Straight Outta Compton is a record that's as seminal and influential as they come. Now, the group that put out that record -- N.W.A -- are set to become the subject of a biopic that takes its name from their 1988 masterpiece. The trailer for the film was played at the 2015 Grammy Awards.
Decades before the Lil Waynes, Drakes and Iggy Azaleas of this world took over the hip-hop charts with their formulaic pop rap, there was N.W.A -- a group whose grimy, brutal and earnest brand of gangsta rap/West Coast hip-hop captured the imagination of rap fans and changed the genre forever.
However, N.W.A weren't handed anything on a plate as the trailer for Straight Outta Compton shows. The movie addresses the challenges Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and their comrades faced in their personal lives and in their initial forays into the music business, as well as the various controversies created by their music, most notably the song F*** tha Police.
The trailer begins with an introduction by Dre and Ice Cube themselves, with the relevance of the timing of its release -- what with unrest in the USA surrounding police-civilian relations -- not lost on the legendary duo.
Gangster Rap Biopics
The Straight Outta Compton Movie Charts the Rise Of N.W.A.
Trend Themes
1. Gangster Rap Biopics - The success of Straight Outta Compton presents an opportunity for filmmakers to explore the lives and careers of other influential gangster rap groups.
2. Hip-hop Nostalgia - The release of the N.W.A biopic highlights a continuing trend of nostalgia for the early days of hip-hop and the genre's pioneers.
3. Socially Conscious Hip-hop - The controversy surrounding F*** tha Police and its relevance to current events shows a growing market for hip-hop with a message that addresses social issues and protest movements.
Industry Implications
1. Film - The popularity of Straight Outta Compton and other music biopics present opportunities for filmmakers to tell stories about other legendary musicians across genres.
2. Music - A renewed interest in N.W.A following the biopic release could lead to increased sales and streams of their music, as well as a revival of interest in gangster rap as a genre.
3. Fashion - The style and fashion of N.W.A and other early hip-hop pioneers could inspire new trends and cultural shifts in streetwear and urban fashion.