The wait is finally over, Straight Outta Compton hit the big screens August 14, 2015. The biopic that took a little over a decade to make has people talking, and after all the publicity that this film has received, it most certainly lived up to the hype. The day before the movie was released, as a special promotion snap chat offered a Straight Outta Compton filter that was used heavily by snap-chatters across the globe. The movie gets down to the reality and grind that the members of legendary rap group N.W.A had to endure on their journey to success as well as showing how their friendships and loyalty to one another would be tested throughout their careers.
“Our art is a reflection of our reality,” a quote from the movie stated by Ice Cube (O’shea Jackson Jr.) when accused of glorifying violence. Although the group’s lyrics were hardcore, they told the truth about things that were happening around them. During a time where police brutality towards young black males was the norm, N.W.A used their music to send a message and express how they felt. A situation that can be very parallel to the things that are happening in today’s society.
The movie starts out strong, with a time-line and a short but detailed synopsis on each character. Director F. Gary Gray did a great job making sure the true characteristics of each person was maintained, he didn’t cut any corners when it came down to the cast and the roles that they played. The audience was introduced to Jason Mitchell who plays the role of Eazy-E and O’shea Jackson Jr. who plays the role of his father O’shea Jackson a.k.a Ice Cube. Both actors were put through acting boot camps and a series of auditions. Thankfully it all paid off because both acting “newbies” did an excellent job.
A lot of the scenes were very detailed as well as engaging, capturing your attention within the first two minutes of the opening scene. Every song had you saying the lyrics and bopping your head as if you were at a N.W.A concert in the 1990s.
Straight Outta Compton was more than just about a rap group that made it out of the hood but more of a reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go, with feature clips from the LA. riot in 1992 due to the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police. Intertwining the elements of gang violence, this movie leaves you on the edge of your seat and wanting to know more.
Leaving nothing up to your own interpretation, the movie goes in depths about the brotherhood and betrayal that the group went through, showing Ice Cube’s individual success with his own record label Lench Mob Records and two renowned hood classics Friday and Boyz in The Hood. The startup and success of Death Row Records by Dr. Dre and Suge Knight to the beginning careers of legendary rappers Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur and the tragic loss of Eazy-E.
Along with the release of the movie Straight Outta Compton, Dr. Dre has dropped a new album produced by himself titled Compton: A Soundtrack. The album features several artist from Kendrick Lamar to Jill Scott. Ending with a Bang, you reflect on some of the things that were said throughout the movie, you quickly see how things actually came full circle in reality. Straight Outta Compton was well thought-out and created with a lot of love. This movie gets two thumbs up!
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