Explicit language and constant snippets of legendary hip hop music filled theaters this weekend as one of the most anticipated films of the year finally hit the big screen this weekend.

Not only does the public get a chance to look back into the life of the notorious hip hop group N.W.A., but the film tells a story, a unique emotional story of a group of friends who had a vision. Mix that vision with talent and ambition, and you’ve got a story that helped put the city of Compton, California on the map.

Disclaimer: I’ll just go ahead and say that the purpose of this review is not to reveal part of the movie and spoil it for those who have not seen it. Instead, I aim to critique the overall experience.

Characters

The character choice for the film was spot on! The most impressive character match was O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson, who was played by his son, O’Shea Jackson Jr. The match for this role could not have been any more perfect, for his voice, demeanor and looks proved nearly identical to that of his father’s. According to other sources, ‘Baby Cube’ supposedly had to audition for the role just like anyone else — with all fairness. He also could have gotten tips and advice from his father on how to portray his character, which puts viewers as close as it can get to the real thing. With all said, great job O’Shea Jr.

Approaching the movie premier date, some actors had the chance to interview with other sources and give their take on the characters they played in the film. Recalling a radio broadcast interview with Corey Hawkins, actor for Andre ‘Dr Dre’ Young, Hawkins was questioned about acting out one of the toughest scenes in the film and in Dr. Dre’s life. The interview hyped up this particular scene; the amount of emotion put into it was supposed to be an A+. The scene failed to deliver the emotional pull that its potential.

Timeline 

Based on the knowledge of West coast Hip Hop history, the film was spot on with the timeline of all the events and happenings. This was a characteristic that solidified the film’s credibility and put viewers back in time just like they knew it happened in the ’80s. One thing that could have added another twist into the film was to show a small piece of what the group became after the death of Eric Wright.

Other than the timeline, producers did a great job with portraying all scenes from the time period; wardrobe, city life etc.

Overall, the film gave the world a peek at how greatness was created; with determination, ambition, and love. Of course there is more to the story of these characters, but this film will go down in the books as capturing the essence of how these young men became who they are now. This film is a must see and definitely one to own.