Unprecedented security in place for ‘Compton’ film premiere

The upbeat, raucous sound of Straight Outta Compton is subbed out for the laid-back side-stick-snares and slinky synth leads of the “G-Funk” style that would rise to prominence on the backs of Dre’s 1992 The Chronic and his protégé Snoop Doggy Dogg’s Doggystyle of the following year.

The summer box office cooled in August after a slew of films, including superhero reboot “Fantastic Four“, failed to lure many moviegoers.

Nevertheless, analysts consider that “Straight Outta Compton” might assist salvage the month’s lower-than-expected numbers.

For at least the last few years, taking in a movie at U.S. theaters hasn’t been the safest way to spend an evening. There was an influx of drugs and military weapons and things like that that changed the culture. As reported by Variety, Universal Pictures brought together N.W.A. group members for the Straight Outta Compton premiere – including Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella – and placed them onstage for their fans to behold. “It’s inspiration, and it’s going to change a lot of lives”, said actor Sheldon Smith.

He has the most movie experience of the three stars, with previous small roles in such films as 2012’s “Contraband” and 2013’s “Broken City”. Gang violence exploded, “Just Say No” was in full swing and police were merciless in trying to eliminate the scourge. Founding members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre are among the film’s producers.

“The group’s song “(Expletive) the Police” was a cultural flashpoint. Penned by Ice Cube, it passed on by (ironically) a New York group called HBO before being handed over to Eazy, whose sneering tenor was a flawless fit for the hard-nosed narratives and taunts. Young people of all ethnicities and economic strata identified with N.W.A.’s energy and anger. So working with Cube on arguably one of his best music videos, “Today Was a Good Day”, and directing that.

Institutional censure of the group only added to its appeal.

“When you were listening back in the late ’80s, it was like you were listening to something that was illicit”, Boyd said. They help the film coast over the bumpier spots of its by-the-numbers story, establishing what feels like a true friendship within the group, and the real, burning anger that inspired their most incendiary lyrics. But along with infusing hip-hop with “the strength of street knowledge” via hardcore rhymes about bangin, ‘ slangin’, and county bids, another important facet of N.W.A’s legacy is one of blatant and rampant misogyny.

But fully unpacking N.W.A and the era of hip hop the group kicked off remains a fool’s errand.

MC Lyte, who moderated the panel, asked Dr. Dre how easy or hard it was for him to watch his personal life get played out in the movie.

He said: “I don’t have a disrespect or hate towards law enforcement but at the same time in the black community we are picked on and it has been like that since before we were making music, we were just able to speak about it when we were making music”.