Captivating rap biopic.

Rating: 8/10 (4 September 2015)

This engrossing biopic from F. Gary Gray looks at the rise and fall of Compton-based rap posse N.W.A, an innovative group pivotal in the emergence of "gangsta rap" in the late eighties. Their music, inspired by the violent L.A. streets they grew up on, caused major controversy due to its advocacy of authority-defying behaviour, and Gray wisely utilises this turbulence as the anchor of the whole movie. Like all true stories, a fair amount of artistic licence has been taken by the filmmakers here, yet the ticking-time-bomb atmosphere and larger than life characters have been captured with an indefatigable energy. It helps that the casting is absolutely spot on; the iconic trio at the forefront of the story – Dr Dre, Ice Cube and Eazy-E – are portrayed with charismatic gusto by relative newcomers Corey Hawkins, O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Jason Mitchell. A smattering of soon-to-be-famous rappers (such as Tupac and Snoop Dogg) pop up here and there to emphasise the central role the N.W.A members played within the rap game, but it thankfully stops short of being gimmicky. And then there's the soundtrack. It's obviously amazing, with the famous tracks given extra oomph via multiple concert scenes (where the actors performed in front of real crowds) that are thoroughly captivating. It may not be completely warts-and-all with Dre and Ice Cube producing, however Straight Outta Compton is an enthralling look at a seminal influence on the rap industry.