Noisey - Season 1 Episode 1

Compton was made famous by NWA's seminal album, Straight Outta Compton, which helped birth gangsta rap by documenting the volatile world of South Central Los Angeles in 1988. Now, the city is back in the spotlight thanks to Kendrick Lamar, whose music takes on many of the same issues that plagued Compton more than 20 years ago, including gangs and violence. In a documentary by VICE filmmaker Andy Capper, NOISEY correspondent Zach Goldbaum sits down with Kendrick and meets his friends, many of whom appear on the cover of his critically acclaimed album, To Pimp a Butterfly. Kendrick and the Piru gang members he grew up with give a candid portrait of life in Compton, helping show a deeper side to a group that society has written off.