Dope Is “Streets of Rage” Meets “N.W.A.”

I think it’s important that I state off the bat that the movie Dope is not, I repeat, IS NOT “Dear White People.” There, you can rest easy for the rest of the review now. I saw this movie opening day with my friend Sergio and the diversity of the audience in the theater was welcoming (although the old white people there surprised me a bit), but seeing so many black folk and people of color packed in for this movie gave this comforting feeling that this film’s atmosphere would be so black. Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, Dope delivered with interest. The film centers around high-school seniors Malcolm Adekanbi (Shameik Moore) and friends Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) and Jib (Tony Revolori). We get the run down that they’re big into 90’s hip-hop and fashion, and things that would be qualified as white shit — things like “punk rock, skateboards, comic-books, and Donald Glover”, meaning they got that nerd stamp on them hard. The neighborhood is Inglewood, California, aka “The Bottoms,” [quote_right]we see the use of hood politics to cover geopolitics[/quote_right]and we see getting your kicks or your bike ran might be considered a good day considering how losing your life can happen instantly. We’re introduced to the woman of Malcolm’s affection, Nakia (Zoë Kravitz), and when he gets an invite to Dom’s (A$AP Rocky) party the norms of his life become a whole ‘nother monster.

Malcolm Adekanbi is the fanboy’s Everyman (Everyfanboy?) — this guy is easily Kamala Khan or Miles Morales in th…