Usher Raymond poses with Ice Cube during the Atlanta VIP screening of Universal Pictures’ ‘Straight Outta Compton’ last night (July 23, 2015).
[WATCH: Straight Outta Compton Official Trailer ft. Intro from Dr. Dre & Ice Cube (VIDEO)]
The event, held at Regal Atlantic Station, also included a Q&A session with cast members stars O?Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell (who star as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E), as well as Ice Cube (producer), F. Gary Gray (Director) and Will Packer (Executive Producer)
The screening was well attended by many of Atlanta’s who’s who including music’s top celebrities and influencers including: Mayor Kasim Reed, Usher Raymond, Ludacris, B.o.B., 2Chainz, David Banner, DaBrat, Lil Scrappy, Polow Da Don & More.
A special Q&A session was moderated by Packer after the film and the ‘Straight Outta Compton’ cast members shared tales of working on the amazing NWA biopic.
Check out photos + video from the Atlanta screening of ‘Straight Outta Compton’ below…
Actors O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jason Mitchell, and Corey Hawkins attend “Straight Outta Compton” VIP Screening.
Straight Outta Compton stars O?Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, and is directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set It Off, The Italian Job).
For the record, ‘Straight Outta Compton’ was an awesome flick and I’m planning on paying my real dollars to see it when it officially opens on August 14, 2015.
Most ‘hip-hop heads’ already know the story of NWA, the controversial rap group that broke the barriers of free speech back in the late 80’s with their hit song ‘F*ck the Police,’ but if you don’t know, this movie will fill you ALL THE WAY IN!
I promised not to reveal too much of the flick but it’s a great story and it touches on everything from the police brutality that sparked NWA’s outragous lyrics… to freedom of speech (NWA was once targeted by the FBI for inciting riots with their lyrics)… to the music industry politics and contract disputes that caused Ice Cube to leave the group…? to HIV and AIDS awareness (Eazy-E was known to chase groupies and died from contracting the disease).
The story itself is intriguing in ‘real life’ but watching the story unfold onscreen riveting!
Ice Cube and the cast spoke about it during a Q&A session that was held following the screening.? I caught a bit of LIVE it via my Periscope last night, but for those of you who missed it, here’s a bit of the video from the session…
VIDEO: Ice Cube & Cast Q&A SESSION
Synopsis:
In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music.
Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels?armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent?stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world?s most dangerous group, N.W.A.? And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.
Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed, director F. Gary Gray and producer Will Packer
Rapper/actor Ice Cube and his son O’Shea Jackson, Jr. (who stars as Ice Cube in ‘Straight Outta Compton’)
Actor Jason Mitchell (Eazy-E in ‘Straight Outta Compton)
Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre in ‘Straight Outta Compton’)
Usher & 2Chainz greet F. Gary Gray…
Da Brat
B.o.B.
Polow Da Don
David Banner
Lil Scrappy
Usher and Ludacris pose with director F. Gary Gray, Ice Cube & the cast of ‘Straight Outta Compton’
(Photos: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
CLICK HERE for more photos from the Atlanta Screening of ‘Straight Outta Compton’