22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Compelling Read, September 20, 2006
This review is from: Ruthless: A Memoir (Hardcover)
I have to admit, that when I first heard that Jerry Heller was writing a book about the Ruthless Records History, I was a little suspicious that the book would have something of a tabloid-esque, payback tonality to it. After all, any of us who followed the Ruthless chronicles in its entirety, knows well the verbal beating that Jerry Heller took after the break-up of NWA. His flogging seemed inevitable since most of Urban America, if not the world, was deeply dissapointed when Ice Cube left the group. So it was easy to jump on the "Jerk Jerry" band wagon when Cube pointed the finger at him. Then Dre pointed the finger. I even remember hearing the word "Draconian" being used in regards to the contracts the group shared.
Finally, and after a decade, Jerry Heller stands up to tell his side of things. Despite my suspicion, I was impressed to discover that book isn't nearly as bitter as I had anticipated. "Memoir" is an accurate term used in the books sub-title, as there's an obvious emotional undercurrent about the friendship that existed between Eazy-E and Heller. This friendship, severed by Eazy's death, takes on a documentary voice as Heller takes it all the way to the beginning. First, he gives us a brief account of his own life before he met Eazy. His pre-Eazy story helps underscore just how improbable their "dynamic duo" alliance really was. It also gives you a glimpse of just how much Jerry Heller evolved from having been in Eazy's company for years. Every good story involves change and evolution from experience and introspection, and that's something of how Heller as a "character" in this Memoir presents himself.
But perhaps what is even more urgent than appreciating the bond between Heller and Eazy is someone FINALLY bringing to the immediate foreground the indisputable importance that was NWA and "Straight Outta Compton." Somewhere in the beginning of the book, Heller mentions how Chris Rock noted "Straight Outta Compton" as the single most important album of all time. I vividly remember when I encountered this same article in Rolling Stones, because I felt a sudden relief that finally someone of significant celebrity had finally taken the Torch that everybody has given "The Chronic" and handed it to the rightful pioneer project: Straight Outta Compton. Anybody who witnessed the advent of NWA and how it changed the entire social and political climate of America knows what I'm talking about.
After NWA controversy became fashionable. Everybody, including Tupac & The Geto Boys, sought out controversey either through more explicitly told ghetto stories, or just plain explicitness and then defended it with the "I'm just kicking reality" - a signature mantra of NWA. "The Chronic" was a great album, but it was really just a smoother sequel to what Dre had already started with "Straight Outta Compton," and "Eazy Duz it."
This book finally offers people like me 300+ pages of WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW descriptions of NWA.
Not to be missed are pages 98-100, where Heller gives a tell-all account of Eazy, Dre, Yella and Heller being harrassed by the police while hanging in front of THEIR recording studio during a break. Actually, let me correct myself. Heller stood on the sidelines and protested in awe as the police completely excused him from the routine pat-down administered to the other three. As a black man who has many white friends, I will be the first to say that whites often dismiss and refuse to believe that the police are that selective in singling out young black men. That's what made "F--- tha Police" such a potent and prophetic song. Heller's story serves to validate it.
The book does have a somewhat sour beginning, specifically when Jerry attempts to brand himself with the "N" word. A move that wasn't so much offensive as it was pretentious. Even if he is as anti-establishment as he claims, turning the "N" Word into a self-given fashion emblem is a temptation (and embarrassment) he should have avoided.
Another unfortunate part of this book, and I'm not sure if this is a reflection on the book or just the reported history of the author, is that you can't help but feel suspicious of how much of the story has been slightly twisted to simply un-do all that has been said in the past about Heller and Eazy. At times, you can sense the indulgence to over-romanticize an obvious "Father and Son" story, but hey, maybe it really was that way. And if not, I suppose all that matters is that it geuninely seemed that way to Heller.
Eitherway, if there is truly two-sides to every story, then here we have at last a little light shed on the alleged "darker side" that was the backbone of Ruthless Records. If nothing else, Heller is probably one of a small few who make up the short list entitled to tell Eazy's and the Ruthless story.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this book, August 29, 2006
This review is from: Ruthless: A Memoir (Hardcover)
The book read like a novel which was interesting for a biography and surprisingly fun. It was not your basic "this is where I grew up; this is how great I am, this is what I'm doing now" biography. It was a look into two men's (Eazy-E and Jerry Heller) vision and the story of how they turned that vision into reality. It was almost inspiring to see how a 21 year old reputed dope dealer and a 40 year old Jewish man could team up to create one of the most powerful record labels ever and forever change the landscape of music. By far the best part of this book was how well they articulated the craziness that was omnipresent at Ruthless. Beat downs, guns, drugs, full blown war and kidnapping plots were everyday business for these thugs/businessmen/rappers.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
