by Jason BirchmeierVeteran West Coast gangsta rapper MC Eiht dedicated much of his life to rap, beginning his seminal career with Comptons Most Wanted (CMW) while only a teenager. Despite his youth, Eihts contributions helped catapult CMW to national fame in 1990 with Its a Compton Thang. The group followed the lead of fellow Compton gangsta rappers N.W.A, but were a bit less controversial and, in turn, much less popular. CMW released two more albums — Straight Checkn Em (1991) and Music to Driveby (1992) — before Eiht began his solo career in 1993 with the groups producer, DJ Slip, in tow and Steiht Up Menace as his solo debut single. His debut solo album, We Come Strapped, topped Billboards R&B album chart a year later. Eihts sales numbers unfortunately went downhill from there, though he retained a cult audience over the years and remained loyal to longtime affiliates Slip and Mack 10.Born Aaron Tyler in Los Angeles, Eiht began...