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Once Upon a Time in Compton
From gangsta rap to gang wars and everything in between....
Former Compton police officers Tim Brennan and Robert Ladd have seen it all....
And now, they're telling all....
For 20 years, gang unit detectives Tim Brennan and Robert Ladd patrolled the streets of Compton. They witnessed the birth and rise of gangsta rap with acts they knew personally, such as N.W.A and D.J. Quik; dealt firsthand with the chaos of the L.A. riots, its aftermath, and the gang truce that followed; were involved in the investigations of the murders of hip-hop stars Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., and were major players in an all-out tug-of-war with City Hall that ultimately resulted in the permanent shut-down of the Compton Police Department.
Through it all, they developed an intricate knowledge of gangs and the streets and a methodology that has been implemented by local law enforcement agencies across the country. Their compassionate and fair approach to community policing earned them the respect of citizens and gangbangers alike.
This story - told with best-selling author Lolita Files, whose research with Brennan and Ladd has spanned over four years - is a firsthand glimpse into a world during an era many have heard about in song and legend, but have rarely had the opportunity to witness at ground level, from the inside out, through the eyes of two men who witnessed and experienced it all.
Former Compton police officers Tim Brennan and Robert Ladd have seen it all....
And now, they're telling all....
For 20 years, gang unit detectives Tim Brennan and Robert Ladd patrolled the streets of Compton. They witnessed the birth and rise of gangsta rap with acts they knew personally, such as N.W.A and D.J. Quik; dealt firsthand with the chaos of the L.A. riots, its aftermath, and the gang truce that followed; were involved in the investigations of the murders of hip-hop stars Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., and were major players in an all-out tug-of-war with City Hall that ultimately resulted in the permanent shut-down of the Compton Police Department.
Through it all, they developed an intricate knowledge of gangs and the streets and a methodology that has been implemented by local law enforcement agencies across the country. Their compassionate and fair approach to community policing earned them the respect of citizens and gangbangers alike.
This story - told with best-selling author Lolita Files, whose research with Brennan and Ladd has spanned over four years - is a firsthand glimpse into a world during an era many have heard about in song and legend, but have rarely had the opportunity to witness at ground level, from the inside out, through the eyes of two men who witnessed and experienced it all.
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Published March 12, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 8, 2018
One of my first thoughts when I picked up “Once Upon a Time in Compton” was that it’s going to be pretty hard to mess this book up. It’s got larger than life gangsters, cops trying to clean up the streets, drugs, violence, and the murders of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG.
My final thought when I put this down for the final time was…how did they mess this up?
To be fair, it’s not a bad book. There are some very interesting insights into Compton in the 80’s and 90’s, what it was before the White flight and what it became after the Watts riots. Equally interesting to see how gangs proliferated so quickly and how their original purpose of self defense (mostly from cops) morphed into sthe violence and drugs so prevalent in today’s gangs,
I enjoyed that part of the book.
The main issue for me however is the writing. I can overlook less than stellar writing in most cases where the author has something interesting to say but here, the writing was so choppy and repetitive that it became a major distraction.
The voice narrating this book (someone named Lolita Files who from what I can gather is some kind of blogger?) is a kind of third person describing the careers of officers Tim Brennan and Robert Ladd on the streets of Compton. She refers to them throughout the book by their first names, repeatedly beginning and ending sentences with “Tim and Bob…”
I wasn’t in danger of forgetting who the protagonists here are but Lolita Files makes sure to remind me every half page or so.
Here is one egregious example:
“Tim and Bob remain saddened by it all. Perhaps, nearly two decades later, there were regrets on both sides. Several of Tim and Bob’s peers blame them and the others in the union for Compton P.D.’s fall. While their feelings were understandable, Tim and Bob, at that time, felt they needed to do something and believed what they were doing was the right thing. To this day, they still do.”
I’m not a writer but perhaps mixing in a few more pronouns would make this sentence a little easier to read.
This sentence also highlights the other issue I had with this book in that “Tim and Bob” are portrayed here like superheroes straight out of a comic book. They literally can do no wrong.
