Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
This Photo Proves The N.W.A. Movie Is Actually, Finally Happening
Billionaire Dr. Dre tweeted a photo of the cast and release date for the long-awaited N.W.A. biopic, essentially confirming the film was finally set in motion after being stuck in development hell for years.
The photo Dre tweeted pictured the three actors cast to play Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre, kneeling in front of the real-life Ice Cube and Dre and director F. Gary Gray. In front of Ice Cube in the picture is his own son O'Shea Jackson, Jr., whom the rapper has long been pushing for to play himself. Jackson is a chip off the old block (cube?), rapping under the unfortunate stage name of OMG and having been featured with his brother Doughboy on their father's last album.
Dr. Dre will be portrayed by Marcus Callender, a classically trained actor with minor TV credits to his name. The late Eazy-E will be played by Jason Mitchell. No word on whether or not Callender or Mitchell were found at the casting call held in Compton recently. The two rappers and Eazy-E's widow Tomica Wright each hold veto power over casting and the script, and Wright was reportedly the last holdout, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Support for LAist comes from
Straight Outta Compton, set to be released on August 14, 2015, will tell the story of the short-lived rap group from Compton. Their first album, which the film is named after, included such infamous songs as the title track, "Fuck Tha Police", and "Gangsta Gangsta" that were accused of glamorizing violence in South Central Los Angeles. Coined "gangsta rap" (apparently by Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold), the music would draw the ire of law enforcement officials, with the Secret Service and FBI each sending letters to their label admonishing the record. Ironically, that only served to give the group more publicity. Straight Outta Compton would go double-Platinum and is today regarded as a classic that changed West Coast rap.
N.W.A. began to crumble through the early 90s as each member left over disputes over royalties and contracts, with the most public spat between Dr. Dre and Eazy-E. Dre's first solo album, The Chronic, opened with the Eazy-E diss track "Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')", while E retaliated with "Real Muthaphuckkin G's". The spat would come to an end in 1995, though sadly because of Eazy-E's death from AIDS. They reportedly made amends shortly before he passed away, and all surviving members have since set aside their differences.
Oh, and if you know somebody looking for an acting gig, Ice Cube tweeted that they weren't done casting the rest of the group yet:
Still looking for our MC Ren and DJ Yella. #straightouttacompton coming 8/14/15
— Ice Cube (@icecube) June 18, 2014
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist