In the mid-1980s, the streets of Compton, California, were some of the most dangerous in the country.
When five young black men translated their experiences growing up into music that rebelled against authority, they gave an explosive voice to many who opposed authority.
The record Straight Outta Compton was the debut studio album by hip hop group NWA, released August 8, 1988 on group member Eazy-E’s record label Ruthless Records. Its title refers to the group’s native town, Compton, California. Production for the album was handled by Dr. Dre, with DJ Yella giving co-production along with Arabian Prince. The album has been viewed as the pioneering record of gangsta rap; with its ever-present profanity and violent lyrics, it helped to give birth to this then-new subgenre of hip hop. One of the album’s most popular songs is F*ck Tha Police.
Following the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A. (Niggas With Attitude), the movie Straight Outta Compton tells the story of how these Boys N The Hood were able to change music and pop culture.
On the set of the movie Straight Outta Compton (January 29, 2015), Suge Knight, one of the founders of Death Row Records, was arrested on the charge of murder in a hit-and-run in January 2015. He is currently in jail without bail.
Killed by Suge Knight was Terry Carter, co-founder (along with Ice Cube) of Heavyweight Records and a friend of Suge Knight. The second victim, filmmaker Cle Sloan, suffered a mangled foot and head injuries. Multiple witnesses claim that Suge Knight followed the men after an argument on the Straight Outta Compton film set to a burger stand parking lot, and that the collisions looked intentional.
Straight Outta Compton earned over $150 million at the US movie box office and was nominated for a 2016 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