They are respected by gangsters who when apprehended will only talk them instead of other detectives (they make a point of saying how many cases went unsolved because of the egos of other detectives who were jealous of their street cred).
This issue of street credit and respect is one they hammer home repeatedly. In particular, the story of Compton rapper DJ Quik writing a song about one of the officers is one that we are reminded of often.
They also know more about gang members than anyone else (this is repeated early and often again, in case you forgot).
And yeah, L.A. County sheriffs need to get out of the way and let them do their job unfettered by pencil pushers and guys who don’t know about gangs like they do.
I’m sure these are earnest guys. From reading the book, I believe they sincerely wanted to clean up the streets as best they could. However, I think their egos often blind them to their own issues.
In a section about infighting between them and the mayor of L.A. for example, the two detectives refuse to back down from a battle with the mayor over a variety of issues, leading to some small petty and grandstanding stunts that eventually lead to the Compton PD being absorbed into the L.A. County sheriffs jurisdiction.
They blame everyone for the dissolution of the department but are unwilling to take any blame for it themselves.
In the end, the two officers are so busy talking about how respected and hard they are that they lose sight of the bigger picture, the lives affected by their intransigence and egos.
Perhaps one of the more difficult balancing acts in a book like this to make your subject matter shine brighter than yourself. To resist the urge to put yourself front and center and let the events speak for themselves.
Considering what material this book had to work with, that could have resulted in a fascinating book. More is the pity that it didn’t.
My final thought when I put this down for the final time was…how did they mess this up?
To be fair, it’s not a bad book. There are some very interesting insights into Compton in the 80’s and 90’s, what it was before the White flight and what it became after the Watts riots. Equally interesting to see how gangs proliferated so quickly and how their original purpose of self defense (mostly from cops) morphed into sthe violence and drugs so prevalent in today’s gangs,
I enjoyed that part of the book.
The main issue for me however is the writing. I can overlook less than stellar writing in most cases where the author has something interesting to say but here, the writing was so choppy and repetitive that it became a major distraction.
The voice narrating this book (someone named Lolita Files who from what I can gather is some kind of blogger?) is a kind of third person describing the careers of officers Tim Brennan and Robert Ladd on the streets of Compton. She refers to them throughout the book by their first names, repeatedly beginning and ending sentences with “Tim and Bob…”
I wasn’t in danger of forgetting who the protagonists here are but Lolita Files makes sure to remind me every half page or so.
Here is one egregious example:
“Tim and Bob remain saddened by it all. Perhaps, nearly two decades later, there were regrets on both sides. Several of Tim and Bob’s peers blame them and the others in the union for Compton P.D.’s fall. While their feelings were understandable, Tim and Bob, at that time, felt they needed to do something and believed what they were doing was the right thing. To this day, they still do.”
I’m not a writer but perhaps mixing in a few more pronouns would make this sentence a little easier to read.
This sentence also highlights the other issue I had with this book in that “Tim and Bob” are portrayed here like superheroes straight out of a comic book. They literally can do no wrong.
They are respected by gangsters who when apprehended will only talk them instead of other detectives (they make a point of saying how many cases went unsolved because of the egos of other detectives who were jealous of their street cred).
This issue of street credit and respect is one they hammer home repeatedly. In particular, the story of Compton rapper DJ Quik writing a song about one of the officers is one that we are reminded of often.
They also know more about gang members than anyone else (this is repeated early and often again, in case you forgot).
And yeah, L.A. County sheriffs need to get out of the way and let them do their job unfettered by pencil pushers and guys who don’t know about gangs like they do.
I’m sure these are earnest guys. From reading the book, I believe they sincerely wanted to clean up the streets as best they could. However, I think their egos often blind them to their own issues.
In a section about infighting between them and the mayor of L.A. for example, the two detectives refuse to back down from a battle with the mayor over a variety of issues, leading to some small petty and grandstanding stunts that eventually lead to the Compton PD being absorbed into the L.A. County sheriffs jurisdiction.
They blame everyone for the dissolution of the department but are unwilling to take any blame for it themselves.
In the end, the two officers are so busy talking about how respected and hard they are that they lose sight of the bigger picture, the lives affected by their intransigence and egos.
