F. Gary Gray'sIce Cube, two main contributors to the group who still work successfully in the rap world today.
The film explores taboo and uncomfortable subjects related to racism and discrimination in America that remain as relevant today as they were in the '80s, leaving the viewer with substantial food for thought.
You Are Capable Of More Than You Imagine
The of N.W.A began as a few young guys who had a ion for music and lyrics and an urge to express their view on life. Dr. Dre had a feeling that they could create good music, but none of them suspected that they would rise to the top of the rap scene, proving to all of them that they were far more talented and capable than they gave themselves credit for.
Beware Music Managers
Many a music film biopic tells the cautionary tale of the exploitative music manager, and Jerry is no exception to the stereotype. Jerry's character posits himself as a sort of friendly father figure to the of the group, always defending the and acting as if he is on their side, but in the end, he betrays every last one of them by manipulating their trust--and even when Dr. Dre leaves, his next music manager does the same thing.
Each Person Puts Their Struggle First
N.W.A has to fight tooth and nail to get basic respect--something they are rarely given even if promised. Beyond basic respect, however, is the issue of being paid for work done, and the have to fight for this as well.
The people in their lives prove to always let them down and put themselves first; adding on top of their betrayals a narcissistic prioritization of their own issues, such as when Jerry becomes substantially angrier about the single time he is snubbed for being Jewish than the daily occurrences of his clients being subjects of racial discrimination.
Money Changes People
Eazy-E becomes the perfect example of somebody who loses sight of who they were because of the influence of money. Eazy-E vows his loyalty to his group and friends, but as soon as he has a taste of fame he falls victim to the addiction of adoration and money and prioritizes this over his relationships.
Friendship Matters More Than Fame
After all is said and done, all of the feuds between the original --having split into various solo acts--both the personal arguments and the on-air disses voiced in recordings, there comes a moment where some of the men discover that they simply value each other more than they do their conflicts, recognizing that their issues were the result of the pettiness of fame.
Be Careful Who You Listen To
The men learn that there is great power in who they keep by their ear, and whose word they let contribute to their decisions.
All start out relying on Jerry and assuming that because he has entered a partnership with them that they can trust him to do his job fairly, but it turns out that even the most trusting of them, Eazy-E, was being fooled by pretty words all along.
Freedom Of Speech Is A Grey Area
The film takes aim at the complications of free speech by featuring the issues related to one of the most controversial songs of N.W.A, entitled "F*ck Tha Police." The police at one of their concerts pull them off the stage due to their refusal to skip this song, all because the police take offense to the lyrics--not because they have any legal right to do so.
The Status Quo Is Strong
One of the greatest points the movie emphasizes is that challenging the status quo takes great perseverance and a lot of sacrifices. The of the group merely standing on a street corner that is in a majorly white neighborhood already pushes the envelope--never mind creating albums which directly call out the inherent biases of societal structures. All of the challenges they face in their careers makes obvious the entrenched habits of the system, and how difficult it is to truly change things.
People Fear The Unfamiliar
The group set out to make music that comes naturally to them and which reflects their lives, not to start an uprising. And yet, early into their careers they face immense hate and protests by the public, all because their rap--and thereof the reality of their existence--offends the general public's idea of what America is.
The Narrative Favors The Narrator
Straight Outta Compton is successful in portraying how easy it is for reality to be skewed based on whose voice carries the most power; for example, white policeman versus black men. The film teaches viewers to consider who is telling a story and challenges them to consider how a story might be changed if viewed from another perspective.
This very lesson is also what makes viewers consider that one very important perspective is left out in the film, and that is the role of women in the men's lives, and how the same film might look if told from the various women who exist in the background, functioning as s for the men's needs.
