First Look at the Cast of N.W.A. Biopic 'Straight Outta Compton'

In today's world of homogenized hip-hop, a groundbreaking group like N.W.A. seems even more impressive. The controversial collective of west coast rappers gained notoriety for their hard gangsta lyrics that drove the cops nuts, bangin' beats that pumped on car stereos everywhere, and street attitude that became a fixture of the genre. Former members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, along with the late Eazy-E's mother have been trying to put together Straight Outta Compton, a biopic on their past exploits. And with a director secured and young actors cast to play the rap group, the first image of them together has arrived.

First up, a bit of a correction as it was reported earlier this week that Marcus Callendar had won the role of Dr. Dre in the film. Turns out that's not the case and Corey Hawkins (Non-Stop, Romeo & Juliet) will play the famous rapper/producer. The photo give us a look at Cube,whose son O'Shea Jackson Jr. is a spitting image of his dad; Dre, director F. Gary Gray, and co-stars Hawkins and Jason Mitchell.  Universal plans to release the film on August 14th 2015.

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.