There's only a hand full of rappers who warrant a movie based on their story, the likes of B.I.G. (let's forget the one attempted), Tupac, Run DMC, Wu-Tang Clan to name a few. Other names you'd throw in that conversation, are Eazy E, Ice Cube, Dr.Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella gave us the world's most dangerous group in the form of N.W.A. Now if you're a fan of the raps that are coming out today, the lyrical content from '86 era may scare you into a Sunday church visit. Now this is a blockbuster movie make no mistake of it, just without the crazy action sequences but still delivers on all fronts. The movie smartly introduces us to each member of the group in scenarios that set them up for the rest of the movie.
See this group were a product of their environment which is clearly evident in the movie. The process behind the iconic F The Police brings with it some scene stealing moments in the movie. Ice Cube's son getting the role of playing his dad could easily be a distraction but who better to play their father than someone who's witnessed it all? Judging by the performance he portrays of his dad, you can be excused for thinking Ice Cube is playing himself. Eazy-E is something like rap's unicorn, a mythical human being that many talk about but only few know of. This isn't a spoiler as it's well documented that Eazy died of HIV, but that and being a part of N.W.A is all I knew about E. After watching this movie I found myself understanding why people connected to him and loved his character.
The main thing director F. Gary Grey had to do with this movie is make sure it's not labelled another hip hop movie catered to hip hop audience. Yes we've had a Biggie movie (which I hope one day will be re-visited and done properly) but this movie is bigger than just the hip hop going audience. The movie balances humour, betrayal, emotion, and of course the magic behind this group becoming legendary. The backdrop of this movie being in the 80s, and era when police brutality was just an everyday practice, really leaves a lump in your throat due to current affairs. This movie will be in many top ten movies of 2015 lists, as it's way bigger than the hip hop culture which birthed it. My only worry is with the ridiculous but well earned success of this movie, that Hollywood doesn't attempt to bring out a hip hop based movie every other month. Truth be told I don't need to see Young Thug movie!!!
