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Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap | Ben Westhoff
Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap | Ben Westhoff
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“Raw, authoritative, and unflinching... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era.”—Kirkus, Starred Review
Book Overview
A monumental, revealing narrative history about the legendary group of artists at the forefront of West Coast hip-hop: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Amid rising gang violence, the crack epidemic, and police brutality, a group of unlikely voices cut through the chaos of late 1980s Los Angeles: N.W.A. Led by a drug dealer, a glammed-up producer, and a high school kid, N.W.A gave voice to disenfranchised African Americans across the country and quickly redefined pop culture across the world.
Ben Westhoff explores how this group of artists shifted the balance of hip-hop from New York to Los Angeles. He details how N.W.A.’s shocking success led to rivalries between members, record labels, and eventually a war between East Coast and West Coast factions. In the process, hip-hop burst into mainstream America at a time of immense social change, becoming the most dominant musical movement of the last thirty years. Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with principal players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, Original Gangstas is a groundbreaking addition to the history of popular music.
About the Author
Ben Westhoff is an acclaimed investigative journalist and author who spent over five years conducting extensive research and over one hundred exclusive face-to-face interviews with the key architects of the West Coast hip-hop movement. His rigorous, boots-on-the-ground reporting uncovers the definitive history behind America’s most influential musical era.
Core Audience & Intended Use
- Music Historians & Scholars: Researchers and academics seeking an authoritative, meticulously documented masterclass volume on the birth of West Coast reality rap.
- Hip-Hop Enthusiasts: Dedicated fans of N.W.A, Death Row Records, Tupac Shakur, and Snoop Dogg looking for an unflinching, behind-the-scenes account of the genre’s rise.
- Cultural Anthropologists: Readers examining the intersection of systemic social change, urban crack-cocaine economies, and the commercialization of street art.
Product Specifications
| Full Title | Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Ben Westhoff |
| Publisher & Imprint | Hachette Books |
| Publication Date | September 13, 2016 |
| Binding Format | Hardcover (HC) with Dust Jacket |
| Print Length | 416 Pages (Includes 16 pages of rare archival photographs) |
| Language | English |
| ISBN-13 / ISBN-10 | 9780316383899 / 0316383899 |
| Primary Genre (BISAC) | MUS012010 / MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Rap & Hip-Hop |
| Sub-Genres (BISAC) | BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Music; HISTORY / United States / State & Local / West; SOC026000 / SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies |
| Item Condition | Pre-Owned / Very Good |
| Dimensions & Weight | 6.38 x 1.38 x 9.50 inches | 21.6 oz (approx. 1.35 lbs) |
Frequently Asked Questions About Original Gangstas
Does this book rely entirely on old hip-hop magazine archives or fresh research?
It relies on an extraordinary amount of original, boots-on-the-ground investigative journalism. Author Ben Westhoff spent over five years conducting five key tracking loops containing over one hundred exclusive, face-to-face interviews with the movement’s main architects—including Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, D.O.C., Michel’le, and shock-row business associates—alongside scrupulous reviews of newly unsealed court registries and police records.
What is the main narrative hook and geographical setting driving the book?
The book serves as a definitive history of the birth and volatile explosion of West Coast reality rap. It maps out how a small, heavily policed, and economically extracted city like Compton, California, became the creative epicenter of global youth culture through the rise of N.W.A, tracking how local crack-cocaine economies inadvertently funded the early record labels that launched gangsta rap.
How does the biography handle the highly controversial legacy of Eazy-E?
The book provides a scrupulous, unvarnished, and incredibly empathetic portrait of Eric “Eazy-E” Wright. Rather than flattening him into a simple street caricature, Westhoff investigates his brilliant business intelligence as the true financial engine behind Ruthless Records, while completely unmasking internal financial betrayals, toxic contractual disputes, and his tragic, sudden passing from AIDS in 1995.
Does the text focus heavily on corporate music industry politics or the music itself?
It bridges both seamlessly, but its structural focus on the corporate warfare behind Death Row Records reads like a high-stakes true-crime thriller. The narrative traces how Dr. Dre’s sonic production genius collided with the extreme intimidation methods and legal maneuvers of Suge Knight, detailing how that toxic corporate culture ultimately siphoned off the creative energies of Tupac Shakur and sparked the fatal East Coast-West Coast war.
Who is the ideal target audience for this specific hardcover edition?
This is a vital masterclass volume for music historians, cultural anthropologists, and dedicated hip-hop enthusiasts. Because Westhoff refuses to deliver a sanitized public-relations piece—unflinchingly detailing severe domestic violence incidents, gang connections, and systemic media manipulation—it stands as an authoritative document on how raw street art transformed into a multi-billion-dollar global empire.
Condition Notice: Pre-Owned / Second-Hand Product
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Condition Details & Grading:
- Previous Ownership: These items have been previously owned, handled, and read. As such, copies may exhibit typical signs of shelf wear, including but not limited to minor creasing, scuffing, edge wear, bent page corners, remainder marks, or spine softening. Hardcover editions with dust jackets may show minor shelf rubbing, edge chipping, or laminate wear.
- Markings & Personalization: Items may occasionally contain inscriptions, library stamps, owner names, marginalia, or highlighting. Individual item descriptions reflect significant deviations from standard acceptable condition.
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