After years of waiting, the Straight Outta Compton movie is finally here. Director F. Gary Gray and Ice Cube stopped by The Breakfast Club to discuss the film, N.W.A and more.
As N.W.A’s debut album of the same name celebrates a 27 year anniversary this week, all eyes are on the biopic. Noted director F. Gary Gray had a specific vision on how the group’s story should be told.
DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha God spoke to Gary and Rap pioneer Ice Cube about Straight Outta Compton, staying true to Compton legacy, bad contracts, upcoming projects and more.
So we present the top 10 things we learned from the F. Gary Gray and Ice Cube Breakfast Club interview. We were glad to hear Ice Cube’s son was not just handed the role. Let us know what your favorite moment was in the comments section below.
—
Photo: Power 10FM / Youtube
1. O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Gray made it clear that Ice Cube’s son had to earn the role for the movie. He waited about two years and went through multiple call back auditions before he was confirmed.
2. The Cast
Gray purposely sought out new actors as it lent a rawness to the project that was needed. We also agree established actors would have made it corny.
3. The Crew
The remaining members of N.W.A. were always on set to ensure the story was being told the right way. Even down to the details of DJing back in the 80’s.
4. Directing
Ice Cube really pushed for F. Gary Gray to be director for the movie. He knew the N.W.A story well and lived through the LA riots which made him the ideal choice.
5. Movie Length
Straight Outta Compton is a whopping two and a half hours long. This afforded Gary the opportunity to go in-depth about the story behind the story regarding police brutality, the group’s turmoil and more.
6. Contracts
When asked about the infamous moment where Ice Cube was offered $75,000.00 dollars to sign a crooked recording contract, he stated he was very tempted as he needed the money but he still stood firm that he wanted to review the paperwork.
7. The Black Panthers
Gary also confirmed that he will be directing a film about the Black Panther party.
8. Jerry
Gary did not consult with Jerry Heller who once managed N.W.A and co-founded Ruthless Records with Eazy E.
9. Police
With N.W.A’s message of police brutality in their original music, it was important to Gary to really display the trials and tribulations of the Compton community with the law in the movie.
10. Hollywood
Both admitted that the film was in jeopordy as Holywood did not originally think the biopic could be commercially successful. Once the director and the original N.W.A group was in place to consult, then the executives saw the bigger picture.
