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Eazy-E

March 16, 2023

Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1964[2] – March 26, 1995), known professionally as Eazy-E, was an American rapper who propelled West Coast rap and gangsta rap by leading the group N.W.A and its label, Ruthless Records. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of Gangsta Rap".[3]

Eazy-E
Eazy-E in 1993
Born
Eric Lynn Wright

(1964-09-07)September 7, 1964
Compton, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 26, 1995(1995-03-26) (aged 30)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Burial placeRose Hills Memorial Park
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • record producer
  • entrepreneur
Spouse
Tomica Woods
​
(m. 1995)​
Children11, including Lil Eazy-E
Musical career
Genres
Years active1987–1995[1]
Labels
Formerly ofN.W.A

Born and raised in Compton, California, Wright had several legal troubles before founding Ruthless in 1987.[4] After a short solo career with frequent collaboration with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, they joined, forming N.W.A, later that year. N.W.A's debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, was released in 1988. Controversial upon release, it is now ranked among the greatest and most influential albums ever. The group released its third and final studio album, Niggaz4Life, in 1991, and soon after disbanded.

During N.W.A's splintering, largely by disputes over money, Eazy-E became embroiled in bitter rivalries with fellow group-members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, who had departed for solo careers in 1989 and 1991, respectively. Resuming his solo career Eazy-E released two EPs,[5] yet he remained more significant behind the scenes, signing and nationally debuting the rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony from 1993 to 1994. In 1995, Eazy-E was suddenly hospitalized and diagnosed with AIDS, and died due to its complications.

Early life and Ruthless Records investment

Eric Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright on September 7, 1964, in Compton, California, a Los Angeles suburb once noted for high crime rates and gang culture.[6][7] His father was a postal worker and his mother was a grade-school administrator.[8] Wright dropped out of high school in the tenth grade,[9] but later received a general equivalency diploma (GED).[10]

No one survived on the streets without a protective mask. No one survived naked. You had to have a role. You had to be "thug," "playa," "athlete," "gangsta," or "dope man." Otherwise, there was only one role left to you: "victim."

Jerry Heller on Eazy-E[11]

Wright supported himself mainly by selling drugs, and introduced his cousin to the illicit occupation.[9] Wright's music manager Jerry Heller recalls seeing Wright selling marijuana, but not cocaine. Heller would claim that Wright's "dope dealer" label was part of his "self-forged armor".[11] Wright was also labeled as a "thug". Heller explains: "The hood where he grew up was a dangerous place. He was a small guy. 'Thug' was a role that was widely understood on the street; it gave you a certain level of protection in the sense that people hesitated to fuck with you. Likewise, 'dope dealer' was a role that accorded you certain privileges and respect."[11]

In 1986, at age 22, Wright had allegedly earned as much as US$250,000 from dealing drugs. However, after his cousin was shot and killed, he decided that he could make a better living in the Los Angeles hip hop scene, which was growing rapidly in popularity.[12] He started recording songs during the mid-1980s in his parents' garage, thus starting Ruthless Records.[10][13]

The original idea for Ruthless Records came when Wright asked Heller to go into business with him. Wright suggested a half-ownership company, but it was later decided that Wright would get eighty percent of the company's income and Heller would only get twenty percent. According to Heller, he told Wright, "Every dollar comes into Ruthless, I take twenty cents. That's industry standard for a manager of my caliber. I take twenty, you take eighty percent. I am responsible for my expenses and you're responsible for yours. You own the company. I work for you."[11] Along with Heller, Wright invested much of his money into Ruthless Records.[14] Heller claims that he invested the first $250,000 and would eventually put up to $1,000,000 into the company.[11]

Musical career

N.W.A and Eazy-Duz-It (1986–1991)

N.W.A's (also named as "the world's most dangerous group"[13]) original lineup consisted of Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube.[15][16] DJ Yella and MC Ren joined later.[17] The compilation album N.W.A. and the Posse was released on November 6, 1987, and would go on to be certified Gold in the United States.[18][19] The album featured material previously released as singles on the Macola Records label, which was responsible for distributing the releases by N.W.A and other artists like the Fila Fresh Crew, a West Coast rap group originally based in Dallas, Texas.[20][21]