Perhaps one of the more difficult balancing acts in a book like this to make your subject matter shine brighter than yourself. To resist the urge to put yourself front and center and let the events speak for themselves.
Considering what material this book had to work with, that could have resulted in a fascinating book. More is the pity that it didn’t.
June 10, 2017
I picked this book mostly out of interest for the topic - a look into Compton from the eyes of a cop. With the recent releases of LA92 and the various police brutality cases lately I was interested to see it from another perspective.
The first half of the book was normalizing an abusive culture, with examples included where police planted drugs and made excuses for arrests. The author did little to act apologetic or condemn those actions.
The second half of the book focused more on the major crimes they dealt with, including those involved directly (and indirectly) in the murders of Biggie and Tupac. This part of the book was much better and, had they left out the "oh it's normal for cops to treat gangbangers this way" I could have rated the book much higher.
The first half of the book was normalizing an abusive culture, with examples included where police planted drugs and made excuses for arrests. The author did little to act apologetic or condemn those actions.
The second half of the book focused more on the major crimes they dealt with, including those involved directly (and indirectly) in the murders of Biggie and Tupac. This part of the book was much better and, had they left out the "oh it's normal for cops to treat gangbangers this way" I could have rated the book much higher.
February 25, 2018
I had no idea about the history of Compton PD, growing up, I spent a lot of time in Carson and Gardena which was right next to Compton during the Mid 70's all the way through the early 2000's. I was always told to stay out of the CPT if I could help it and I did because of all the war stories. The year of the Rodney King riot, I volunteered with a local church to feed Thanksgiving dinner and it was a miserable sight. All the burned down lots, damaged properties... war zone. It's astonishing that it was being held down by such a small law enforcement presence to say the least. I wish the book went into further detail about working with the gangs since there is a vast amount in Compton alone. Good look back into history in the era when I was growing up.
May 24, 2023
Take a look -- I started this on December 28, 2019. And am just marking it Read now, May 23, 2023. What? Why? Yeah, right? I've marked books Read late before but never like this.
I've pondered this book for a long time. I lived in Long Beach right beside Compton during the years discussed in this book. I remember some of the more prominent events mentioned quite well. Moreover, I often found myself driving through Compton, Watts, Lynwood, much of South Central (typically traffic detours or emergencies), while also living on the Long Beach street with the 3 most violent and lethal gangs in LB -- all enemies of each other, and I had to drive over 25 blocks to get from Point A to Point B (I did it to avoid the 45+ minute drive down to the LB freeway, up to the 405 and its hellish traffic), and there were kids walking around with guns in the pants, sometimes in their hands, various transactions taking place on front porches and sidewalks, and there were stop signs where I never bothered slowing down -- just better odds. Well, North Long Beach basically was Compton and there was a lot of crossover amongst the two. I went into and through Compton several times and I actually found myself walking down a major street during the day once or twice, and at one point or so met some Piru who made it clear they really didn't like me or want me there. Or were going to let me go without some new air conditioning additions to myself.
(I'm still here. No new air conditioning additions from that.)
So these two white Compton cops, through the help of a writer they hired, tell their tale of what their law enforcement experience was like in Compton. I mean, NWA had just released Straight Outta Compton. (That's the reason I went there the first time. I wanted to see it for myself.) Cops were not loved in Compton, and I'm willing to bet a fuck of a lot, NOT white cops! Yet these two cops -- and this is why I've held off on officially "finishing" the book or giving it a truly elaborate review, while also reading it twice more -- seem to go out of their way to not only attempt to establish their law enforcement cred, but their street cred with the brothers. Over and over we're told how the gangs "Respected" them, even while bangers were being arrested -- literally -- cause the Bloods knew "it wasn't personal," they were just doing their jobs, seemingly while the gang members were just playing their roles too.
