Also: Japanese rappers, MCs comment on the film

Straight Outta Compton, the biopic of American rap group N.W.A., hits theaters in Japan on December 19, and that country's rap enthusiasts are getting excited. To honor the film, Santa Inoue (Tokyo Tribe) drew this artwork of N.W.A.

Inoue and various Japanese rappers have offered their thoughts on the upcoming film.

Inoue:

It's a long-awaited masterwork in the street film genre and also a success story of a group of friends.

K Dub Shine (Detroit Metal City):

You hear it in real time, and you know how it goes, but when you see the story reproduced on film, the excitement of that time comes back, and not just the nostalgia, that era's passion is revived.

Zen-La-Rock (Space Dandy):

This might be a maniac viewpoint, but the detail throughout is amazing! And the scene where Dre chooses two records while practicing at his friend's house and performs a routine... And Ice Cube is played by his son! Yep, it's a classic.

Shinpeita (his response was originally rapped, but this does not come through in translation):

This is Shinpeita, and Straight Outta Compton is the best!! It's so great, I made up some lines!! Respect for how unshakeable Dre and Cube and Eazy are | Dre chews an apple and smiles | What am I doing, I'm doing my best

R-Shitei:

The legends were scolded by their moms and got nervous at their first recording just like the rest of us... The charging-up of hip-hop's early impulses is complete! And I kept crying over Eazy-E!

President, Soil & "Pimp" Sessions (Michiko & Hatchin):

N.W.A. was born in Compton but shook all of America. It's a sound with the absolute strength that only those with firm conviction could produce. It showed this superbly, and the two hours were gone before I knew it.

Anarchy:

I really looked forward to this movie from the trailer. There are many movies about hip-hop, but learning the real story of N.W.A. was very special to me, and I'll bet all who like hip-hop are dying to see it. It's not just about learning your roots — it moved me, and made me feel that this was a real hip-hop group. It's a work I'd really like people who don't listen to hip-hop to see as well.

Hannya:

I've listened to them since age 17. I've listened to them even while training. N.W.A. was the first one-man concert background music. I've got their T-shirts too, of course. I'm going to the theater to see it once again. I'm doing my hair like Eazy-E's.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip!

[Via Eiga Natalie]