Eazy-E's debut album, Eazy-Duz-It, was released in 1988, and featured twelve tracks. It was labeled as West Coast hip hop, gangsta rap and, later, as golden age hip hop. It has sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States and reached number forty-one on the Billboard 200.[10][22] The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella and largely written by MC Ren, Ice Cube and The D.O.C.[23] Both Glen Boyd from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and MTV's Jon Wiederhorn claimed that Eazy-Duz-It "paved the way" for N.W.A's most controversial album, Straight Outta Compton.[24][25] Wright's only solo in the album was a remix of the song "8 Ball", which originally appeared on N.W.A. and the Posse. The album featured Wright's writing and performing; he performed on seven songs and helped write four songs.[26]

Ice Cube left N.W.A in 1989 because of internal disputes and the group continued as a four-piece ensemble.[17] N.W.A released 100 Miles and Runnin' in 1990 and Niggaz4Life in 1991. A diss war started between N.W.A and Ice Cube when "100 Miles and Runnin'" and "Real Niggaz" were released. Ice Cube responded with "No Vaseline" on Death Certificate.[27] Wright performed on seven of the eighteen songs on Niggaz4Life.[28] In March 1991, Wright accepted an invitation to a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by then-U.S. President George H. W. Bush.[29] A spokesman for the rapper said that Eazy-E supported Bush because of his performance in the Gulf War.[30]

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

N.W.A began to split up after Jerry Heller became the band's manager. Dr. Dre recalls, "The split came when Jerry Heller got involved. He played the divide and conquer game. Instead of taking care of everybody, he picked one nigga to take care of and that was Eazy. And Eazy was like, 'I'm taken care of, so fuck it'." Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. sent Suge Knight to look into Eazy-E's financial situation as they began to grow suspicious of Eazy-E and Jerry Heller. Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. asked Eazy-E to release them from Ruthless, but Eazy-E refused. The impasse led to what reportedly transpired between Suge Knight and Eazy-E at the recording studio where Niggaz4life was recorded. After he refused to release Dr. Dre and The D.O.C., Suge Knight told Eazy-E that he had kidnapped Jerry Heller and was holding him prisoner in a van. This did not convince Eazy-E to release Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. from Ruthless, and Suge Knight threatened Eazy-E's family: Suge Knight gave Eazy-E a piece of paper that contained Eazy's mother's address, telling him, "I know where your mama stays." Eazy-E finally signed Dr. Dre and The D.O.C.'s releases, officially ending N.W.A.[31]

In 1993, Eazy E regularly attended court in the prosecution of the officers involved in the beating of Rodney King, often standing alongside Theodore J. Briseno, who he had met through sharing the same lawyer. Eazy E said, "The difference is that most people look at the video and say four white officers were responsible for the beating of this helpless, innocent black man. I say, 'Wrong.' Three white officers were responsible for beating Rodney King. The other officer (Theodore J. Briseno) happens to be Mexican-American, and he tried to stop them." This caused controversy in the hip-hop community, with Willie D calling Eazy E a "sellout".[32]

The feud with Dr. Dre continued after a track on Dre's debut album The Chronic, "Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')", contained lyrics that insulted Eazy-E. Eazy responded with the EP, It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, featuring the tracks "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" and "It's On". The album, which was released on October 25, 1993, contains pictures of Dre wearing "lacy outfits and makeup" when he was a member of the Electro-hop World Class Wreckin' Cru.[31]

Personal life

Wright had a son, Eric Darnell Wright (known as Lil Eazy-E), in 1984. He also had a daughter named Erin,[33] who changed her name to Ebie.[34] In October 2016, Ebie launched a crowd-funding campaign to produce a film called Ruthless Scandal: No More Lies to investigate her father's death.[35] It ended unsuccessfully in December 2016.[36]

Wright met Tomica Woods at a Los Angeles nightclub in 1991 and they married in 1995, twelve days before his death.[37] They had a son named Dominick and a daughter named Daijah (born six months after Wright's death).[38] After Wright's death, Ruthless was taken over by his wife. According to Jerry Heller, Wright had 11 children with eight women.[39]

Illness and death

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 all your support. Just remember: It's your real time and your real life.

