The story of how an aspiring teen aged DJ (Corey Hawkins) at a low rent Southern California club teamed up with his lyrically gifted friend (O'Shea Jackson, Jr.), and a streetwise crack dealer (Jason Mitchell) to head what would become the contentious and short-lived rap supergroup N.W.A., which would be tainted by a self-interested manager (Paul Giamatti) and would leave several lasting hip-hop dynasties in addition to inspiration for forthcoming artists. Casting is key in F. Gary Gray's fresh, well-made ode to thuggery which still doesn't totally avoid music biopic trappings and sadly paints its subjects as victims and 1st amendment martyrs.
*** out of ****
