranked N. W. A number 83 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. [5] In October 2012, N. W. A were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. [6] In October 2013 the group was nominated for a second time. [7] Formation and Panic Zone (1987–1988)[edit] The group was assembled by Compton-based Eazy-E, who co-founded Ruthless Records with Jerry Heller. Initially, N. W. A consisted of Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, who in turn brought DJ Yella on board. [8] Dre and Yella were both formerly members of the World Class Wreckin Cru, as DJs and producers. Together with fellow producer Arabian Prince, Ice Cube was added to the roster after he had started out as a rapper for the group C. I. A. [9] Ruthless released the single Panic Zone in 1987 with Macola Records, which was later included on the compilation album N. W. A. and the Posse. N. W. A was still in its developing stages, and is only credited on three of the eleven tracks, notably the uncharacteristic record Panic Zone, 8-Ball, Dopeman, which marked the first collaboration of Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. Mexican rapper Krazy-Dee co-wrote Panic Zone, which was originally called Hispanic Zone, but the title was later changed when Dr. Dre advised Krazy-Dee that the word hispanic would hinder sales. [10] Also included was Eazy-Es solo track Boyz-n-the-Hood. [11] In 1988, rapper MC Ren joined the group. [citation needed] Straight Outta Compton (1988–1989)[edit] N. W. A released their debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, in 1988. With its famous opening salvo of three tracks, the group reflected the rising anger of the urban youth. The opening song Straight Outta Compton introduced the group, Fuck tha Police protested police brutality and racial profiling, and Gangsta Gangsta painted the worldview of the inner-city youth. While the group was later credited with pioneering the burgeoning sub genre of gangsta rap, N. W. A referred to their music as reality rap. [12] Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, as HighPowered Productions, composed the beats for each song, with Dre making occasional rapping appearances. [13] Ice Cube and MC Ren wrote most of the groups lyrics, including Fuck tha Police, perhaps the groups most notorious song, which brought them into conflict with various law enforcement agencies. Under pressure from Focus on the Family,[14] Milt Ahlerich, an assistant director of the FBI, sent a letter to Ruthless and its distributing company Priority Records, advising the rappers that advocating violence and assault is wrong and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action. This letter can still be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. [15] Policemen refused to provide security for the groups concerts, hurting their plans to tour. Nonetheless, the FBIs letter only served to draw more publicity to the group. Straight Outta Compton was also one of the first albums to adhere to the new Parental Advisory label scheme, then still in its early stages: the label at the time consisted of WARNING: Moderate impact coarse language and/or themes only. However, the taboo nature of N. W. As music was the most important factor of its mass appeal. Media coverage compensated for N. W. As lack of airplay and their album eventually went double platinum. [16] One month after Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-Es solo debut Eazy-Duz-It was released. The album was dominated by Eazys persona—MC Ren was the only guest rapper—but behind the scenes it was a group effort. Music was handled by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella; the lyrics were largely written by MC Ren, with contributions from Ice Cube and The D. O. C. The album was another double platinum success for Ruthless[17] (in addition to girl group J. J. Fad in 1988 and singer Michelle in 1989). 1989 saw the re-issue of N. W. A and the Posse and Straight Outta Compton on CD, and the release of The D. O. C. s No One Can Do It Better. His album was essentially a collaboration with Dr. Dre and notably free of gangsta rap content, however including the N. W. A posse cut The Grand Finale. It would become another #1 album for the record label. 100 Miles And Runnin' and Niggaz4Life (1989–1991)[edit] Ice Cube left in December 1989 over royalty disputes;[3] having written almost half of the lyrics on Straight Outta Compton himself, he felt he was not getting a fair share of the money and profits. [18] He wasted little time putting together his solo debut, 1990s AmeriKKKas Most Wanted, but he avoided mentioning his former label mates. N. W. As title track from their 1990 EP 100 Miles and Runnin', however, included a diss of Ice Cube: We started with five, but yo / One couldnt take it—So now its four / Cuz the fifth couldnt make it. The video for the song depicted the remaining members of N. W. A together in a jail cell, while an Ice Cube look-alike is released. Also heard on the EP (which found its way on the Efil4zaggin CD re-issue) was Real Niggaz, a full-blown diss on Ice Cube where the remaining members accuse him of cowardice, and question his authenticity, longevity