I remember that cop whose car was left in the street with his young nephew in it, while they found his body in the middle of the street, killed "execution style." I remember the predictable reaction of the cops throughout the state, not just LA. I remember the gigantic man hunt, finding out who did it, trying to track him down, racing, shootouts, blah, blah. Daryl Gates was the LAPD captain then and he was infamous in his hatred and lethal oppression of blacks in South Central. He actually had a damn TANK created minus the gun barrel but replaced with a gigantic battering ram. Whenever the cops would feel like looking for a possible suspect, they literally drove that tank/battering ram through people's small houses -- literally -- and often people who had nothing to do with anything, weren't on any list -- just because. Guilt by association. Of being black. White cops and sheriff deputies throughout SoCal gave new meaning to the term Qualified Immunity, just as the Rodney King case would show a short time later.
These two white Compton cops (I honestly can't believe there were white cops on the Compton police force. Seems unbelievably stupid to me...) apparently didn't go around shitkicking the bangers -- allegedly -- or getting involved in shooting them, mowing them down, etc., etc., -- unless something was written to that effect and time and memory may not have been kind to me. I don't believe that's the case though.
The problem for me has been, lack of authenticity for me. Lack of integrity, honesty. I'm sure there are many true events described throughout this book but the one thing I came away with each time I read it was the primary goal of the author/writers was to establish perceptions of RESPECT. Respect on the part of the white cops for the black community, the many gangs and gang members, their fellow officers and from the reader as well. Because while having to be tough at times, they were just doing their jobs and never really went too far. Yep. Right.
Crazier than that, though, is they try to sell the reader on their earning and having Respect from the community and most important, the gangs and gang members throughout Compton. Seriously? Oh, the author tries so hard, so very hard. So hard that it just stands out like a glowing neon sign of insincerity not only to sell books, but perhaps to live with themselves -- I don't know -- they want to persuade readers it was always a two-way mutual respect relationship between Caucasian them and black Compton. Really. Really? When NWA was singing the smash hit Fuck The Police (yes, I spelled it out -- we're adults) on their smash hit Straight Outta Compton album, causing cops throughout America to lose their shit, and with cops getting shot at, even killed in the streets, with the white on black violence to go along with the black on black violence, with the dozens of Piru sets throughout town, virtually all of the members known, with the area's reputation for cops' shaking people down, leaning on people, beating and arresting people repeatedly, with the lethality, LACK of Respect shown for so many South Central residents,...yeah, it's naturally easy as hell to buy this utter BullShit spewed from these two white cops cause with that sarcasm I'm saying I know for a damn fact that virtually ALL cops were hated and resented in Compton and many other LA County cities in no small part because of the way nearly all of the cops treated people! Trying to establish something so fucking ridiculous as the foundation of your career and hence book is, in 2023 shall we say, disinformation at its most basic and kind of insult to anyone with knowledge of the area or basic intelligence in general and I think it reflects on them and any credibility they hoped to have with this book. Because that bullshit stood out for me every time I opened the book, every time I read about events I knew about or didn't know about, various locations and sets, interactions, the Respect the gangstas had for these white cops, or most any cops, seem like one of the more unbelievable things I've ever read in my life. Which is why I'm trashing the book. These cops may be or may have been among the "better" ones out there for all I know, but I'd bet my very life on the fact that if they had any Respect from Compton gangs and gang members at all, A) it was due only to fear and B) it was limited to a minority of citizens, probably a small minority of citizens. So even though there are events that are factually accurate being described, I can't believe anything said because they went so far out of their way to establish a nonexistent credibility that leads to nonexistent integrity which basically destroys everything in the book. I find this book offensive in its assumption of reader naivete and their ultimate embrace. Forgive the strong reaction but I met and knew people who absolutely did not agree with their assessment, even as some likely hated me as well. This book is one of my most UNRECOMMENDED books I've read. Take that for whatever it's worth.
I've pondered this book for a long time. I lived in Long Beach right beside Compton during the years discussed in this book. I remember some of the more prominent events mentioned quite well. Moreover, I often found myself driving through Compton, Watts, Lynwood, much of South Central (typically traffic detours or emergencies), while also living on the Long Beach street with the 3 most violent and lethal gangs in LB -- all enemies of each other, and I had to drive over 25 blocks to get from Point A to Point B (I did it to avoid the 45+ minute drive down to the LB freeway, up to the 405 and its hellish traffic), and there were kids walking around with guns in the pants, sometimes in their hands, various transactions taking place on front porches and sidewalks, and there were stop signs where I never bothered slowing down -- just better odds. Well, North Long Beach basically was Compton and there was a lot of crossover amongst the two. I went into and through Compton several times and I actually found myself walking down a major street during the day once or twice, and at one point or so met some Piru who made it clear they really didn't like me or want me there. Or were going to let me go without some new air conditioning additions to myself.
