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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
- Narrated by: J.D. Jackson
- Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins
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Original Gangstas
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Publisher's Summary
"Raw, authoritative, and unflinching ... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era."—Kirkus, starred review
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 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.
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.
Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with the principal players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, Original Gangstas is a groundbreaking addition to the history of popular music.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Critic Reviews
"I trust Ben Westhoff. I trust him to report a story and I trust him to tell a story, and that's exactly what he's done here in Original Gangstas. He's taken what's always felt like an almost impossibly knotted string of storylines and plot points in gangsta rap, the most turbulent version of the most popular music on the planet, and turned them into an airtight and unflinching book. Original Gangstas is as resolute as the people and ideas it sets out to profile, and that is no small feat."—Shea Serrano, New York Times bestselling author of The Rap Year Book
"Scrupulously researched with many incisive revelations, this may be the best book ever written about the hip hop world."—S. Leigh Savidge, Academy Award nominee and co-writer of Straight Outta Compton
"A provocative, multifaceted portrait of essential rap pioneers who ushered the hip-hop music scene to greatness.... As raw, authoritative, and unflinching as the music his narrative chronicles, Westhoff comprehensively uncovers the factual roots of the gangsta rap movement and admirably credits those whose footprints paved the way for the younger rappers emerging today.... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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What listeners say about Original Gangstas
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- guyzilla
- 19-02-17
Very Informative and well told
Originally I purchased this because I searched for keyword "Tupac" this was in the results and sounded like it was a good listen for my drive to work. it turned out to be a great story and very informative.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- herb
- 28-11-16
Excellent, rap needs more of these!
Would you listen to Original Gangstas again? Why?
Yes I would, there was so much information to absorb, but it was never overbearing. History and facts are abundant
Who was your favorite character and why?
Eazy-E was my first favorite rapper so I suppose you could say he was! Wish there was more on him but Ben did an excellent job of covering him.
Which character – as performed by JD Jackson – was your favorite?
JD did a great job with the reading and I feel like his portrayal of Ice T was the most convincing
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Sure, but I'd probably take breaks to listen to the music the book talks about
Any additional comments?
The only criticism I could levy against this book is that it sometimes jumps ahead of itself, talking about things before they happen (in the context of the book) but otherwise this was a fantastic read and I am most impressed by the writers ability to tie in so many different characters so flawlessly! I've purchased 54 books on audible & this may be the best one yet!
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hi
- 10-03-18
I am a metal head and this book is great.
I didn't have high hopes for myself to like it. I am mostly a huge heavy metal person. I learned so much I feel I deserve street credit. But to be serious it was a great book might even listen to it again soon.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christina Hernandez
- 06-02-19
Reliving a moment in time
Great narration, took me back to the moment. Back to the time. Just as I remember it. I will be listening to this often. RIP Eazy, Pac, Biggie and the rest of the people who created the best music in my lifetime.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shedrick Brown
- 15-02-17
A must listen for fans of hip hop and rap
Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish!! It will make you go back and listen to the classic west coast rap sings you've enjoyed for decades now, but with a better understanding of the lyrics music and production behind them. Great job by the author
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- San
- 09-01-17
Very great
I this was a great book. The author did great job in researching and telling the story. I recommend this book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- mr shy!
- 23-10-16
Great read
Great audio book, so much information that I did not know, during certain eras in hip hop.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kevin H.
- 20-04-23
Detailed and attention grabbing!
There are so many topics in this book; it is a great history of gangsta rap. I grew up on the West Coast for the most part, and listened to a lot of the music written about here in this book. Lots of details I did not know despite following the careers of these men for a long time. It literally goes through the entire history. Great read!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- TeddyDog
- 05-02-23
So Where's Ren ?
This is a quibble admittedly but I bought 'Straight Outta Compton' on its release and it blew me away like it did the rest of young white America. In the thousand or so spins the cool and menacing rhymes of MC Ren were the high point for me and yet he never seems to merit much more than a footnote in books and films about Gangsta Rap and this book is no exception. Like I said it's a quibble but I hope Ren eventually gets the recognition and respect he deserves for his inimitable rhymes. Otherwise this is both in depth and fast paced and very highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew
- 08-12-22
A must for any hip hop fan
so much better than a Hollywood wash over. If you love NWA, or Stright Out of Compton, you must hear this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PMeehan
- 25-09-18
Possibily the most well-researched book I've read
Ben Westhoff manages to present two decades (and more) worth of testinmonies, inside storys, interviews and lives into a staggeringly detailed and engrossing timeline of the emergence, rise and fall of gangsta rap in South Central Los Angeles and beyond.