and originality: How the fuck you think a rapper lasts / With your ass sayin shit that was said in the past / Yo, be original, your shit is sloppy / Get off the dick, you motherfuckin carbon-copy, and We started out with too much cargo / So Im glad we got rid of Benedict Arnold, yo. The song 100 Miles and Runnin' was Dr. Dres final uptempo recording, which had been a common feature of late 1980s hip hop. After this, he focused on a midtempo, synthesizer based sound which would become known as G-funk, starting with Alwayz Into Somethin' from Efil4zaggin in 1991. The G-funk style dominated both the West and East Coast hip hop music scene for several years to come. N. W. A is referenced on Ice Cubes 1990 EP, Kill at Will, where he name-checks his former group (likely in a mocking manner) on the song Jackin For Beats. On I Gotta Say What Up!!! , Ice Cube gives shout-outs to his rap peers at the time, among them Public Enemy, the Geto Boys, and Sir Jinx. At the end of the track, in what appears to be an on-the-phone interview, Ice Cube is asked, Since you went solo, whatever happened to the rest of your crew? and the phone is abruptly hung up on the interviewer. The groups second full-length release, 1991s Efil4zaggin (Niggaz4Life spelled backwards), re-established the band in the face of Ice Cubes continued solo success. The album is considered by many Dr. Dres finest production work, and it heralded the beginning of the G-Funk era. It also showed a clear animosity towards their former member, and derogatory references to Ice Cube are found in several songs. The interlude A Message to B. A. echoes the beginning of his song Turn Off the Radio from AmeriKKKas Most Wanted: Ice Cube is first addressed by the name Benedict Arnold (after the infamous traitor of the American Revolution) but then named outright in a torrent of abuse from both the group and its fans: When we see yo ass, we gon cut yo hair off and fuck you with a broomstick. Think about it, punk muthafucka, spoken by MC Ren. The N. W. A–Ice Cube feud eventually escalated, both on record and in real life. AmeriKKKas Most Wanted had avoided direct attacks on N. W. A, but on Death Certificate, Ice Cubes second full-length release, he retaliated. He sampled and mocked the Message to B. A. skit before embarking on a full-blown tirade, the infamous No Vaseline. In a series of verses, Ice Cube verbally assaulted the group: You lookin like straight bozos / I saw it comin thats why I went solo / Kept on stompin / When yall Muthafuckas moved Straight outta Compton / You got jealous when I got my own company / But Im a man, and aint nobody humpin me. He also responded to members MC Ren, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E individually to 100 Miles and Runnin', claiming I started off with too much cargo, dropped four niggaz / And now Im makin all the dough, using homophobic metaphors to describe their unequal business relationship with Jerry Heller, who became the target of harsh insults: Get rid of that devil real simple / Put a bullet to his temple / Cuz you cant be the Niggaz 4 Life crew / With a white Jew tellin you what to do. The song attracted controversy for its antisemitism (the beginning of such accusations against Ice Cube during his affiliation with the Nation of Islam), based on the bashing of Hellers religion;[19] The track was omitted from the UK release, and later pressings included a censored version of the song. In September 1990, members of hip hop act Above the Law clashed with Ice Cube and his posse Da Lench Mob during the annual New Music Seminar conference, forcing the latter to flee the premises of Times Squares Marriott Marquis, the venue of the event. [20] On January 27, 1991, Dr. Dre assaulted Dee Barnes, host of the hip hop show Pump It Up, after its coverage[21] of the N. W. A/Ice Cube beef. According to Rolling Stone reporter Alan Light: He picked her up and began slamming her face and the right side of her body repeatedly against a wall near the stairway as his bodyguard held off the crowd. After Dre tried to throw her down the stairs and failed, he began kicking her in the ribs and hands. She escaped and ran into the womens rest room. Dre followed her and grabbed her from behind by the hair and proceeded to punch her in the back of the head. [22] In response, Dre commented: People talk all this shit, but you know, if somebody fucks with me, Im gonna fuck with them. I just did it, you know. Aint nothing you can do now by talking about it. Besides, it aint no big thing—I just threw her through a door. [22]

Complete Comparison Charts SAT vs ACT

