Jerry Heller, the former manager of the NWA, has sued the producers of the hit rap movie Straight Outta Compton for defamation, alleging that the film misrepresented him and improperly exploited information from his autobiography. The lawsuit is seeking $110 million. N.W.A. was popularised by Jerry Heller.
That or he obliterated them. Depending on who you speak with. In this article, we are going to explore how the character of Heller, portrayed by actor Paul Giamatti, served as the catalyst for friction between Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and Dr. Dre in the film Straight Outta Compton.
Did Jerry Heller Actually Cheat N.W.A?
On March 3, 1987, Heller and Eazy-E were introduced in the headquarters of Macola Records, one of the key players in California’s independent rap movement, where performers would release their personal tracks and frequently sell the records from the trunks of their vehicles.
Macola Records was one of the foremost influential labels in the culture. World Class Wreckin’ Cru, a group that included Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and the rap group C.I.A, of which Ice Cube was a member, was managed by Alonzo Williams with the assistance of Heller in 1987. Williams arranged for Lorenzo Paterson, who arrived with Eazy-E, and Heller, to have a conversation.
The contention stems from claims made by Cube and Dr. Dre, who departed the group two years later, that Heller, in collusion with Ruthless’ owner Eazy-E, failed to provide them a fair economic advantage.
According to Ice Cube’s attorney Michael Ashburn, he just wasn’t being paid, which prevented him from staying with N.W.A. in 1991. He was no longer interacting with Jerry Heller.
Dre claimed that Eazy’s earnings were excessive and told Eazy that he wasn’t interested in him being part of his mix just before departing Ruthless.
Jerry Heller And Eazy-E (Credits: LADbible)
Heller grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where he was born. At the tender age of 19, after serving in the Army, he relocated to California.
Heller was fortunate that Rock and Roll was a young musical style and that he was able to land a job with a talent agent who worked with Hollywood actors toward the conclusion of their careers.
After several years in the industry, Heller established a solid reputation and worked with numerous of the biggest names in the industry.
The humiliation of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Cube by cops at their studio, which is credited as the inspiration for the song Fuck the Cops, is one of the moments that Heller, 75, alleges Straight Outta Compton stole from his 2006 memoir Reckless: A Memoir, which is named after the label he co-founded with E.
In addition to defamation, he asserts violations of copyright, tortious interference, misappropriation of likeness, and slander.
In the lawsuit, Heller, who seeks damages from Universal Studios, Legendary Pictures, director Gray, producers Cube and Dre, and others, claims neither she nor the other members of the group were to blame for the split of NWA nor for any disputes that resulted from her involvement.
But Heller’s case against N.W.A. fans continues even after his death. But it’s difficult to conclude that he merits this treatment. N.W.A became one of the most well-known and durable rap groups in history with his assistance, despite the fact that he couldn’t always be considered pleasant to get together with.
