By assembling a stellar cast and pulling no punches in his account of N.W.A.'s life and times, director F. Gary Gray presents a full-spectrum vision of the world's most dangerous group. Filled with music, both from N.W.A.'s now-classic catalogue and the artists that influenced its creation, the film is built on a propulsive sense of rhythm. Every hit song, and indeed each member of the group, is given its due time to shine. At 147 minutes, these moments do add up a bit, especially in the grimmer final hour, but ultimately the time spent feels worthwhile and well-deserved.

Only occasionally does the movie seem heavy-handed in its tie-ins to the subjects' current business endeavors, for the most part it is a sharply-observed, respectful take on their collective rise to fame. Made abundantly clear are the rappers' motivations for their militaristic reaction to law enforcement, raised in a setting where police could be as unfeeling as the gangs they're meant to counteract. This sense of defiance in the face of injustice is personified by the five lead actors, three of which deliver star-making turns.

O'Shea Jackson Jr. plays father Ice Cube with uncanny mannerisms in addition to being his spitting image. Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre is the belabored genius and brains behind the operation, ultimately running afoul of the deranged Suge Knight. Stealing the show, though is Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E, who, as the emotional barometer of the film, commands several tough scenes ranging from hilarious to heart-rending. Of course Paul Giamatti is great as sleazy manager Jerry Heller, while a handful of technically masterful tracking shots have a mesmerizing, immersive effect. In all, the group is done total justice with this treatment, resulting in a top-tier music biopic that should signal a demand for more like it.

Final Grade: B+ | 88/100 | ★★★½