Complete Comparison Charts SAT vs ACT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The SAT and the ACT are both hard pills to swallow, but one might be easier for you than the other. If you're still trying to decide which test to take, these charts will give you direct comparisons between them in terms of format, timing, and content. Then you can figure out which one sounds like the right fit for you! Part 1: Logistics First, the nuts and bolts - how many sections are there, how long does it take, and how many questions are there? Test Format SAT ACT Number of Total Sections 10 4 (5 if you take it with Writing) Types of Sections Critical Reading, Math, and Writing (plus one Experimental Section that doesn't count towards your score) English, Math, Reading, and Science (plus Writing if you take that version) Time per Section Critical Reading - two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section Math - two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section Writing - 25 minutes for the essay, one 25 minute section, one 10 minute section Experimental Section - 25 minutes English - 45 minutes Math - 60 minutes Reading - 35 minutes Science - 35 minutes Optional Writing - 40 minute essay Order of Sections Essay, 6 randomly ordered 25 minute sections, two 20 minute sections (Critical Reading and Math), and the 10 minute Writing section English, Math, Reading, Science, optional Writing Total Time 3 hours and 45 minutes 2 hours and 55 minutes without Writing, 3 hours and 35 minutes with Writing SAT Timing Section Time Per Question Critical Reading 54 seconds Math 67 seconds Writing 43 seconds ACT Timing Section Time Per Question English 36 seconds Math 60 seconds Reading 53 seconds Science 53 seconds Part 2: Content Next, we'll look at the meat of the tests - what skills are tested in each section, and what do you have to know? Reading SAT ACT Number of Questions 67 multiple choice 40 multiple choice Format 3 sections, each section has sentence completion questions and passage-based questions; passages may be long, short, or paired 1 section, 4 long passages (one may be a set of paired passages), 10 questions about each passage Subject Matter Passages are in an unpredictable order and may deal with a wide variety of subject matter Passages are always in the same order in terms of subject matter: Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science Important Skills Vocabulary knowledge for sentence completion questions, skimming passages, reading comprehension, understanding confusingly worded questions Skimming passages, reading comprehension Math SAT ACT Number of Questions 44 multiple choice, 10 grid-in student response 60 multiple choice Format 3 sections 1 section Subject Matter Pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, data analysis and probability Same topics as the SAT with the addition of trigonometry, matrices, complex numbers, and conic sections (but trigonometry is the only one that comes up really frequently) Important Skills Using formulas correctly (given to you at the beginning of each math section), algebra and geometry Math stamina and speed (60 math questions in one long section!), formula memorization (no formulas are given to you on the ACT), algebra and geometry, trigonometry SAT Writing/ACT English SAT ACT Number of Questions 49 multiple choice 75 multiple choice Format 2 sections, editing individual sentences (not sentences in a passage) as well as some questions based on short passages (Improving Paragraphs questions) 1 section, questions asked alongside 5 long passages Subject Matter Punctuation, number agreement, parallel sentence structure, correct tense, diction and word choice, improving paragraph structure Same as SAT but with more questions on rearranging sentences and paragraphs in passages for the best organization of thoughts Important Skills Grammar knowledge, logical organization of ideas in smaller context Grammar knowledge, logical organization of ideas in smaller and larger context Science SAT ACT Number of Questions No science section!! 40 multiple choice Format N/A 1 section, 7 passages - 3 data representation, 3 research summaries, 1 conflicting viewpoints Subject Matter N/A Biology, Earth science, chemisty, physics, very basic math Important Skills N/A Interpreting and making predictions based on graphs and data trends, comparing scientific opinions, understanding and interpreting the design of experiments Essays SAT ACT Overall Score Impact The essay is mandatory and accounts for a third of your Writing subscore The essay is optional and will not affect your composite score in any way Timing 25 minutes at the beginning of the test 40 minutes at the end of the test Subject Matter Wide range of prompt topics, not directly related to high school experiences All prompts usually boil down to the core question of "What do you think about the way the world is changing?" What's Next? Now the million dollar question - how do you decide whether to take the SAT or the ACT? Read about whether the ACT is easier than the SAT for you. Take an SAT practice test and an ACT practice test to see if you score higher on one test than the other - this is most foolproof way to figure out which test you should take for real. Read this guide for advice on choosing test dates and then take a look at the SAT and ACT dates for the upcoming school year to start planning! Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Complete Comparison Charts SAT vs ACT

