Eazy E. Dr. Dre. Ice Cube. These codenames are so iconic that they could be mistaken for superheroes. And to many in the late 80’s and 90’s, that is exactly what they were.

N.W.A. had a story that was larger than life and is finally being brought to the big screen this summer in Straight Outta Compton. A true rags to riches story of a rap group that became a revolutionary voice for the underrepresented while navigating gang violence, racial politics, trailblazing gangster rap, a huge public breakup, F.B.I. surveillance, Suge Knight, the AIDS epidemic, Snoop Dogg,  jail time, and eventually movie stardom and billion dollar success. What is even more fascinating is that many know the story intimately through their music all ready. Hip-hop is unique in its ability to tell stories and paint pictures with words, so actually seeing the familiar backgrounds play out, will be a huge draw. 

Director F. Gary Gray (Law Abiding Citizen, The Italian Job) is at the helm of the long awaited biopic of the seminal rap group of the late 80’s and 90’s. The group had a story and rise to fame that is built for the big screen and needs to be told. There have yet to be many solid biographical films on the musicians and rappers from the era. However as the generation that grew up in the time period is now gaining control in Hollywood, such as Gray, we should expect to see more explorations of the time period. 

The movie should have a feel of authenticity as Dr. Dre and Ice Cube serve as producers and consultants on the film. In fact Gray has directed both actors in his previous movies. He directed Dre in one of his earlier on screen appearances in Set it Off. While he and Ice Cube collaborated on the comedy classic, Friday. So he clearly has intimate knowledge that should hopefully elevate Straight Outta Compton. The movie features a cast of lesser known actors including, Aldis Hodge, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr. and O’Shea Jackson Jr. playing his father Ice Cube. Paul Giamatti will be playing Jerry Heller, their business manager that helped to foster a rift that the group never recovered from.  Check out the trailer and introduction from Dr. Dre and Ice Cube:

Official Synopsis: 

In the mid-1980s, the streets of Compton, California, were some of the most dangerous in the country. When five young men translated their experiences growing up into brutally honest music that rebelled against abusive authority, they gave an explosive voice to a silenced generation. Following the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A., “Straight Outta Compton” tells the astonishing story of how these youngsters revolutionized music and pop culture forever the moment they told the world the truth about life in the hood and ignited a cultural war.

Straight Outta Compton will be released August 14th, 2015.

What did you think of the trailer? Do you think it feels authentic? Let us know on the comment boards, , , and !

Source: Latino Review