Gangsta rap group N.W.A. (an abbreviation of Niggaz Wit Attitudes) ignited a cultural war in the mid-1980s on the streets of Compton, California and beyond. N.W.A.’s explicit lyrics — banned from many mainstream radio stations — were thought to glorify drugs and crime and were considered disrespectful to women. Twenty-five years later, the five man group, whose original members included Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, will be the subject of the biopic, Straight Outta Compton (titled after their debut studio album of the same title).
Last week, neighborhood men watching the film being shot outside a courthouse in Compton allegedly flashed gang signs at a passing vehicle. According to TMZ: “From there, bullets rang out, although the shots weren’t intended for anyone working on the film.” A passerby was reportedly hit and survived. The LAPD is investigation the shooting. Filming has continued.
