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Eazy-E

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Eazy-E

Eric Lynn Wright (September 7 1963–March 26 1995), better known by the stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Anoush Street in Compton. He was a Kelly Park Compton Crip (although he was connected to many other Crip gangs) from the early teenage years until his death. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the gangsta rap sub-genre and initially rose to fame as a member of the group N.W.A, but later achieved critical and commercial success as a solo artist. Eazy-E's vocal style was marked by his youthful, high-pitched voice and his lyrics focusing on the elements of urban street life such as guns, drugs, relations between residents and the police, and deviant sexual activity.[1]

Life and Music

N.W.A and solo career

Further information: [[:N.W.A]]

Eric Wright dropped out of high school and supported himself by selling drugs. He used the profits from his drug sales to establish the Ruthless Records rap music label. When Ruthless signees Dr. Dre and Ice Cube wrote "Boyz-n-the-Hood", Wright formed the group N.W.A, joining Dr.Dre and Ice Cube, also adding DJ Yella and Arabian Prince.[2]

The subsequent period saw Ruthless Records release the compilation N.W.A and the Posse (1987), N.W.A's proper debut Straight Outta Compton (1988), and one month later, Eazy-E's solo album, Eazy-Duz-It. The album sold two million copies, certifying it as a double platinum album, and spawned the hit singles "We Want Eazy" and "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn" (a remix of "Boyz-n-the-Hood", a previous hit, was also included). The album was again produced by N.W.A's Dr. Dre and DJ Yella and largely written by fellow N.W.A rapper MC Ren, with contributions from Ice Cube and The D.O.C. (whose solo No One Can Do It Better would be released the following year).

On the final N.W.A album, Efil4zaggin (1991), some of the lyrics provoked outrage from many critics and conservative circles. Eazy-E included even more of the elements such as the use of pistols and shotguns in videos for both "Alwayz into Somethin'" and "Appetite for Destruction".

These differences of opinion led to a bumpy relationship; a break-up ensued when it was thought that Eazy-E and Jerry Heller were stealing money from the group. Ice Cube had thought this causing him to leave N.W.A, and he referenced this in his diss song, "No Vaseline". Subsequently, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre started feuding - a feud that grew to embroil most of Ruthless Records and Dr. Dre's new label, Death Row Records.[1]

At the start of Dr. Dre’s defection from Ruthless Records , there was a fear of further violence. Ruthless Records executives, Mike Klein and Jerry Heller sought assistance from the Jewish Defense League (JDL). Mike Klein, former Ruthless Records director of business affairs said [3] This provided Ruthless Records with muscle to enter into negotiations with Deathrow Records over Dr. Dre’s departure. While Suge Knight violently sought an outright release from Ruthless Records for Dr. Dre, the JDL and Ruthless records management were able to sit down with Deathrow and negotiate a release in which the record label would continue to receive money and publishing rights from future Dr. Dre projects. It was under these terms Dr. Dre left Ruthless Records and formed Deathrow with Suge Knight. The FBI launched a money laundering investigation, assuming that the JDL was extorting money from Ruthless Records to fight their extremist causes. This led to JDL spokesperson Irv Rubin to issue a press release stating "There was nothing but a close, tight relationship" between Eazy-E and the League.[3]

Jerry Heller has acknowledged that Eazy E received death threats, and it was discovered that he was on hit list by some neo-Nazi skinheads. Heller has speculated that it may have been because of the song "Fuck Tha Police". He also said "It was no secret that in the aftermath of the Suge Knight shake down incident where Eazy was forced to sign over Dr Dre, Michele and DOC, that Ruthless was protected by Israeli-trained security forces." Jerry Heller maintains that Eazy E admired the group for their slogan "Never Again", and that he had plans to do a movie about the group.[4]

Illness and death

In March 1995, Eazy-E was admitted into Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what he believed to be bronchitis. Following comprehensive tests, it was discovered that he was suffering from AIDS. The illness was found to be in an advanced stage, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. During the week of March 20, already having made amends with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube[2], Eazy-E drafted what would be his last message to his fans:[5]

...I may not seem like a guy you would pick to preach a sermon. But I feel it is now time to testify because I do have folks who care about me hearing all kinds of stuff about what's up. Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of Compton doing a lot of things most people look down on — but it did pay off. Then we started rapping about real stuff that shook up the LAPD and the FBI. But we got our message across big time, and everyone in America started paying attention to the boys in the 'hood. Soon our anger and hope got everyone riled up. There were great rewards for me personally, like fancy cars, gorgeous women and good living. Like real non-stop excitement. I'm not religious, but wrong or right, that's me. I'm not saying this because I'm looking for a soft cushion wherever I'm heading, I just feel that I've got thousands and thousands of young fans that have to learn about what's real when it comes to AIDS. Like the others before me, I would like to turn my own problem into something good that will reach out to all my homeboys and their kin. Because I want to save their asses before it's too late. I'm not looking to blame anyone except myself. I have learned in the last week that this thing is real, and it doesn't discriminate. It affects everyone. My girl Tomika and I have been together for four years and we recently got married. She's good, she's kind and a wonderful mother. We have a little boy who's a year old. Before Tomika I had other women. I have seven children by six different mothers. Maybe success was too good to me. I love all my kids and always took care of them. Now I'm in the biggest fight of my life, and it ain't easy. But I want to say much love to those who have been down with me. And thanks for your support. Just remember:It's YOUR real time and YOUR real life.

On March 26 1995, ten days after being admitted into the hospital, Eric "Eazy-E" Wright died, at the age of 31. Among his survivors were his wife, Tomika Wright, whom he married just days before, and seven children — one with Woods-Wright, and six others from previous relationships.

Wright's body was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.[6]

Lil Eazy-E

Eazy-E's son Lil Eazy-E (rapper) is now an accomplished rapper performing in duets with rappers such as Timbaland. [7]

Partial filmography

Discography

Main article: Eazy-E discography

References

  1. ^ a b Huey, Steve. Eazy-E Biography. All Music Guide. Last accessed August 24, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. N.W.A - Biography. All Music Guide. Last accessed Sept. 20, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Berry, Jahna. The FBI Screws Up Again. Jewish Defense League: September 19, 2000.
  4. ^ http://odeo.com/audio/1987369/view
  5. ^ Eazy-E's Death
  6. ^ Find a Grave - Eazy-E
  7. ^ Author: SOHH Blog Network (August 23, 2007). "SOHH Left Coast: New Lil Eazy E Single: "I Got That" feat. Timbaland". http://www.generation-hiphop.com. Retrieved 2008-02-01. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); External link in |publisher= (help)

THe real eazy-e is a master in rapping u no y because he his good like dat

Template:Persondata easy-e is a hip hop he is my best friend when he said to if i what to be your friend i said ftp that means fuck that putaow

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