THE CULTURE NEWS

LOS ANGELES - "Straight Outta Compton" may take place more than two decades ago, but its themes of racial tension, poverty, and police brutality still speak to moviegoers living in a post-Ferguson world. The biopic about rap group N.W.A. debuted to a blistering $56.1 million this weekend in 2,757 theaters, surpassing "American Pie 2" to become the biggest ever August debut for an R-rated movie. It's the kind of opening usually reserved for so-called "tentpole movies" that tra

On Thursday night, Los Angeles rap kingmaker Dr. Dre unveils his first album in 16 years. Called “Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre,” the 16-track record is inspired by the highly anticipated N.W.A movie “Straight Outta Compton,” which hits theaters Aug. 14. Fans will first get a chance to hear the album via Apple Music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., when it streams in its entirety before being released to the public soon thereafter. The multi-platinum artist, producer, label chief a

Rap mogul Dr. Dre will release his first album in nearly 16 years to accompany a film on his former band N.W.A. and has hinted the record will be his last. Dr. Dre - who has become one of music's richest businesspeople and works with Apple - said the album would come out on August 7, a week before the biopic 'Straight Outta Compton' opens in US cinemas. The album will feature collaborations with his protege Eminem, former N.W.A. bandmate Ice Cube and fellow Los Angeles-area r