This isn't just 'the inside story', this is 'inside the inside story', with details that not even the most ardent of hip-hop fan would know about.
Charting the details of many players including Ice Cube, Dr Dre, Eazy E, Tupac Shakur, Suge Knight and hundreds of other rappers, lawyers, personalities, hangers-on and money-grabbers.
I don't think I will read another book as well-researched, engrossing, captivating and historically accurate as this book.
In my experience, the best narrators give you the story without adding their distracting flair, and JD Jackson provides exactly that, with a few attempts at impressions during quotes which add a bit of variety to the narrative.
A MUST-READ for anyone with even the a vague interest in rap and hip-hop.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Scott
- 24-01-20
This is the absolute best breakdown of the history of gangsta rap.
This book from the perspective of myself who is around for the early years I am now in my mid 30s, but grew up in the 90s
What I highly recommend doing is as each song track et cetera it’s mentioned refer yourself to Spotify or Apple Music for the briefest Moment and listen to that song before continuing the book. It extends upon and brings immense detail into the story and the things that are referenced.
I have learned a great deal upon this lesson I would highly recommend it to anyone who are not only fans of the fathers of the genre but to simply those who want to understand more about these days of the music industry.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr B L T
- 22-03-23
Very informative and interesting
Really enjoyed this audiobook, it seems very well researched and have a good insight into the history of west coast hip hop
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. J. Nicholson
- 25-01-23
Very enjoyable read
I'm a big hip hop fan and over the years have picked up a fair amount of knowledge about this era. However, this was still a very good listen and such a well researched and well written book. Very much caught the characters, the context and the real heart and soul of these times. Brought back some great memories and some sad heartbreaks.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chris B
- 11-11-22
gangsta rap
huge NWA and 2pac fan, really enjoyed this book, very well done. RIP Eazy E and 2pac, died way too young, you are missed very much
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 15-06-22
Enjoyable listen
As much as some of what’s in this book is already public knowledge, the author reveals some stuff that is unknown which is good. It’s well read and keeps you involved in the story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Drew
- 07-04-22
Great 👍🏼
This really was interesting and made me want to listen to more as the story progressed.The most interesting for me was the section on 2Pac👍🏼
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jackie
- 04-04-22
really good read
This book is first rate informative, insightful and, as strangely as it may sound given the subject matter, an enjoyable to read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- neil stafford
- 23-02-22
By far the best book, covering every angle of the genre, and the best history lesson I have had on the subject!!!
As a teenager growing up just outside London, UK, I still remember my mate playing me this tape he said I had to here. Ice T, that was my introduction and I was instantly hooked and still am too this day. The book gives just the right amount of detail on every subject it covers and taught me so many things I didn’t know on the WHOLE story. 35 years later from my first listen to ICE T, I am still a huge fan of all forms of Rap and Hip Hop, across the board.
This has rubbed off on my son fortunately and as soon as Straight out of Compton was released at the cinema, we went and watched it together!
The book is a solid 10/10
Also. I listened via Audible and a note of respect to the narrator, as well as the author and anyone involved behind the scenes, fantastic work.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Guni Dio Hannes
- 24-08-21
amazing story and amazingly detailed.
A must for any hip hop enthusiast!!!
so many details and stories you wouldn't imagine
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Camo
- 29-05-17
Great book
Very comprehensive, great and a pleasure to listen to. Lots of unknown facts and gives a very good understanding of historic events
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 08-01-23
Awesome Book!
Fantastic audio book. Well written & narrated, with a heap of info and facts that I never previously knew. Highly recommended to anyone if your Rap lover!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brendan
- 16-02-22
So much more information than we know
I learned so much from this after thinking I already had all the info. Little did I know that what I knew was only surface information. The only issue I had with the performance was some of the pronunciation of names. I just thought, we know the names from the songs, have you heard them? However, it did sound like the reader had to do some research or already knew a lot. It was just the mispronunciation that did my head in, but I'm weird like that.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- troy davis
- 07-11-20
must if you love gangsta rap
good read everything you need to know about the world of gangsta rap and more
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Peter McDermott
- 30-07-18
Brilliant, interesting, riveting.
Brilliantly written and researched, Ben Westhoff interweaves a complex story that begins with the forming of NWA and ends with the death of Tupac. The book delves into the context of the time both for the rappers and the USA at large, and does not shy away from the problematic, particularly regarding misogyny. Highly recommended, I hope Westhoff does a book about the east coast next.
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