{"product_id":"original-gangstas-tupac-shakur-dr-dre-eazy-e-ice-cube-and-the-birth-of-west-coast-rap-9780316344852","title":"Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"Raw, authoritative, and unflinching ... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era.\" -- \u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003eA 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.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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 they quickly redefined pop culture across the world. Their names remain as popular as ever -- Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. Dre soon joined forces with Suge Knight to create the combustible Death Row Records, which in turn transformed Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur into superstars. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Ben Westhoff explores how this group of artists shifted the balance of hip-hop from New York to Los Angeles. He shows how N.W.A.'s shocking success lead 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, and became the most dominant musical movement of the last thirty years. At gangsta rap's peak, two of its biggest names -- Tupac and Biggie Smalls -- were murdered, leaving the surviving artists to forge peace before the genre annihilated itself. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with the principal players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, \u003ci\u003eOriginal Gangstas\u003c\/i\u003e is a groundbreaking addition to the history of popular music.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Hachette Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/16\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780316344852\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 432\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.90h x 5.90w x 1.20d","brand":"Ben Westhoff","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36636224979100,"sku":"9780316344852","price":18.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_adc4e861-43b1-4770-b0cb-097525320f0c.jpg?v=1603841307","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/original-gangstas-tupac-shakur-dr-dre-eazy-e-ice-cube-and-the-birth-of-west-coast-rap-9780316344852","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}