(I'm still here. No new air conditioning additions from that.)
So these two white Compton cops, through the help of a writer they hired, tell their tale of what their law enforcement experience was like in Compton. I mean, NWA had just released Straight Outta Compton. (That's the reason I went there the first time. I wanted to see it for myself.) Cops were not loved in Compton, and I'm willing to bet a fuck of a lot, NOT white cops! Yet these two cops -- and this is why I've held off on officially "finishing" the book or giving it a truly elaborate review, while also reading it twice more -- seem to go out of their way to not only attempt to establish their law enforcement cred, but their street cred with the brothers. Over and over we're told how the gangs "Respected" them, even while bangers were being arrested -- literally -- cause the Bloods knew "it wasn't personal," they were just doing their jobs, seemingly while the gang members were just playing their roles too.
I remember that cop whose car was left in the street with his young nephew in it, while they found his body in the middle of the street, killed "execution style." I remember the predictable reaction of the cops throughout the state, not just LA. I remember the gigantic man hunt, finding out who did it, trying to track him down, racing, shootouts, blah, blah. Daryl Gates was the LAPD captain then and he was infamous in his hatred and lethal oppression of blacks in South Central. He actually had a damn TANK created minus the gun barrel but replaced with a gigantic battering ram. Whenever the cops would feel like looking for a possible suspect, they literally drove that tank/battering ram through people's small houses -- literally -- and often people who had nothing to do with anything, weren't on any list -- just because. Guilt by association. Of being black. White cops and sheriff deputies throughout SoCal gave new meaning to the term Qualified Immunity, just as the Rodney King case would show a short time later.
These two white Compton cops (I honestly can't believe there were white cops on the Compton police force. Seems unbelievably stupid to me...) apparently didn't go around shitkicking the bangers -- allegedly -- or getting involved in shooting them, mowing them down, etc., etc., -- unless something was written to that effect and time and memory may not have been kind to me. I don't believe that's the case though.
The problem for me has been, lack of authenticity for me. Lack of integrity, honesty. I'm sure there are many true events described throughout this book but the one thing I came away with each time I read it was the primary goal of the author/writers was to establish perceptions of RESPECT. Respect on the part of the white cops for the black community, the many gangs and gang members, their fellow officers and from the reader as well. Because while having to be tough at times, they were just doing their jobs and never really went too far. Yep. Right.
Crazier than that, though, is they try to sell the reader on their earning and having Respect from the community and most important, the gangs and gang members throughout Compton. Seriously? Oh, the author tries so hard, so very hard. So hard that it just stands out like a glowing neon sign of insincerity not only to sell books, but perhaps to live with themselves -- I don't know -- they want to persuade readers it was always a two-way mutual respect relationship between Caucasian them and black Compton. Really. Really? When NWA was singing the smash hit Fuck The Police (yes, I spelled it out -- we're adults) on their smash hit Straight Outta Compton album, causing cops throughout America to lose their shit, and with cops getting shot at, even killed in the streets, with the white on black violence to go along with the black on black violence, with the dozens of Piru sets throughout town, virtually all of the members known, with the area's reputation for cops' shaking people down, leaning on people, beating and arresting people repeatedly, with the lethality, LACK of Respect shown for so many South Central residents,...yeah, it's naturally easy as hell to buy this utter BullShit spewed from these two white cops cause with that sarcasm I'm saying I know for a damn fact that virtually ALL cops were hated and resented in Compton and many other LA County cities in no small part because of the way nearly all of the cops treated people! Trying to establish something so fucking ridiculous as the foundation of your career and hence book is, in 2023 shall we say, disinformation at its most basic and kind of insult to anyone with knowledge of the area or basic intelligence in general and I think it reflects on them and any credibility they hoped to have with this book. Because that bullshit stood out for me every time I opened the book, every time I read about events I knew about or didn't know about, various locations and sets, interactions, the Respect the gangstas had for these white cops, or most any