Dre is one of the many producers here, as is Ice Cube, and the film puts many of the group’s early legal and financial troubles squarely on the shoulders of Eazy-E.
History, as they say, is written by the winners, and musical biopics tend to be written or at least produced by the songwriters and the survivors. Video: Ice Cube Explains Four Things N.W.A. They make what they call “Reality Rap” - a mix of journalism from the mean streets, crime fiction and cautionary tales - that soon becomes the sound of the city, bumped from every car by listeners captivated by Ice Cube’s writing, Dre’s production and Eazy’s natural flair for tales of trouble. The five come together like fingers forming a fist. (Taking the role of the lyrical gangsta is Cube’s actual son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., who has his father’s sly smile and expressive eyes.)ĭre convinces Eric to put some of his drug-trade money into starting a record label Eric turns out to be a natural behind the mic. Meanwhile, O’Shea Jackson, who raps under the name Ice Cube, writes verses for his friends to put over Dre and Yella’s beats even while he’s ostensibly working with another crew. Dre - spins at a club with Antoine Carraby (Neil Brown Jr.), who also goes by DJ Yella Lorenzo Patterson (Aldis Hodge), aka MC Ren, is another friend. A talented DJ, Andre - later to become famous as Dr. We first see Eric’s friend Andre Young (Corey Hawkins) lying atop a spread of Parliament, Zapp Band and James Brown albums. Dre and Eazy-E Rap to Reflect Reality (Video) He knows there’s no long-term future in moving those goods, and Eric soon begins to wonder if the bravery and hustle he brings to slinging drugs could be applied to other endeavors.Īlso Read: 'Straight Outta Compton' Trailer: Ice Cube, Dr. neighborhood that gives the film - and one of N.W.A.’s first singles - its name, Eric Wright (Jason Mitchell) - later to be known as Eazy-E - pops the trunk of his car, wrestles a speaker out of its cabinet, and takes a gun and cocaine from under it to go sell some product. Opening in 1986 in the South Central L.A. founding member Ice Cube goes back to some of Gray’s earliest work as a video and feature director), the film has a sprawling 150-minute running time, and while the energy may flag in the film’s back half, it never lacks for something to say or to show us. Niggaz Wit Attitudes - “Straight Outta Compton” has the energy of gangsta rap even as it keeps to a conventional structure we’ve seen before in everything from “The Buddy Holly Story” to “The Doors.” Early obscurity and effort-laden struggle become mainstream success controversy becomes publicity too much happens too soon.ĭirected by F. A years-spanning saga that tells the story of the rise, fall and ramifications of the L.A.