Thirty years ago the legendary hip-hop group N.W.A. (“Niggaz Wit Attitude”) turned the music business upside down…
Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E created what we now know as ‘Gangsta-Rap.’
This weekend their story of the sound and portrait of a generation hits the big screen in the much anticipated bio-drama STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON.
They were raw, black talent in those volatile days of the early 80’s, mixing and spinning vinyl records while rapping and rhyming their disgust with the system for hungry ears in search of a future and a brighter tomorrow.
To them N.W.A. was “dope.”
Along the way the group hooked up with music promoter Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti) who promised the boys, “I can make you legit.”
And so he did by bringing them to PRIORITY RECORDS which led to their groundbreaking debut album “Straight Outta Compton.”
What followed were national tours laden with sex, drugs—and rap.
However mainstream media and law enforcement reactions to N.W.A. and their provocative lyrics, behavior and performances made them targets for police brutality.
When they were told by the Detroit chief of police NOT to perform their popular F*** Tha Police anthem during a live concert in the Motor City—and did so anyway—you can imagine what went down.
The Chief’s take? “Fu***ng rap music—Fu***ng disgraceful” – as all hell broke lose.
All that set against the allegedly unprovoked Rodney King beatings and L.A. riots.
Not a pretty picture……
But as with many groups, infighting tore them apart. Eazy-E partnered with RUTHLESS RECORDS while Dr. Dre founded DEATH ROW RECORDS.
Yet in the end it was AIDS that put the final nail in the coffin.
Add the likes of Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur to the proceedings and you’ve got ‘the’ defining story of a generation.
Produced by (among others) Ice Cube and Dr. Dre and co-starring O’Shea Jackson, Jr. AS his dad Ice Cube in real life.
It’s 10 years in two hours and 20 minutes of STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON—scoring a very R-rated B+.
One observation: Concerns over Comcast’s NBC-UNIVERSAL unit’s decision to release the film during the heat of the summer—especially with the country’s volatile (racial) climate.
A fall release could possibly have served the Oscar-buzz film more socially responsive.
(Reviewed at Cinemark, Merriam)
Sure want to see it. Hope theaters in my neighborhood have security.
Cinemark…
Merriam…
If you want the full effect, try the Cinemark…
Plaza….
This weekend…
One year anniversaries…
Oh, my friends. The stories we will tell and hear on Monday.
Brilliant marketing on the backs of those already poised and primed for genocide.
Schooly D and Ice-T created ‘Gangsta Rap’, Jack
sure looked and sounded gangsta to me….:)
Yeah, people tend to forget that. I think what they are most known for is creating the west coast gansta sound that was often imitated.
“They were raw, black talent in those volatile days of the early 80’s, mixing and spinning vinyl records while rapping and rhyming their disgust with the system for hungry ears in search of a future and a brighter tomorrow.”
Yeah, that is unmistakable. Move over Beethoven, McCartney/Lennon, Motown etc. etc., because “raw, black talent” is FINALLY being appreciated. We have come a long way, but we have a long way to go, especially in the music business.
“Straight outta Compton, crazy motherfucker named Ice Cube
From the gang called Niggaz With Attitudes
When I’m called off, I got a sawed off
Squeeze the trigger, and bodies are hauled off
You too, boy, if ya fuck with me
The police are gonna hafta come and get me
Off yo ass, that’s how I’m goin out…”
“Goin off on a motherfucker like that
with a gat that’s pointed at yo ass
So give it up smooth
Ain’t no tellin when I’m down for a jack move
Here’s a murder rap to keep yo dancin
with a crime record like Charles Manson
AK-47 is the tool”
“Straight outta Compton, another crazy ass nigga
More punks I smoke, yo, my rep gets bigger…”
“Just like burglary, the definition is ‘jackin’
And when illegally armed it’s called ‘packin’
Shoot a motherfucker in a minute
I find a good piece o’ pussy, I go up in it
So if you’re at a show in the front row
I’m a call you a bitch or dirty-ass ho…”
“So what about the bitch who got shot? Fuck her!
You think I give a damn about a bitch? I ain’t a sucker!”
I really think it just flows, you know? Really rolls off of the tongue and when I hear it on the radio, I turn it up so the wife and kids and I can all sing along.
I wonder, I guess we can all imagine, how many people are dead, raped, assaulted, robbed and terrorized thanks to the inspiration of that “raw black talent”?
That “raw black talent” is everywhere these days. Tonight, they will be out in force all over America as this paean to violence, entropy, misogyny, rape, assault and robbery hits the theaters and is further legitimized as a viable and accepted sub culture that deserves respect and accolades from all Americans, or, you’re a racist.
This “music” is the universal lubrication for a sick, twisted pathology that, with the assistance of the Liberal Media, excuses violence, glorifies dysfunction and legitimizes the apotheosis of Thugs like Michael Brown into heroes. The uneducated, entitled, violent, “raw black talent” in the streets who hang on every word of this drivel and yearn to live it in real time, find it far easier to join the ever growing ranks of the disaffected than to actually work hard in school or careers that demand conformity and compliance in order to reap the rewards of the once, much sought after, American Dream. Since 1965, 22 Trillion (With a “T”) dollars have been spent on “equaling the playing field” (Now morphed into “Equal Outcomes”.). The result of these Progressive initiatives are seen on screen, tonight, at a theater, hopefully, not too near to you.
Here is my grade Jack. “I” for incomplete. After all, we have come a long way, but still have a long way to go. Right?
+1
Right on Chuck!!!
Move over Beethoven, Lennon, McCartney, Motown, here are the results of the new “raw black talent” that is the new benchmark for genius in the music industry.
“Straight outta Compton, crazy mother&fu*ker named Ice Cube
From the gang called Ni66az With Attitudes
When I’m called off, I got a sawed off
Squeeze the trigger, and bodies are hauled off
You too, boy, if ya fu*k with me
The police are gonna hafta come and get me
Off yo azs, that’s how I’m goin out…”
“Goin off on a motherf*u*ker like that
with a gat that’s pointed at yo ass
So give it up smooth
Ain’t no tellin when I’m down for a jack move
Here’s a murder rap to keep yo dancin
with a crime record like Charles Manson
AK-47 is the tool”
“Straight outta Compton, another crazy ass ni66a
More punks I smoke, yo, my rep gets bigger…”
“Just like burglary, the definition is ‘jackin’
And when illegally armed it’s called ‘packin’
Shoot a moth*rfu*ker in a minute
I find a good piece o’ pus*y, I go up in it
So if you’re at a show in the front row
I’m a call you a bi*ch or dirty-aszs ho…”
“So what about the bitch who got shot? Fu*k her!
You think I give a damn about a bi+ch? I ain’t a sucker!”
I really think it just flows, you know? Really rolls off of the tongue and when I hear it on the radio, I turn it up so the wife and kids and I can all sing along.
And we’re supposed to accept and embrace this as just another art form … Lord help us.
but it has a beat and you can dance to it!!
That’s not dancing — they’re trying to dodge the bullets.
LOL!!! good one, g, good one.
and now… for the politically incorrect in all of us, i can’t help but visualize that as sort of modern day Steppin Fetchit, “feets don’t fail me now.”
Any bets on the number of people shot at venues showing this “artistic expression”? I say we break it down into 2 catagories – Local (KS & MO) theaters and nationally.
KS&MO – 1
NAT – 6
Bragging rights for the winner.
“Added security”..hmmmmm…..let me check: the last two theater shooters were white and in their 50’s. I hope if Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman ever make “Bucket List II” there will be appropriate security upgrades. I wouldn’t feel safe from those thug AARP’s otherwise.