cops, seem like one of the more unbelievable things I've ever read in my life. Which is why I'm trashing the book. These cops may be or may have been among the "better" ones out there for all I know, but I'd bet my very life on the fact that if they had any Respect from Compton gangs and gang members at all, A) it was due only to fear and B) it was limited to a minority of citizens, probably a small minority of citizens. So even though there are events that are factually accurate being described, I can't believe anything said because they went so far out of their way to establish a nonexistent credibility that leads to nonexistent integrity which basically destroys everything in the book. I find this book offensive in its assumption of reader naivete and their ultimate embrace. Forgive the strong reaction but I met and knew people who absolutely did not agree with their assessment, even as some likely hated me as well. This book is one of my most UNRECOMMENDED books I've read. Take that for whatever it's worth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2018
Eye opening back story of rise of gangs and rap. Made me watch movie , straight outta Compton and documentaries on Tupac and Biggie.. sad life stories, talents wasted , mother’s loss
October 21, 2021
Copaganda of the highest order
August 23, 2017
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in an honest perspective of Compton in the '80s and '90s. The purpose of this book is not to thrill the reader with conspiracies. Instead, the purpose is to tell the truth from the eyes of police officers Brennan and Ladd. Brennan and Ladd have many interesting stories to tell, but to tie them all together into one book proved to be a challenge. Although the book did feel a bit choppy, I read this book in order to gain a better understanding of the history of Compton and of LA, and this book did that for me. Thank you officers Brennan and Ladd for your service.
July 5, 2018
This is a very comprehensive look into the lives of two men who were integral in trying to help solve the murders of Tupac and Biggie. It’s more than that though as we also learn more about the underbelly of the hip-hop music business and it’s direct connection to street soldiers who used their drug sales to jump start their rap careers. It’s not a pretty read, but it’s grit and authenticity will keep you turning the pages.
March 12, 2018
The big picture...
This was a great read! I appreciated the dedication and loyalty to their job and the city of Compton that was reflected here. Public service is a public trust. Sadly not everyone in these types of positions takes this seriously. God bless our law enforcement!!
This was a great read! I appreciated the dedication and loyalty to their job and the city of Compton that was reflected here. Public service is a public trust. Sadly not everyone in these types of positions takes this seriously. God bless our law enforcement!!
July 13, 2018
Great incite
Great incite into the gang battles of Compton during the late 80s and through the 90s. Very good incite into the Tupac and Biggie murders. Lays the facts down better than any other source I've read prior. Doesn't deal with conspiracy theories but just the facts.
Great incite into the gang battles of Compton during the late 80s and through the 90s. Very good incite into the Tupac and Biggie murders. Lays the facts down better than any other source I've read prior. Doesn't deal with conspiracy theories but just the facts.
October 27, 2020
Great book. If you grew up listening to gangsta rap in the late 80's and 90's, then you'll love reading the inside stories about Compton from two of the cops who were in the streets everyday, and in the middle of the gang wars.
May 5, 2017
It kept me engaged from cover to cover.
April 4, 2018
good book, alot of detail and war stories on the biggie and tupac murders.
November 20, 2018
A great read 2 white gang cops dealing with all the gangs in compton amazing stories with highs and lows for both Tim & bob read it its worth it
May 11, 2024
The subject matter is interesting, however the prose is lackluster: at some point the story becomes just a never-ending series of gang member names, streets and intersections.
January 4, 2022
This is my second time reading this book, and in doing so, loved it even more the second time through. It gave true insight to the City of Compton and the inner workings of not only gangster rap but that culture. Loved it from page 1 to the very end.
June 25, 2020
I was looking for a history of gangs in LA and this didn’t quite hit the mark but it was interesting hearing the story of the Compton police department told from the perspective of a black woman in the age of police brutality.
August 8, 2022
very interesting as I love reading about these types of events but somewhat long and difficult to get through. however, the experiences of the men in the book are very heavy and they deserved to be recognized.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews