Universal and Legendary have released the first Straight Outta Compton red-band trailer.  Directed by F. Gary Gray and produced by original N.W.A members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, alongside Matt Alvarez and Tomica Woods-Wright, Straight Outta Compton chronicles the rise and fall of the legendary hip hop group.  Cube and Dre provide an introduction to the trailer where they explain their history and how the history of N.W.A. relates to today’s issues.  I leave it to bigger fans of the group to discuss if this trailer makes the film look like a hagiography or a distinctive, exciting biopic.

The film stars O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Ice Cube, Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre and Jason Mitchell as Easy-E, and Paul Giamatti as the group’s manager.  Straight Outta Compton opens August 15th.

Here’s the official synopsis for Straight Outta Compton:

In the mid-1980s, the streets of Compton, California, were some of the most dangerous in the country.  When five young men translated their experiences growing up into brutally honest music that rebelled against abusive authority, they gave an explosive voice to a silenced generation.  Following the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A., STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON tells the astonishing story of how these youngsters revolutionized music and pop culture forever the moment they told the world the truth about life in the hood and ignited a cultural war.

Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON is directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set It Off, The Italian Job).  The drama is produced by original N.W.A. members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, who are joined by fellow producers Matt Alvarez and Tomica Woods-Wright.  Will Packer serves as executive producer of the film alongside Gray.