Post #2- From 1980s Gangsta Rap to 2010s Hollywood, or The music of the film Straight Outta Compton

Director F. Gary Gray's Straight Outta Compton is a film about the origins of the gangsta rap group NWA. It specifically looks at the early careers of NWA members Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre. Because of this, obviously, there is a lot of music by NWA and these former members. The title of the film itself comes from a song and the debut album of the group by the same name.

Many of the songs featured are written, in the film anyway, because of the life and experience of the members of the group. One such instance of this it the song "Fuck tha Police," written in response to an intense moment depicted in the film where the band is harassed, unprovoked, by members of the police while taking a break in front of a recording studio. More instances of these experiences coming to life in song are the few songs written and rapped by and about NWA members after they left the group.

The rest of the soundtrack features staples of the NWA catalog as well pieces from the solo careers of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube.

Integrated throughout the mostly gangsta rap soundtrack is a pretty amazing score composed by Joseph Trapanese, whose other works include that of Insurgent, and Oblivion and various other films and video games. This score consists mostly of a traditional orchestral sound with some infused electronica ambiance.  It is definitely a departure from the hip hop of the rest of the film. These two differing musical styles of the soundtrack and the score work extremely well however as the contrast blends together and make for a musically excellent film.


SPOILER ALERT: A few of the songs on this score are titled with potential spoilers. Although this film and the spoilers are based on true events in history, you have now been warned.