'Straight Outta Compton' actors hope to inspire new generation of N.W.A fans

LOS ANGELES -- A trio of young, unknown actors bonded on the set of the movie "Straight Outta Compton," in which the newcomers play founders of the iconic rap group N.W.A.

All three said it was both daunting and helpful to have Dr. Dre and Ice Cube on the set to guide them.

"You better use that gift that you got because in a lot of these films that are done based on past artists, they're usually gone, so you better use that to your advantage to make sure you get yourself a golden movie," O'shea Jackson Jr. said.

Jackson plays Ice Cube, who is his father in real life. Corey Hawkins takes on the role of Dr. Dre. Jason Mitchell plays Eazy-E.

In the early, racially-charged beginnings of gangsta rap, the trio knows they are touching on a hot topic that transcends into today's world.

But the three remain hopeful that things will get better.

"It was relevant then and it's relevant now. But we want to inspire people. We want to inspire people our age and younger than us, our generation, who didn't necessarily grow up with the vinyls...we want to inspire them to speak up and use their art," Hawkins said.

"Straight Outta Compton" is in theaters nationwide.