Street Knowledge Director F. Gary Gray and cinematographer Matthew Libatique, ASC tell the story of incendiary rap icons N.W.A. in the biopic Straight Outta Compton. By David E. Williams *|* 38 September 2015 H ip-hop was born in the boroughs of New York City in the 1970s, but the nascent music scene took a turn in 1988 with the release of the edgy studio-album debut from West Coast rappers N.W.A. Filled with anger, bravado and harrowing lyrics depicting its namesake South Central city's often violent street life, the album Straight Outta Compton established the gangsta-rap style. In director F. Gary Gray's film of the same title, the group's members - Eric "Eazy-E" Wright ( Jason Mitchell), Andre "Dr. Dre" Young (Corey Hawkins), O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Antoine "DJ Yella" Carraby (Neil Brown Jr.) and Lorenzo "MC Ren" Patterson (Aldis American Cinematographer