Complete Comparison Charts SAT vs ACT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The SAT and the ACT are both hard pills to swallow, but one might be easier for you than the other. If you're still trying to decide which test to take, these charts will give you direct comparisons between them in terms of format, timing, and content. Then you can figure out which one sounds like the right fit for you! Part 1: Logistics First, the nuts and bolts - how many sections are there, how long does it take, and how many questions are there? Test Format SAT ACT Number of Total Sections 10 4 (5 if you take it with Writing) Types of Sections Critical Reading, Math, and Writing (plus one Experimental Section that doesn't count towards your score) English, Math, Reading, and Science (plus Writing if you take that version) Time per Section Critical Reading - two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section Math - two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section Writing - 25 minutes for the essay, one 25 minute section, one 10 minute section Experimental Section - 25 minutes English - 45 minutes Math - 60 minutes Reading - 35 minutes Science - 35 minutes Optional Writing - 40 minute essay Order of Sections Essay, 6 randomly ordered 25 minute sections, two 20 minute sections (Critical Reading and Math), and the 10 minute Writing section English, Math, Reading, Science, optional Writing Total Time 3 hours and 45 minutes 2 hours and 55 minutes without Writing, 3 hours and 35 minutes with Writing SAT Timing Section Time Per Question Critical Reading 54 seconds Math 67 seconds Writing 43 seconds ACT Timing Section Time Per Question English 36 seconds Math 60 seconds Reading 53 seconds Science 53 seconds Part 2: Content Next, we'll look at the meat of the tests - what skills are tested in each section, and what do you have to know? Reading SAT ACT Number of Questions 67 multiple choice 40 multiple choice Format 3 sections, each section has sentence completion questions and passage-based questions; passages may be long, short, or paired 1 section, 4 long passages (one may be a set of paired passages), 10 questions about each passage Subject Matter Passages are in an unpredictable order and may deal with a wide variety of subject matter Passages are always in the same order in terms of subject matter: Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science Important Skills Vocabulary knowledge for sentence completion questions, skimming passages, reading comprehension, understanding confusingly worded questions Skimming passages, reading comprehension Math SAT ACT Number of Questions 44 multiple choice, 10 grid-in student response 60 multiple choice Format 3 sections 1 section Subject Matter Pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, data analysis and probability Same topics as the SAT with the addition of trigonometry, matrices, complex numbers, and conic sections (but trigonometry is the only one that comes up really frequently) Important Skills Using formulas correctly (given to you at the beginning of each math section), algebra and geometry Math stamina and speed (60 math questions in one long section!), formula memorization (no formulas are given to you on the ACT), algebra and geometry, trigonometry SAT Writing/ACT English SAT ACT Number of Questions 49 multiple choice 75 multiple choice Format 2 sections, editing individual sentences (not sentences in a passage) as well as some questions based on short passages (Improving Paragraphs questions) 1 section, questions asked alongside 5 long passages Subject Matter Punctuation, number agreement, parallel sentence structure, correct tense, diction and word choice, improving paragraph structure Same as SAT but with more questions on rearranging sentences and paragraphs in passages for the best organization of thoughts Important Skills Grammar knowledge, logical organization of ideas in smaller context Grammar knowledge, logical organization of ideas in smaller and larger context Science SAT ACT Number of Questions No science section!! 40 multiple choice Format N/A 1 section, 7 passages - 3 data representation, 3 research summaries, 1 conflicting viewpoints Subject Matter N/A Biology, Earth science, chemisty, physics, very basic math Important Skills N/A Interpreting and making predictions based on graphs and data trends, comparing scientific opinions, understanding and interpreting the design of experiments Essays SAT ACT Overall Score Impact The essay is mandatory and accounts for a third of your Writing subscore The essay is optional and will not affect your composite score in any way Timing 25 minutes at the beginning of the test 40 minutes at the end of the test Subject Matter Wide range of prompt topics, not directly related to high school experiences All prompts usually boil down to the core question of "What do you think about the way the world is changing?" What's Next? Now the million dollar question - how do you decide whether to take the SAT or the ACT? Read about whether the ACT is easier than the SAT for you. Take an SAT practice test and an ACT practice test to see if you score higher on one test than the other - this is most foolproof way to figure out which test you should take for real. Read this guide for advice on choosing test dates and then take a look at the SAT and ACT dates for the upcoming school year to start planning! Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: