Straight Outta Compton: The Rise To Fame Of N. W. A.

The biopic, Straight Outta Compton, explores the rise to fame of hip hop group N.W.A. from

Compton, California. The film contains many themes such as, overcoming adversity, friendship,

and following one’s passion. Growing up in Compton, the young members of N.W.A. were

required to overcome many challenging circumstances in their rise to prominence. One example

of the challenges faced by the group can be seen in the various forms of police harassment they

experienced during their career. The movie depicts several scenes involving police brutality

against N.W.A., however, the scene that stood out the most for me was when the group members

are standing outside of the recording studio and are approached by several officers. The

Along with the

numerous themes seen throughout the movie, the cast and storyline play a pivotal role in the

film. Each of the cast members gave a very compelling performance that provided the audience

with a unique look into N.W.A.’s world. O’Shea Jackson Jr. was phenomenal in his acting debut

playing his father, Ice Cube. Being unfamiliar with N.W.A.’s career, Straight Outta Compton

was a very thorough introduction into the hip hop group’s journey from inception to retirement.

During N.W.A.’s reign, civil unrest was rising as instances of police brutality against African

Americans rose. N.W.A. provided a voice for all of the people who could not be heard during

the tumultuous times of the Los Angeles Riots. The members of the group were able to express

all of the complex emotions felt during these times through their music. While the Los Angeles

Riots rocked California in the early 90s, police brutality has yet again caused civil unrest in

places like Ferguson, Missouri. Much like the Los Angeles Riots, which began after Rodney

King was beaten by police, the riots in Ferguson largely began after Michael Brown was shot