Despite being one of the most impactful genres of its time, there isn't a fully accurate portrayal of gangster rap's history. The origins of the genre, as we know it today, lie in 1988 when the rap group N.W.A. released its seminal album Straight Outta Compton. The album received praise and much more scrutiny but it's brutally honest depiction of life in South Central Los Angeles captured the attention of the nation's youth. However, the subject matter of N.W.A.'s music created an exaggerated image for them and every other artist that partook in the genre. Along with the rise of gangster rap there was an increase in the public’s awareness of street gangs. Since the majority of gangster rap’s listeners weren’t from the areas that it was depicting, they formed a cartoonish perception of those areas and media companies capitalized on that. From newscasts, to movies, to tv shows, if a person was from a place like Compton they were expected to throw up gang signs, sag their pants and carry a gun. The film Straight Outta Compton tries to present a normalized depiction of N.W.A.'s origins and the environment that bred them but it still features exaggerations. There are three key sources that can be utilized to identify the film’s exaggerations. The documentary series The Defiant …show more content…
Just a few months after Straight Outta Compton’s release, N.W.A. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, becoming the third rap act to receive the honor. Regardless of one’s perception of the Hall’s relevance, it is undeniable that it was once considered impossible to associate N.W.A. with artists such as Bob Marley and The Beatles. For most of its existence, N.W.A. and gangster rap have been demonized by the general public with critics focusing on the music’s profanity without considering its