--Statement from Eazy-E's camp on his behalf, March 16.[40]

On February 24, 1995, Wright was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with a violent cough.[41] He was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.[42] He announced his illness in a public statement on March 16, 1995. It is believed Wright contracted the infection from a sexual partner.[12][43][44] During the week of March 20, having already made amends with Ice Cube, he drafted a final message to his fans.[45] On March 26, 1995, Eazy-E died from AIDS-induced pneumonia, one month after his diagnosis.[46][39] He was 30 years old (most reports at the time said he was 31 due to the falsification of his date of birth by one year).[10][47] He was buried on April 7, 1995, at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. Over 3,000 people attended his funeral,[48] including Jerry Heller and DJ Yella.[49] He was buried in a gold casket, and was dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans, and his Compton hat. On January 30, 1996, ten months after Eazy-E's death, his final album, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, was released.

According to his son Lil Eazy-E, Eazy-E's net worth was an estimated US$50 million at the time of his death.[50]

Musical influences and style

 
Logo used by Eazy-E

Allmusic cites Eazy-E's influences as Ice-T, Redd Foxx, King Tee, Bootsy Collins, Run–D.M.C., Richard Pryor, Egyptian Lover, Schoolly D, Too $hort, Prince, the Sugarhill Gang, and George Clinton.[51] In the documentary The Life and Timez of Eric Wright, Eazy-E mentions collaborating with many of his influences.[52]

When reviewing Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted "... Eazy-E sounds revitalized, but the music simply isn't imaginative. Instead of pushing forward and creating a distinctive style, it treads over familiar gangsta territory, complete with bottomless bass, whining synthesizers, and meaningless boasts."[53] When reviewing Eazy-Duz-It, Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic said, "In terms of production, Dr. Dre and Yella meld together P-Funk, Def Jam-style hip-hop and the leftover electro sounds of mid-'80s Los Angeles, creating a dense, funky, and thoroughly unique style of their own." Birchmeier described Eazy-E's style as "dense, unique and funky", and said that it sounded "absolutely revolutionary in 1988".[51]

Several members of N.W.A wrote lyrics for Eazy-Duz-It: Ice Cube, The D.O.C. and MC Ren.[54] The EP 5150: Home 4 tha Sick features a song written by Naughty by Nature. The track "Merry Muthaphuckkin' Xmas" features Menajahtwa, Buckwheat, and Atban Klann as guest vocalists, and "Neighborhood Sniper" features Kokane as a guest vocalist.[55] It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa features several guest vocalists, including Gangsta Dresta, B.G. Knocc Out. Kokane, Cold 187um, Rhythum D, and Dirty Red.[56] Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton featured several guest vocalists, including B.G. Knocc Out, Gangsta Dresta, Sylk-E. Fyne, Dirty Red, Menajahtwa, Roger Troutman, and ex-N.W.A members MC Ren and DJ Yella.[57]

Legacy

 
Graffiti of Eazy-E in Leeuwarden, Netherlands

Eazy-E has been called the "godfather of gangsta rap".[58][59][3][60] MTV's Reid Shaheem said that Eazy was a "rap-pioneer",[60] and he is sometimes cited by critics as a legend.[61][62] Steve Huey of AllMusic said that he was "one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap".[5] Since his 1995 death, many book and video biographies have been produced, including 2002's The Day Eazy-E Died and Dead and Gone.[63][64][65]

When Eazy was diagnosed with AIDS, many magazines like Jet,[66] Vibe,[67] Billboard,[68] The Crisis,[69] and Newsweek covered the story and released information on the topic.[70] All of his studio albums and EPs charted on the Billboard 200,[71][72][73] and many of his singles—"Eazy-Duz-It", "We Want Eazy", "Real Muthaphuckkin G's", and "Just tah Let U Know"—also charted in the U.S.[73][74]

In 2012 an Eazy-E documentary was released by Ruthless Propaganda, called Ruthless Memories. The documentary featured interviews with Jerry Heller, MC Ren and B.G. Knocc Out.[75]

In the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-E is played by Jason Mitchell and the film is dedicated in his memory.[76]

Eazy-E was then portrayed by Omari Wallace in the 2016 film Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le. The film portrays Eazy-E sympathetically as having been a friend to Michel'le, in one scene warning her to get out of the house because he fears that a drunken Dr. Dre is returning home to beat her.

