straight outta compton Archives

Dee Barnes Responds to Dr. Dre’s Apology to the Women He Abused With Powerful Words

The N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton has been a runaway success at the box office, chalking up two straight weeks atop the box office charts and raking in well over $100 million in that time period. The timing of its release has been uncanny, with its depictions of police harassment... Read more

August 25, 2015 News

The Politics of Rap: Political Hip-Hop’s Long & Outspoken History Didn’t Begin or End with N.W.A. (Audio)

The marriage of political engagement and Hip-Hop culture has been a permanent fixture ever since artists began using the mic as a means of delivering dispatches from inner-city life, where systemic problems of economic disparity, educational inequality, poverty, and racism remain far too common for far too many. For many,... Read more

August 21, 2015 Audio

Ice Cube & O’Shea Jackson, Jr. Share Powerful Father-Son Moments in 1-on-1 Conversation (Video)

O'Shea Jackson, Jr. had perhaps the biggest shoes to fill of all of his co-stars in his role in Straight Outta Compton . The son of N.W.A.'s Ice Cube, Jackson, Jr. has been earning rave reviews for his portrayal of his father, putting to rest any remaining talk there may be... Read more

August 19, 2015 Video

Bye Felicia: How ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Is Initiating a Conversation About Misogyny (Audio)

In the 1995 film Friday, the F. Gary Gray comedy starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, there is perhaps no more regularly quoted line than "Bye, Felicia," a phrase that has experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to today's Internet culture. Common in hashtag form, the pop-culture reference is a... Read more

August 18, 2015 Audio

Rare 25-Year Old N.W.A. Photos & Collectibles Resurface, Care of a Longterm Fan (Interview)

Only now, in 2015, is N.W.A. a group that can test the waters of the digital era. It's been nearly 25 years since the group existed, and more than that since it had its famous five member lineup including Ice Cube. In 1988, there were no blogs, no streams, no... Read more

August 17, 2015 Food for Thought, Throwback

‘Straight Outta Compton’ Smashes Box Office Expectations. The Strength of Street Knowledge Endures.

Prior to the release of the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, industry experts were suggesting the film would pull in an opening weekend box office of around $20 to $40 million, a rather handsome sum for a film about a rap group that, in its heyday, had censors all over... Read more

August 17, 2015 News

Kendrick Lamar Interviews N.W.A. & Asks All The Right Questions (Video)

It is fitting that N.W.A.'s first full-length interview in conjunction with Straight Outta Compton be conducted by none other than Kendrick Lamar. On behalf of Billboard, Lamar sits down for an intimate conversation with Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. Nearly 30 minutes, this interview transcends a... Read more

August 13, 2015 Video

Dr. Dre Confronts Abusive Past. Explains Why Compton Ended The Detox.

The same day Straight Outta Compton hits theaters (August 14), Rolling Stone magazine will release their interview with N.W.A. co-founders Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. For now, the heralded music pub only released tidbits from their rare audience with D-R-E, alongside his "Natural Born Killaz" rhyme-partner Cube. For Dre, this... Read more

August 12, 2015 News

Ice Cube Responds To Lyric Annotations Of His Hit Songs (Video)

With Straight Outta Compton's theatrical release date only a few days away, much attention has been paid to N.W.A. and their legacy, and now the film's title inspiration is being addressed by Ice Cube. On a video feature for Vanity Fair magazine's website, the founding member of the historic rap... Read more

August 10, 2015 Video

DJ Premier Details the Inside Story on Working With Dr. Dre & Names His Top 5 Producers (Interview)

DJ Premier and Dr. Dre are widely considered to be two of Hip-Hip's greatest producers of all-time. While the two have worked on the same projects occasionally over the last two decades, and maintained a friendship along the way, they had not had released a full collaboration, until now. The... Read more

August 7, 2015 Food for Thought

Dr. Dre Put Compton On The Map. Now He’s Immortalizing Its Legacy (Album Stream)

Announced just days ago, Dr. Dre's third studio album, Compton, has released as planned. The N.W.A. co-founder named his first LP in nearly 16 years after the Hub City that he hails from. Now, the Beats By Dre namesake drops off the deeply-anticipated work to Apple Music for an exclusive... Read more

