Where "Straight Outta Compton" explores the birth of rap and the rise of the godfathers of the genre, this film explores the grittier, meaner, more violent side to the culture. A carjacking results in a camcorder falling into the hands of a fourteen year old, up and coming banger. He takes it with him everywhere, and films everything. From the raps and rhymes of some of his homies to the creation of crack cocaine for sale; from the sexcapades of his gang to the drive by shootings, everything is exposed in graphic, gut-wrenching detail. This film puts a face to the inner city urban blight that is affecting the African Americans in this country. Be they from Compton and Watts, or be they from Detroit, their despair is poignantly displayed.
Yes, the choices made by the black youths in this country are theirs to own, but with urban school systems set up for failure, and broken relationships; with no real, relevant role models, these youths' choices are limited. Growing up around this kind of violence and criminality leave them with little direction to go. This film speaks to that stagnancy and loss of potentiality in a way that few others do.
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