Eazy-E

Eazy-E

Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1963 – March 26, 1995), better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Compton, California. Widely regarded as one of the founders of the gangsta rap subgenre, he rose to fame as the founder and member of the group N.W.A. and 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 sexual activity. He had also for some time hosted a hip-hop radio show on Los Angeles-based radio station KKBT.

Biography

Early life (1963-1986)

Eric Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright on September 7, 1963 in Compton, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. His father was a postal worker and his mother was a grade school administrator. Eric dropped out of high school in the tenth grade and supported himself by selling drugs. He was also a member of the Kelly Park Compton Crip during his teen years, and he openly associated himself with other Crips. He later received a high school equivalency diploma.

Ruthless Records, N.W.A. and Eazy-Duz-It (1987-1991)

In 1987, Eazy used the profits from his drug sales to co-found Ruthless Records with Jerry Heller. When Ruthless signees Dr. Dre and Ice Cube wrote "Boyz-n-the-Hood", Ahmed Saaoud and Eazy-E formed the group N.W.A. with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. (DJ Yella and Arabian Prince were later added.) In this period, Ruthless Records released the compilation N.W.A and the Posse (1987), and N.W.A's proper debut Straight Outta Compton (1988). One month later, Eazy-E released his first 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". The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella and largely written by Ice Cube, with contributions from MC Ren and The D.O.C.. In March 1991, Eazy-E accepted an invitation to a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by then-President George H. W. Bush. A spokesman for the rapper claimed that Eazy-E supported Bush for overseeing Operation Desert Storm. On the final N.W.A. album, Niggaz4Life (1991), some of the lyrics provoked outrage from many liberals and conservatives alike.

End of N.W.A. and feud with Dr. Dre (1991-1994)

Disputes about money caused N.W.A. to break up in 1991, as it was thought Eazy-E and Jerry Heller were stealing money from the group. Ice Cube is believed to have left N.W.A for this reason, which he later referenced 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 with Merrill. Eazy-E released two Extended Play's during this period, 5150: Home 4 tha Sick (1992), and It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa (1993), the latter was a response to Dr. Dre's The Chronic. Eazy-E's diss to Dre Day was Real Mothafucking G's. It was taking shots at Dr Dre's street cred, asking how he can go from wearing lipstick to smoking at picnics. Eazy-E also made Its On which was another diss at Dr. Dre.

Illness, death and posthumous album (1995)

On March 16, 1995, Eazy-E was admitted into Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what he believed to be asthma. Instead he was diagnosed with AIDS, and soon announced his illness publicly. He died shortly after, on March 26, 1995, at approximately 6:35 PM (Pacific time). He was 31 years old when he died. During the week of March 20, having already made amends with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, Eazy-E drafted his last message to fans. One week after making that announcement, Eazy succumbed to the disease.

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 to me. And thanks for your support. Just remember: It’s YOUR real time and YOUR real life.

Some of his closest friends have stated that these words were not all written by Eazy-E because they were adjusted by his lawyer for the press conference. This is probably due to the fact that Eazy-E used profanity in his statement.

On his death bed days before, Eazy married long-term girlfriend and mother of his child Tomica Woods, and she inherited his share of Ruthless Records. He was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

In November of 1995, shortly after Eazy-E's death, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton was released posthumously. The album was set to have up to 60 tracks on two discs, but Eazy-E died before he could finish it.

Discography

Main article: Eazy-E discography

1988: Eazy-Duz-It
1992: 5150: Home 4 tha Sick (EP)
1993: It's On (Dr. Dre) 187^um Killa (EP)
1995: Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton*
2002: Impact of a Legend (EP)*

An asterisk (*) indicates the album was released posthumously.

Legal issues

At the start of Dr. Dre's defection from Ruthless Records, executives Mike Klein and Jerry Heller sought assistance from the Jewish Defense League (JDL). Klein, former Ruthless Records director of business affairs said this provided Ruthless Records with muscle to enter into negotiations with Death Row 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 Death Row 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 that Dr. Dre left Ruthless Records and formed Death Row 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 issuing a press release stating "There was nothing but a close, tight relationship" between Eazy-E and the organization.

Children of Eazy-E

Lil Eazy-E

Eric Wright, Jr., better known by his stage name Lil Eazy-E, (born April 23, 1984) is a former American rapper and the eldest son of Eazy-E. Wright Jr. was born and raised in Compton, California, in the same house his father grew up in. He was 10 years old when his father died. He first appeared on the hip hop scene with Daz Dillinger, during which time an independent album release was expected. However, no contract was actually signed, and this led to an eventual feud between the two rappers. Lil Eazy-E left Virgin Records for a deal with Blackground and Universal Motown Records Group in 2006. He created the recording label Kings of L.A. Entertainment and released the mixtape Compton For Life. The recording label now ceases to exist, and his record deal has ended. A recent deal with his late fathers label Ruthless Records seems not to include any album deal, instead for more of a buissness role.

Before the end of his rap career he had performed duets with rappers such as Timbaland and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. He did a feature in a remix of the song "Certified Gangstas" by rapper Jim Jones. The Game was also in this song, it was recorded before their beef started. His debut album The Prince of Compton, was however scrapped. The last given release date of September 16, 2008 was not honoured, due to poor response to the album's first single, "What We're Claiming". Lil Eazy-E was also involved in a feud with rapper The Game, because he thought The Game was overusing his father's name. He disses The Game on the track "Coming From Compton" on his mixtape Rebirth of Gangsta Rap. The Game shot back on the song "120 Bars". Lil Eazy-E retaliated on the song "They Know Me", in which he claims nobody even knows The Game the way they know Lil Eazy-E. Later The Game said he and Lil Eazy-E had ended their feud. Of late he has been working on the biopic of his father's rap group N.W.A, after his failed rap career went silent in late 2008.

Baby Eazy-E

The second eldest child of Eazy-E. Wright was born and raised in Compton, California.

Erin Wright

Erin Bria Wright is the daughter of Eazy-E. Wright was born and raised in Compton, California. She has appeared in an episode of My Super Sweet 16.

External links

• Eazy-E at Find a Grave
• NWA World
• Ruthless Records on MySpace