CBS This Morning's Gayle King on Monday cheered a film biography of the hip hop group N.W.A and the greater understanding it created of the controversial "F*** the Police" song. The co-host offered no tough questions for Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson) and his new movie Straight Outta Compton. King explained, "That song, 'F- the Police,' comes at a very crucial time in the movie."
She enthused, "And I think for many people who will see that for the first time, I think it will give them a different understanding of where that comes from. Can you talk about that?" Rather then even pretend to press Ice Cube, King played defense for him, adding, "By the same token, you're not painting the police all with the same brush either."
The rapper agreed, saying he would call the cops if trouble occurred:
ICE CUBE: No. I mean, I love good police. I mean, if somebody break in our house, we're going to call the police. You know, we're not calling the homies. I'm not calling my friends from the hood. You know, I'm calling the police. So it's not -- it's not -- it's not all cops.
King made no mention of how the biographical film left out the assault of a female journalist by N.W.A.'s Dr. Dre. One would think that a journalist would challenge this kind of violence against women:
According to a statement issued by [Dee] Barnes, Dre picked her up and “began slamming her face and the right side of her body repeatedly against a wall near the stairway” as his bodyguard held off the crowd. After Dre tried to throw her down the stairs and failed, he began kicking her in the ribs and hands. She escaped and ran into the women’s restroom. Dre followed her and “grabbed her from behind by the hair and proceeded to punch her in the back of the head.” Finally, Dre and his bodyguard ran from the building.
Instead, the co-host offered softballs such as this one: "You were friends starting out and you were creating music. You were creating what you loved doing. And what were you trying to say in the music?"
In a racially charged era, King didn't bother questioning the band's name: Niggaz Wit Attitudes.
Rather, she offered blurbs that could be on the movie poster, cheering, "I could sit here and go and on about that movie. I think it's something that everybody needs to see in terms of trying to understand the origination of where this music came from."
A partial transcript of the August 17 segment:
8:40
GAYLE KING: The movie Straight Outta Compton had a blowout weekend at the box office, grossing $56 million. It soared past Mission Impossible and The man from U.N.C.L.E. So, the movie tells the story of five friends who formed the hip hop group N.W.A. We spoke with one of the original members. That would be Ice Cube and his son who plays him in the movie. We met at Amoeba Records in Los Angeles over the weekend. For people that really don't know the history of NWA, I think we have to go back for just a second, because, you know, the thing that struck me about this movie is that you all were friends.
ICE CUBE: Yes.
KING: You were friends starting out and you were creating music. You were creating what you loved doing. And what were you trying to say in the music?
...
KING: N.W.A became hip hop pioneers, speaking to issues facing young black men in the Los Angeles community including strained relationships with the police.
[Clip of N.W.A.]
KING: Those provocative lyrics received so much attention and controversy that the FBI sent a warning letter to the group's warning label.
ICE CUBE: To us back then, the FBI was somebody you seen on TV. You know, the LAPD, Daryl Gates, those was the real villains, you know, that we thought we had to deal with, you know. So, we didn't take it as serious as our manager, record company. You know, they were freaked out. We were like, you know, pass the potato chips.
...
KING [To Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr.]: I love that your dad said he's proud of you. What does that mean to you? Some guys live their whole lives and never hear their fathers say, "son, I'm proud of you."
...
KING: That song, "F- the Police," comes at a very crucial time in the movie.
[Clip from Straight Outta Compton]
KING: And I think for many people who will see that for the first time, I think it will give them a different understanding of where that comes from. Can you talk about that?
ICE CUBE: That was the whole reason to do this movie. Everybody know the where. Everybody know the when. But not too many people know the why. Why do we do this type of music? And we wanted to show our environment forged N.W.A. And then N.W.A was effecting the environment. But the situation at the time was Daryl Gates, who was the chief of police, chief of the LAPD had declared a war on gangs. Now, to a law-abiding citizen, a war on gangs seems like a good idea.
KING: A good idea.
ICE CUBE: But if the cops think every single black, young male or brown, young male look like a gang banger, dress like a gang banger, well, now it's a war on young black males.
KING: That's the thing that struck me in the movie, for the first time I have to say. And the way that it's played coming out of that scene. And isn't it interesting that as we sit here in 2015, what we saw in the movie way back when still goes on today.
ICE CUBE: It's sad. You know, it's real sad. But, you know, it's been going on before us. This has been a constant in our history, and it's time to hold these officers, these officials accountable.
KING: But by the same token you're not painting the police all with the same brush either.
ICE CUBE: No. I mean, I love good police. I mean, if somebody break in our house, we're going to call the police. You know, we're not calling the homeys. I'm not calling my friends from the hood. You know, I'm calling the police. So it's not -- it's not -- it's not all cops.
KING: What's the greatest lesson, O'Shea, you've learned from your dad?
...
KING: When did you realize he wasn't like the other dads?
O'SHEA JACKSON: Early.
KING: Because a lot of kids do not think their parents are cool.
JACKSON: No, my dad's cool.
...
CLARISSA WARD: Have you seen it yet?
KING: I've seen it twice in one week.
WARD: Is it great?
KING: It is beyond – I could sit here and go and on about that movie. I think it's something that everybody needs to see in terms of trying to understand the origination of where this music came from.