Discography

Main article: Eazy-E discography
See also: N.W.A discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

with N.W.A

References

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  2. ^ Westhoff 2017, p. 284: "Though most obituaries list his birth year as 1963, that is likely not accurate. The funeral program gave his birth year as 1964, as do most official court documents. That would make him thirty at his death, rather than thirty-one as was widely reported"
  3. ^ a b The Black Dot (2005). Hip Hop Decoded: From Its Ancient Origin to Its Modern Day Matrix. MOME Publishing. p. 100. ISBN 0-9772357-0-X.
  4. ^ Vladislav Lyubovny, interview with Lonzo Williams, "Dre & Eazy were supposed to co-own Ruthless Records", DJVlad @ YouTube, August 26, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Huey, Steve (2003). "Eazy-E Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved August 24, 2007.
  6. ^ Hochman, Steve (March 28, 1995). "Rap Star, Record Company Founder Eazy-E Dies of AIDS". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ "Hip-Hop News: Remembering Eric 'Eazy-E' Wright" May 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Rap News Network. March 26, 2006
  8. ^ Harris, Carter (June–July 1995). "Eazy Living". Vibe. 3 (5): 62.
  9. ^ a b . Dallas Observer. September 12, 2002. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d Pareles, Jon (March 28, 1995). "Eazy-E, 31, Performer Who Put Gangster Rap on the Charts". The New York Times.
  11. ^ a b c d e Heller, Jerry (2007). Ruthless: A Memoir. Gallery. pp. 65–77. ISBN 978-1-4169-1794-6.
  12. ^ a b Chang, Jeff (April 24, 2004). . Swindle. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
  13. ^ a b "Happy 56th Birthday To N.W.A./Ruthless Records Founder Eazy-E! (RIP) – All Rap News". September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ^ Hunt, Dennis (October 22, 1989). "Dr. Dre Joins an Illustrious Pack In the last year, producer has hit with albums for N.W.A, Eazy-E, J. J. Fad and the D.O.C." November 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Los Angeles Times.
  15. ^ "Arabian Prince interview". www.huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post. September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  16. ^ "Arabian Prince interview". www.vladtv.com. VladTV. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
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  19. ^ "Gold & Platinum – November 26, 2010". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  20. ^ Bynoe, Yvonne (2005). Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip Hop Culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 294. ISBN 0-313-33058-1.
  21. ^ Brackett, Nathan (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Fireside Books. p. 248. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  22. ^ "Eazy-Duz-It – Eazy-E". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  23. ^ Eazy-Duz-It (Media notes). Eazy-E. Ruthless, Priority. 1988.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ Boyd, Glen (March 20, 2010). "Music Review: Eazy E - Eazy Duz It (Uncut Snoop Dogg Approved Edition/Remastered)". Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  25. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon. (July 31, 2002). "N.W.A Classics To Be Reissued With Bonus Tracks". MTV.
  26. ^ Straight Outta Compton (Media notes). N.W.A. Ruthless/Priority/EMI Records. 1988.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Lazerine, Cameron; Lazerine, Devin (2008). Rap-Up: The Ultimate Guide to Hip-Hop and R&B. Grand Central Publications. pp. 43–67. ISBN 978-0-446-17820-4.
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  29. ^ "Rap's Bad Boy to Get Lunch With the Prez". Los Angeles Times. March 18, 1991.
  30. ^ . Entertainment Weekly. No. 59. March 29, 1991. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013.
  31. ^ a b Borgmeyer, Jon; Lang, Holly (2006). Dr. Dre: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 52–55. ISBN 0-313-33826-4.
