This is an installment in The Posse Project, a 12-day series in which www.PHXmusic.com catches up with all 12 guys pictured on the cover of N.W.A's first album, N.W.A. and the Posse. Today, we start things off with Arabian Prince, a producer who was an original member of N.W.A. To read more about the purpose of The Posse Project, click here.

Arabian Prince

Also Known As: Mik Lezan, Professor X.

Before the Photo: Arabian Prince was a producer who worked with L.A. acts like Bobby Jimmy & the Critters, which featured Russ Parr, who is now a nationally syndicated morning show host. He was one of Ruthless Records house producers, also working on JJ Fad's hit single "Supersonic." (You've probably heard part of "Supersonic:" Fergie's "Fergalicious" samples the hook).

In the Photo: Arabian Prince is in the middle row, second from the right. He's making no pretense to wear "gangsta" clothing, instead favoring an unbuttoned shirt, tight jeans, and lots of jewelry. He's also got a Jerhi Curl and mustache, a look that always fit his style better than baggy jeans and a Raiders hat.

"I've always been a club cat," Prince tells me. "I want to make people hype, I want to make people party. And when we did the N.W.A thing, I was cool with it because I grew up in the hood as well, but I've never been gangsta. My uncles was gangsta, my cousins was gangsta, and I'm like, 'I'm not really gangsta.'"