It’s been more than 25 years now since the groundbreaking rap group NWA released the controversial album “Straight Outta Compton.”
The record is widely credited as launching the gangsta rap genre. Now, two of the group’s members, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, are producing a film about the band’s rise to fame.
KCRW’s Avishay Artsy went to an open casting call for the film “Straight Outta Compton” in South LA, where the band has its roots.
Aspiring actors waited for hours to audition for roles in the film “Straight Outta Compton” at the Rosecrans Recreation Center in Gardena, Calif. on March 9, 2014. Photos by Jose Lopez.
Eazy-E look-alike, Dante “Dee Dimes” Balor, waits for his chance to audition for the N.W.A. biopic.
Keiko Smalls, 22, auditions for the role of Ice Cube.
Omari Burrell (left), 27, an aspiring actor and hip hop artist rehearses his lines for the role of Ice Cube as he awaits to audition.
The waiting line for a second table read with the “Straight Outta Compton” casting crew.
A young Eazy-E look-alike laughs as the interviewer playfully tells him that he can’t smile if he wants to fit the role.
Tristen J. Winger (left), 27, of South L.A. and Jordan McCovey, 22, of Victorville rehearse their lines.
Cairo Brewer (left), 39, awaits his opportunity to audition for the role of Dr. Dre. Brewer sets himself apart from the rest of his competition in that he traveled from Camden, New Jersey to seriously be considered for this role.