  32. ^ Philips, Chuck (April 6, 1993). "Rapper Takes Officer's Side : Trial: Controversial N.W.A. founder Eazy-E has stood by Theodore J. Briseno at the Rodney King trial. His actions have shocked some in the rap community". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  33. ^ "Eazy-E's daughter pays photo tribute, says father due more respect" Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  34. ^ "A lot of people remember "Erin" from TV but my family has called me "E.B." (my initials) since birth." Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  35. ^ Bandini (October 19, 2016). "Eazy E's daughter tries to crowd-fund to investigate father's death". ambrosiaforheads. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  36. ^ "A Ruthless Scandal". Kickstarter. December 14, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  37. ^ "Woods-Wright, Tomica" Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  38. ^ "6 Months After Aids Kills Rapper, His Baby Is Born" Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  39. ^ a b Soraya Nadia McDonald (August 26, 2015). "Eazy-E's son thinks Suge Knight killed his father by infecting him with HIV. Here's why that's highly unlikely". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  40. ^ Westhoff 2017, pp. 278–279.
  41. ^ Staff (September 4, 1995). "A Gangster Wake-Up Call". Newsweek. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
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  43. ^ Borgmeyer, Jon; Lang, Holly (2006). Dr. Dre: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 99–100. ISBN 0-313-33826-4.
  44. ^ Talia, Pele (September 1995). "Vibe article". Vibe. 3 (7): 32.
  45. ^ "Eazy-E's Last Words". Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  46. ^ "News Flash: March 26, 1995". Vibe. September 2003. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  47. ^ Kapsambelis, Niki (March 27, 1995). "Gangsta rapper Eazy-E dies of AIDS". Park City Daily News. p. 39.
  48. ^ Williams, Frank B. (April 8, 1995). "Thousands Flock to Funeral for Eazy-E : Music: Overflow crowd is drawn to 'gangsta' rap star's service. Eulogy notes his contributions but warns of danger of AIDS, which killed the rapper". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  49. ^ Schwartz, Danny (September 8, 2015). "DJ Yella Says He Was The Only Member Of N.W.A. To Attend Eazy-E's Funeral". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  50. ^ "Lil Eazy-E: My Father Was Worth $50 Million When He Passed Away". YouTube. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  51. ^ a b Huey, Steve. "Eazy-E". Allmusic. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  52. ^ The Life and Timez of Eric Wright (Color, DVD, NTSC). April 2, 2002. Event occurs at 21:03. ASIN B000063UQQ.
  53. ^ Thomas, Stephen. "Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphu**in Compton – Eazy-E". Allmusic. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  54. ^ Eazy-Duz-It (CD). Eazy-E. Ruthless, Priority. 1988.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  55. ^ 5150: Home 4 tha Sick (CD). Eazy-E. Ruthless, Priority. 1992.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  56. ^ It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa (CD). Eazy-E. Ruthless/Relativity/Epic. 1993.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  57. ^ Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton (CD). Eazy-E. Ruthless, Relativity, Epic. 1995.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  58. ^ Simmonds, Jeremy (2008). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press. p. 332. ISBN 978-1-55652-754-8.
  59. ^ "Widow of Rapper Eazy-E Gives Birth To Child". Jet. 88 (23): 40. October 16, 1995.
  60. ^ a b Shaheem, Reid (March 26, 2010). "Lil Eazy-E Remembers His Dad, 15 Years Later". MTV.
  61. ^ Davis, Todd. "Lil Eazy-E: Son of a Legend" May 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Hiphopdx.com. December 9, 2005.
  62. ^ "About the Official Hip Hop Hall Of Fame and Producer JT Thompson". Live-PR.com. November 16, 2010.
  63. ^ Hardy, James Earl (2002). The Day Eazy-E Died (A B-Boy Blues Novel #4) (9781555837600): James Earl Hardy: Books. ISBN 1555837603.
  64. ^ "Day Eazy E Died [PB,2002]: Jema Eerl Herdy: Books". Amazon. September 9, 2009.
  65. ^ "Dead and Gone: Tupac, Eazy-E, Notorias BIG, Aaliyah, Big Pun, Big L: Video". Amazon. September 9, 2009.
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  67. ^ "The Invisible Woman". Vibe: 62. June–July 1995.
  68. ^ HN (August 9, 1997). "Ruthless Sounds". Billboard. p. 44.
  69. ^ Colin, Potter (July 1995). "AIDS in Black America: It's Not Just A Gay Thing". The Crisis: 34–35.
  70. ^ Smith, Rex. "Newsweek article". Newsweek. 137 (10–18): 609.
  71. ^ "Eazy-E". Allmusic. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
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  74. ^ "Eazy-E". Allmusic. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  75. ^ "Eazy-E Documentary To Release, Featuring Jerry Heller, MC Ren, B.G. Knocc Out". Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  76. ^ "Jason Mitchell". IMDB. 2015.

