--- product_id: 258188289 title: "Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap" price: "AED 178" currency: AED in_stock: true reviews_count: 5 url: https://www.desertcart.ae/products/258188289-original-gangstas-tupac-shakur-dr-dre-eazy-e-ice-cube store_origin: AE region: United Arab Emirates --- # 406 reviews, 4.7⭐ avg 540 grams, premium hardcover weight Exclusive interviews & untold stories Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap **Price:** AED 178 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🎤 Own the untold story of hip-hop’s game changers! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap - **How much does it cost?** AED 178 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ae](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/258188289-original-gangstas-tupac-shakur-dr-dre-eazy-e-ice-cube) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Critically Acclaimed:** Starred Kirkus review and 4.7/5 customer rating prove its authoritative voice. - • **Cultural Shift Explored:** Understand how LA artists reshaped global pop culture and music. - • **Exclusive Insider Access:** Featuring rare interviews and never-before-told stories from hip-hop legends. - • **Definitive West Coast Rap History:** Dive deep into the rise of N.W.A and the birth of gangsta rap culture. - • **Perfect Gift for Millennial Hip-Hop Fans:** A must-have collectible for anyone passionate about music history and social change. ## Overview Original Gangstas is a meticulously researched, 540-gram hardcover book chronicling the explosive rise of West Coast gangsta rap through the lens of N.W.A and its iconic members. With over 400 rave reviews and exclusive interviews, it reveals the social upheaval and cultural revolution that transformed hip-hop into a global phenomenon. ## Description "Raw, authoritative, and unflinching ... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era." -- Kirkus , starred review A monumental, revealing narrative history about the legendary group of artists at the forefront of West Coast hip-hop: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Amid rising gang violence, the crack epidemic, and police brutality, a group of unlikely voices cut through the chaos of late 1980s Los Angeles: N.W.A. Led by a drug dealer, a glammed-up producer, and a high school kid, N.W.A gave voice to disenfranchised African Americans across the country. And they quickly redefined pop culture across the world. Their names remain as popular as ever -- Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. Dre soon joined forces with Suge Knight to create the combustible Death Row Records, which in turn transformed Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur into superstars. Ben Westhoff explores how this group of artists shifted the balance of hip-hop from New York to Los Angeles. He shows how N.W.A.'s shocking success lead to rivalries between members, record labels, and eventually a war between East Coast and West Coast factions. In the process, hip-hop burst into mainstream America at a time of immense social change, and became the most dominant musical movement of the last thirty years. At gangsta rap's peak, two of its biggest names -- Tupac and Biggie Smalls -- were murdered, leaving the surviving artists to forge peace before the genre annihilated itself. Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with the principal players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, Original Gangstas is a groundbreaking addition to the history of popular music. Review: very fun read - exactly the kind of extra info and facts I was looking for. A good read, would recommend to anyone interested in this music and genre Review: Gift for my son. He liked it. - As described ## Features - Item Trademark: HACHETTE BOOKS - manufacturer: Hachette Books - Item Weight: grams, pounds, 1.19049621480, 540. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 406 Reviews | ## Images ![Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81EyKUIRcUL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ very fun read *by T***N on 26 September 2018* exactly the kind of extra info and facts I was looking for. A good read, would recommend to anyone interested in this music and genre ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gift for my son. He liked it. *by M***L on 29 September 2018* As described ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Greatest Hip-Hop Book of All Time *by B***N on 13 October 2016* Mr. Westhoff's latest installment of hip-hop lore, Ben tackles the behemotic tangled mess that is the origins of rap culture in the West. While the recent film Straight Out of Compton revived intrigue in the mysterious story of NWA and West Coast rap, it did not do complete justice to the truth nor had a concrete foundation of detail. There was much left to be desired. Much of what is known of West Coast hip-hop is left to anecdotal accounts or interviews by those who were in the circle of NWA, Tupac, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, etc. Many of those who pioneered rap culture in the West are not alive today. Mr. Westhoff's incredible research, which took a number of years, digs down deep and gets to the truth and dispels the myths. We learn the nitty gritty details of the personal lives of NWA, Tupac, Eazy-E, Ice-Cube, etc. We discover connections between rap groups that were otherwise unknown. Ben also addresses the social and political turmoil of the time with excellent commentary. There is no other book, nor documentary around currently that is as descriptive and as detailed as this book. There is so much detail that it feels as if you are there with the rap icons themselves. This is what journalism is about, and Mr. Westhoff slams it out of the park. Ben sets an example for how journalism should be done. I don't want to spoil the book, but I wish it were longer! I would not be surprised if someday in the far future this book becomes required reading in a college class for the Studies of Hip-Hop Culture. EVERY FAN OF HIP-HOP MUST HAVE THIS BOOK IN THEIR COLLECTION! --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ae/products/258188289-original-gangstas-tupac-shakur-dr-dre-eazy-e-ice-cube](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/258188289-original-gangstas-tupac-shakur-dr-dre-eazy-e-ice-cube) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Arab Emirates* *Store origin: AE* *Last updated: 2026-07-26*