Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap Audiobook (Free)

‘Natural, authoritative, and unflinching … An elaborately complete, darkly astonishing, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era.’

Kirkus, starred review

A monumental, uncovering narrative history about the legendary band of artists in the forefront of Western Coast hip-hop: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Snow Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur.

Amid growing gang violence, the split epidemic, and police brutality, several unlikely voices cut through the chaos of late 1980s Los Angeles: N.W.A. Led with a about Initial Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Snow Cube, Tupac Shakur, as well as the Delivery of West Coast Rap drug dealer, a glammed-up manufacturer, and a high school child, N.W.A gave tone of voice to disenfranchised African Americans across the country. Plus they quickly redefined pop lifestyle across the world. Their brands remain as popular as ever–Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Glaciers Cube. Dre shortly joined forces with Suge Knight to produce the combustible Loss of life Row Information, which in change changed Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur into superstars.

Ben Westhoff explores how this group of performers shifted the balance of hip-hop from New York to LA. He shows how N.W.A.’s shocking achievement result in rivalries between users, record labels, and finally a war between East Coastline and West Coast factions. In the process, hip-hop burst into mainstream America at the same time of immense public modification, and became one of the most prominent musical movement of the last thirty years. At gangsta rap’s top, two of its biggest names–Tupac and Biggie Smalls–were murdered, departing the surviving artists to forge serenity prior to the genre annihilated itself.

Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with the main players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, Original Gangstas is usually a groundbreaking addition to the annals of popular music.