Once Upon a Time in Compton

By: Tim Brennan, Robert Ladd, Lolita Files

Narrated by: Lolita Files

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.

©2018 Robert Ladd, Tim Brennan, Lolita Files (P)2018 Robert Ladd, Tim Brennan, Lolita Files

perspective and knowledge

I love this book. it brought clarity to my perception. I love gangster rap and true crime perfect storm

Great read

Very interesting story. Moves along very well and it definitely keeps you interested. Very good insight and at times it’s hard to believe that this is a true story. Highly recommend it.

It’s alright

Kinda not exciting, needs some spice got pretty boring at chapter 3, it could just be me but just not my cup of tea

Excellent and Informative

This was excellent stuff. Great insight is given about the streets and the nature of the interplay between criminal, police, and society at large. I applaud the two policemen covered in this book. I wish more cops were like them.

The amount of dedication that people have for a job they love.

great insight to a life alot of people don't understand or just don't care about and the people who risk ther lives to try and make a difference...

Non stop action

This book is amazing, classic ghetto tales in the eyes of a cop. 🔥Must have.

Excellent book!

Very interesting look at their methods of policing. I spent many years as a teen and my 20's as a Compton gang member. Everyone knew Blondie & Ladd. Good cops, treated Everyone well. Sad the way their careers ended.

A must listen!

This is a fantastic audio book that shows the real deal about Compton in that time period. We need more people like Tim and Bob. Good job by the author and narrator. Highly recommend! RIP Timothy Brennan!

Terrible narator

The book looked promising but the narator totally destroyed it. No emotions, no inflection...Couldn't even understand some of the names mentioned in the book.

Horrendous narration

Was looking forward to hearing the story of these guys. However the narrator was so atrocious I couldn’t listen. It’s read like a high school student giving a speech. No inflection, monotone, same cadence throughout. Authors rarely do a good job narrating their work. Very disappointing.