Watch the 'Straight Outta Compton' Trailer Ice Cube Showed to Fans

The ni**az with attitude are here! Well, almost. Hip-hop fans who remember the dominance of the west coast rap scene have been anxious for any footage from Straight Outta Compton, about the rise of N.W.A. And apparently Ice Cube knows it because he excitedly dropped the first trailer on audiences at a concert in Sydney, Australia. This isn't an official release by any means but a pretty good quality version obtained by a fan in attendance.

Directed by F. Gary Gray, the film has Ice Cube portrayed by his son O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, Jason Mitchell as Easy-E, Aldis Hodge as MC Ren, and Neil Brown as DJ Yella. But what could be amazing is Paul Giamatti as embattled manager Jerry Heller, who along with having some incredible hair will have some drag-out fights with the group over money.

Color me very excited over this one as everybody seems to fit their roles perfectly, and that was always the one aspect most were concerned about.

Straight Outta Compton opens August 14th 2015. We'll update this post with an official version once it is made available.

Read More

First Look at the Cast of N.W.A. Biopic 'Straight Outta Compton'

In today's world of homogenized hip-hop, a groundbreaking group like N.W.A. seems even more impressive. The controversial collective of west coast rappers gained notoriety for their hard gangsta lyrics that drove the cops nuts, bangin' beats that pumped on car stereos everywhere, and street attitude that became a fixture of the genre. Former members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, along with the late Eazy-E's mother have been trying to put together Straight Outta Compton, a biopic on their past exploits. And with a director secured and young actors cast to play the rap group, the first image of them together has arrived.

First up, a bit of a correction as it was reported earlier this week that Marcus Callendar had won the role of Dr. Dre in the film. Turns out that's not the case and Corey Hawkins (Non-Stop, Romeo & Juliet) will play the famous rapper/producer. The photo give us a look at Cube,whose son O'Shea Jackson Jr. is a spitting image of his dad; Dre, director F. Gary Gray, and co-stars Hawkins and Jason Mitchell.  Universal plans to release the film on August 14th 2015.

In the mid-1980s, the streets of Compton, California, were some of the most dangerous in the country.  When five young men translated their experiences growing up into brutally honest music that rebelled against abusive authority, they gave an explosive voice to a silenced generation.  Following the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A., STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON tells the astonishing story of how these youngsters revolutionized music and pop culture forever the moment they told the world the truth about life in the hood and ignited a cultural war.

Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON is directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set It Off, The Italian Job).  The drama is produced by original N.W.A. members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, who are joined by fellow producers Matt Alvarez and Tomica Woods-Wright.  Will Packer serves as executive producer of the film alongside Gray.

Read More

F. Gary Gray out of the 'Captain America 2' race; will direct the N.W.A. biopic instead

 F. Gary Gray is a director I keep hoping will finally get his big break. He's made solid films before, like the classic Friday and The Italian Job remake, but offers coming his way have been slow. Last week it looked like he may finally be on the verge of making a splash with his name emerging as one of three contenders to direct Captain America 2, along with George Nolfi(The Adjustment Bureau) and the Russo Brothers(You Me and Dupree).  Instead of sticking that out and waiting for Marvel to make a decision, Gray has chosen to step up and take on another high profile project.

He'll take on Straight Outta Compton, the long gestating biopic on gangster rap icons, N.W.A. Gray's name had been on the shortlist for that as well, along with Craig Brewer and Peter Berg(???). John Singleton was attached at one point, but that fell through because Singleton's a terrible director. Ok, that's not official or anything but...well, it's true. Ice Cube is serving as a producer on the film, with a handful of writers having taken a swing at the script. After three years in development, maybe this will be one of the few hip hop biopics that actually comes to pass?

As for Captain America, Marvel has it slated for April 4th 2014, so expect a decision to be made on a director real soon. Fingers crossed for Nolfi!  [Deadline]

Read More

Ice Cube's N.W.A. biopic moving forward...without John Singleton

John Singleton's head must be spinning. It was only a few days ago that the Higher Learning director was openly discussing his ongoing talks to join Ice Cube in his production of a biopic on legendary rap crew, N.W.A. And now? Well, now he's apparently out of the picture.

Vulture has the news, stating that three names have entered the picture to direct the film, now titled Straight Outta Compton: Peter Berg, F. Gary Gray, and Craig Brewer. All three have the cred to make a legitimate claim for the job, but then again so did Singleton. Brewer's past films, Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan in particular, I think make him the ideal choice. All you have to do is think back to the phenomenon Hustle and Flow was back in 2005, with the soundtrack earning an Academy Award for Three Six Mafia. Remember the shocked faces of all those cinema stiffs as they performed "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" on stage? Awesome.

F. Gary Gray has worked with Ice Cube in the past, notably on 1995's urban comedy hit, Friday. But also as a music video director, so he could no doubt work with the hip hop heavy flick.

Peter Berg? Kinda out of left field, but all of his movies do pack amazing scores, especially Friday Night Lights. He might be the most high profile filmmaker of the bunch, though, and could woo audiences with his name alone. 

Singleton had previously stated that New Line was really into getting this movie made, and this news seems to back that up. But it's by no means guaranteed, and a big director may be the final touch that kicks things into high gear.

Read More