Straight Outta Compton (2015)

What was once known as the Music Business was represented in last night's screening of Straight Outta Compton (2015). Artist manager Jerry Heller was there, as was Bryan Turner (Priority Records) and Suge Knight (Death Row Records). Think that was Seymour Stein (Sire Records) who turned to Heller during N.W.A.'s Skateland gig and said, "If this was happening in Queens, then yes," before walking out.

Someone I had hoped to see and hear more of (was she among the many nameless women in the  background of this picture?) was singer/songwriter Miche'le. Absent altogether was Priority Record's former Vice-President Alyssa Pisano, who pioneered what came to be known as the "street campaign," a form of record promotion that contributed to the rise of a genre (rap) that, unlike the grunge of contemporaneous bands Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, did not have the benefit of commercial radio play.