August 6, 2015 Audio, Fresh

DJ Quik, YG & More Talk About What It Means to Be From Compton…Over New Dre Music (Video)

For fans of Dr. Dre, N.W.A. and Hip-Hop, generally, Friday cannot come soon enough. That day will bring Dr. Dre's first album since 1999's 2001. Thankfully, the good Doctor will be sharing a full preview of Compton: The Soundtrack tomorrow from 9pm to 12pm EST on Apple Music, just prior... Read more

August 5, 2015 Video

Ice Cube Talks Rap Beef, Jerry Heller, Dr. Dre’s New Album & More (Video)

With the highly anticipated N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton set to be released next Friday (August 14), Ice Cube and the cast of the film sat down with HOT 97's Ebro, Laura Stylez and Peter Rosenberg for an interview. The cast included Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Junior, who plays... Read more

August 4, 2015 Video

Get The Backstory To The Presumed First Ever Photo Of N.W.A. (Video)

In the history of N.W.A., the pre-1988 material often lives in the shadows. The "Panic Zone" 12" featured artwork also purposed for 1987's N.W.A. & The Posse compilation album on Macola. Author, DJ, historian, and Soul Sides founder Oliver Wang examined this photograph from '87, leading up to this month's... Read more

August 4, 2015 Throwback, Video

What Does Ice Cube Think About Ghostwriting In Hip-Hop? (Video)

Ice Cube is widely regarded as one of Hip-Hop's most influential MCs. Whether with N.W.A., Westside Connection, or a multi-platinum solo career, the Los Angeles, California MC has written songs that have defined years, eras, and Rap music as a whole. Notably, Cube has written for others along the way,... Read more

August 3, 2015 Video

It’s Official. Dr. Dre’s First Album in 16 Years Will Be Released Friday.

As we reported earlier today, Dr. Dre announced the release of his first album since 1999's 2001 today on his The Pharmacy show on Apple Music. The album is titled Compton: The Soundtrack and will hit stores on August 7. He confirmed the album is completely different than the infamous... Read more

August 1, 2015 News

Dr. Dre’s New Album Will Not Be Released Today…But It’s Coming Soon (Audio)

Earlier this week, Ice Cube set the web on fire when he stated during an interview that Dr. Dre had created an album inspired by the forthcoming motion picture Straight Outta Compton (8/14), and that it would be released on August 1. However, new information suggests the album will not... Read more

August 1, 2015 Audio

Ice Cube Says Dr. Dre’s ‘Straight Outta Compton Soundtrack’ Arrives This Week (Video)

With just over two weeks until the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton hits theaters, the excitement and anticipation over the film is palpable, to say the least. Buttressed by the forthcoming reunion tour, public discourse about some of rap music's most prolific young artists has reached a fever pitch, and... Read more

July 29, 2015 Video

Eminem Slated To Take Eazy-E’s Spot As Honorary N.W.A. Member On Tour.

UPDATE: One day later (July 23), an unnamed Eminem and Dr. Dre representative has told Rolling Stone magazine that the reports regarding Eminem and an N.W.A. are not true. The original report: For the most part, attentions surrounding August 14's Straight Outta Compton are focused on the film. The F.... Read more

July 22, 2015 News

DJ Premier & Dr. Dre Are Clearly Up To Something, What Could It Be?

Nas' It Was Written. The 8 Mile Soundtrack. Game's The R.E.D. Album. Only a handful of times in their careers, combined spanning more than 50 years, have Dr. Dre and DJ Premier worked on the same album in a production capacity. There would have been several more of those times,... Read more

July 19, 2015 Fresh

N.W.A. Discusses The Authenticity Of “Straight Outta Compton” With Fab 5 Freddy (Video)

As the host/VJ of "Yo! MTV Raps," Fab 5 Freddy was a major correspondent with N.W.A. at a time when the Compton, California group was fiercely counter-cultural. Twenty five years later, Freddie reunites with Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, and MC Ren on the set of August 14 biopic... Read more

July 15, 2015 Video

Eminem & Kendrick Lamar Are Confirmed Artists For ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Soundtrack

Since March, a lot of speculation has surrounded the likelihood of a soundtrack for the Straight Outta Compton N.W.A. biopic. With just a month until the Universal film, produced by Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E's widow (Tomica Woods-Wright), it appears that a soundtrack is indeed coming. In March, Dre... Read more

July 11, 2015 Fresh

Ice Cube: “There Would Be No Eminem Without N.W.A.”

For the first time in 25 years, all living members of N.W.A. will be performing live, together. As part of the BET Experience taking place this weekend, the seminal Rap group will take the stage to perform some of their classic material and whether or not Heads are in attendance,... Read more

June 25, 2015 News

Did Hollywood Forget N.W.A. Had 5 Members? Here’s Some Love for MC Ren & DJ Yella.

This week has been a roller-coaster for fans of "Rap's Most Dangerous Group": N.W.A. On Monday (June 8), it was revealed that Ice Cube will reunite on stage with DJ Yella for the first time since 1989. MC Ren will be there too as part of Los Angeles, California's BET... Read more

June 12, 2015 Food for Thought

MC Ren Gets Ruthless About N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton” Trailers

N.W.A. had four MCs: founder Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and MC Ren. In the marketing materials for August 14's Straight Outta Compton biopic, Ren feels as though he is not getting proper billing. Specifically, Ren attacked some of the Universal Pictures trailers. This morning (June 10), the Compton, California... Read more

June 10, 2015 News, TV/Film

Ice Cube To Perform With MC Ren & DJ Yella For First Time Since 1989

The N.W.A. storyline is most certainly heating up with Summer. It has been more than 15 years since N.W.A. appeared to reunite care of The Next Friday soundtrack's "Chin Check" and Ice Cube's "Hello." However, while both Priority Records-backed songs were billed to media and fans as N.W.A. hallmarks, the... Read more

June 8, 2015 News

A New Straight Outta Compton Trailer Emerges. It Still Looks Incredible…(Video)

The latest in a series of trailers has emerged for Straight Outta Compton, the upcoming biopic (August 14) on N.W.A. With Universal Pictures' branding, this appears to be the real deal, and builds greatly upon the part-trailer, part Chrysler advertisement, part vignette from February. There are some really interesting things... Read more

April 1, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Dr. Dre Says Straight Outta Compton Will Clarify N.W.A.’s Perceived Misogyny (Video)

Among N.W.A.'s legendary tracks are "Just Don't Bite It," "Findum, Fuckum & Flee," and the interlude, "To Kill A Hooker." Nearly 25 years after the group famously disbanded, Dr. Dre says that the perceived misogyny behind the lyrics and music by himself, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella... Read more

March 26, 2015 Video

The Polished Trailer For “Straight Outta Compton” Features Dr. Dre, N.W.A. & Lots Of Subtleties (Video)

While Compton's Kendrick Lamar won big in the evening, during the 57th Grammy Awards, Heads did not see Dr. Dre or Ice Cube in the audience, or on stage. However, the Hip-Hop legends whose fates are forever tied starred in a lengthy trailer for Straight Outta Compton, the upcoming N.W.A.... Read more

February 9, 2015 TV/Film

Ready for That NWA Film? Here’s a Look at the Trailer…Hood Style (Video)

Hip-Hop fans went crazy at the announcement last year that the long-rumored biopic about N.W.A. would become a reality in 2015 and had the official co-sign from founding members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. At a recent event, Ice Cube gave a sneak preview of the trailer for the film... Read more

December 30, 2014 Video

Marsha Ambrosius Blends Jeru, Sade and Dr. Dre on Stronger. Hearing is Believing (Audio)

Marsha Ambrosius gets a rare appearance from Dr. Dre on her latest single, "Stronger." The track itself completely revamps two classics into one by combining production samples from Jeru The Damaja's "Come Clean" and a reintroduction of Sade's infectious hook from her track, "Love is Stronger Than Pride." The former... Read more

June 20, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The N.W.A. Biopic is 100% Official…and it Has a Release Date

Last year, Ice Cube discussed the upcoming N.W.A biopic with Arsenio, which is being directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set it Off), and it's been confirmed on numerous occasions, including by Dr. Dre. New details have surfaced, including cast names and a release date, that make the film all... Read more

June 18, 2014 Fresh