Episode 43: Straight Outta Compton, the Story of N.W.A.

Responsible for this podcast’s existence and our term “Eazy-E Crying,” Straight Outta Compton is a straight-up delight — a biopic about the seminal rap group NWA whose excellence defies “and-then-i-ness,” that gets inside the joy of the creative process and manages to do non-cloying fan service. While the film is not without flaws (glossing over some pretty intense misogyny and some pretty serious abuse allegations), it’s pretty great. 

Between unpacking a set of star-making performances and outstanding direction, we discuss whether an under-the-influence-of-Ambien Tipper Gore is writing all of the film’s negative reviews on IMDB, why you should never start a rap beef with Ice Cube, how neither of us know anything about the strength of street knowledge, whether Paul Giamatti is playing history’s greatest monster, and Sara’s fear of pool parties.  

Straight Outta Compton is directed by F. Gary Gray and stars O’Shea Jackson as Ice Cube, Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E, Neil Brown Jr. as DJ Yella, Aldis Hodge as MC Ren, Marlon Yates as D.O.C., R. Marcus Taylor as Suge Knight, and Paul Giamatti as Jerry Heller. 

Spoiler Warning: We spoil everything. And we enjoy it.

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