W.T.C. writer joins biopic about seminal rap group N.W.A.

THR reports that Andrea Berloff, who penned Oliver Stone’s filmed dramatization World Trade Center, has been tapped to write a script for a biopic telling the story of West Coast rap group N.W.A.

The film is called Straight Outta Compton and will tell the tale of the rise and fall of Compton, California’s Niggas With Attitude, whose members included former drug dealer Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella.

Another member, Arabian Prince, left N.W.A. before the group released the ground-breaking Straight Outta Compton album in 1988. The album sold 9 million units, and featured the title track, the now iconic Fuck tha Police and other tracks.

All grappled with violence, as well as charges of anti-Semitism, homophobia, and infighting. Co-founder Ice Cube left the group in 1990 over royalty disputes, and began a ground-breaking solo career, punctuated by the legendary album Death Certificate. Dr. Dre later left over similar financial disputes.

Founder Eazy-E’s death from an AIDS-related illness, changed the paths of the ex-members, with Cube launching a successful career as an actor and producer, and Dre becoming a top music producer.

Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez will produce Straight Outta Compton through their shingle Cube Vision, along with Eazy-E’s widow, Tomica Woods.

Berloff is developing an adaptation of Mark Bowden’s book Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America’s War With Militant Islam, about the Iran hostage crisis of 1979, for HBO.