Movies in McConomy

Straight Outta Compton
Friday, Nov. 20, 10 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 22, 8 p.m.

N.W.A. was America’s most dangerous rap group. With lyrics about the world around them in Compton, they exposed America to a “gangsta rap”, a genre that chronicled real life experiences. Straight Outta Compton follows the journey of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella (Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Aldis Hodge, and Marlon Yates Jr. respectively) from the streets of Compton to the pressures of fame. When Jerry Heller (Paul Giammati) first meets Eazy-E, he immediately sees talent and helps promote N.W.A.’s first single “Boyz-N-The Hood,” featuring lyrics by Ice Cube, music by Dr. Dre, and vocals by the first-time rapper Eazy-E. As the group members gain popularity, they continuously run into trouble with the law because of their lyrics opposing law enforcement. Following the release of their game-changing album Straight Outta Compton, N.W.A. begins to fall apart due to business relations between Eazy-E and Heller. Things quickly become hostile after Ice Cube departs from the group and several diss tracks are exchanged. Dr. Dre departs soon after and goes on to create Death Row records, the label that brought Snoop Dogg and Tupac fame. The members of N.W.A. are brought to life on screen by the actors, including O’Shea Jackson Jr. who has the honor of playing his father, Ice Cube. Follow N.W.A.’s journey from breakups, to makeups, to arrests as its members tell the story of American street violence and institutional racism.