Literature

  • Westhoff, Ben (2017). Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap. New York: Hachette Books. ISBN 978-0-3163-4485-2.

External links

  • Eazy-E at IMDb
  • FBI file on Eazy-E

March 16, 2023
eazy, eric, lynn, wright, september, 1964, march, 1995, known, professionally, american, rapper, propelled, west, coast, gangsta, leading, group, label, ruthless, records, often, referred, godfather, gangsta, 1993borneric, lynn, wright, 1964, september, 1964co. Eric Lynn Wright September 7 1964 2 March 26 1995 known professionally as Eazy E was an American rapper who propelled West Coast rap and gangsta rap by leading the group N W A and its label Ruthless Records He is often referred to as the Godfather of Gangsta Rap 3 Eazy EEazy E in 1993BornEric Lynn Wright 1964 09 07 September 7 1964Compton California U S DiedMarch 26 1995 1995 03 26 aged 30 Los Angeles California U S Burial placeRose Hills Memorial ParkOccupationsRapperrecord producerentrepreneurSpouseTomica Woods m 1995 wbr Children11 including Lil Eazy EMusical careerGenresHip hopgangsta rapYears active1987 1995 1 LabelsRuthlessPriorityRelativityEpicFormerly ofN W ABorn and raised in Compton California Wright had several legal troubles before founding Ruthless in 1987 4 After a short solo career with frequent collaboration with Ice Cube and Dr Dre they joined forming N W A later that year N W A s debut studio album Straight Outta Compton was released in 1988 Controversial upon release it is now ranked among the greatest and most influential albums ever The group released its third and final studio album Niggaz4Life in 1991 and soon after disbanded During N W A s splintering largely by disputes over money Eazy E became embroiled in bitter rivalries with fellow group members Ice Cube and Dr Dre who had departed for solo careers in 1989 and 1991 respectively Resuming his solo career Eazy E released two EPs 5 yet he remained more significant behind the scenes signing and nationally debuting the rap group Bone Thugs N Harmony from 1993 to 1994 In 1995 Eazy E was suddenly hospitalized and diagnosed with AIDS and died due to its complications Contents 1 Early life and Ruthless Records investment 2 Musical career 2 1 N W A and Eazy Duz It 1986 1991 2 2 End of N W A and feud with Dr Dre 1991 1994 3 Personal life 3 1 Illness and death 4 Musical influences and style 4 1 Legacy 5 Discography 5 1 Studio albums 5 2 Extended plays 5 3 with N W A 6 References 7 Literature 8 External linksEarly life and Ruthless Records investmentEric Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright on September 7 1964 in Compton California a Los Angeles suburb once noted for high crime rates and gang culture 6 7 His father was a postal worker and his mother was a grade school administrator 8 Wright dropped out of high school in the tenth grade 9 but later received a general equivalency diploma GED 10 No one survived on the streets without a protective mask No one survived naked You had to have a role You had to be thug playa athlete gangsta or dope man Otherwise there was only one role left to you victim Jerry Heller on Eazy E 11 Wright supported himself mainly by selling drugs and introduced his cousin to the illicit occupation 9 Wright s music manager Jerry Heller recalls seeing Wright selling marijuana but not cocaine Heller would claim that Wright s dope dealer label was part of his self forged armor 11 Wright was also labeled as a thug Heller explains The hood where he grew up was a dangerous place He was a small guy Thug was a role that was widely understood on the street it gave you a certain level of protection in the sense that people hesitated to fuck with you Likewise dope dealer was a role that accorded you certain privileges and respect 11 In 1986 at age 22 Wright had allegedly earned as much as US 250 000 from dealing drugs However after his cousin was shot and killed he decided that he could make a better living in the Los Angeles hip hop scene which was growing rapidly in popularity 12 He started recording songs during the mid 1980s in his parents garage thus starting Ruthless Records 10 13 The original idea for Ruthless Records came when Wright asked Heller to go into business with him Wright suggested a half ownership company but it was later decided that Wright would get eighty percent of the company s income and Heller would only get twenty percent According to Heller he told Wright Every dollar comes into Ruthless I take twenty cents That s industry standard for a manager of my caliber I take twenty you take eighty percent I am responsible for my expenses and you re responsible for yours You own the company I work for you 11 Along with Heller Wright invested much of his money into Ruthless Records 14 Heller claims that he invested the first 250 000 and would eventually put up to 1 000 000 into the company 11 Musical careerN W A and Eazy Duz It 1986 1991 N W A s also named as the world s most dangerous group 13 original lineup consisted of Arabian Prince Dr Dre Eazy E and Ice Cube 15 16 DJ Yella and MC Ren joined later 17 The compilation album N W A and the Posse was released on November 6 1987 and would go on to be certified Gold in the United States 18 19 The album featured material previously released as singles on the Macola Records label which was responsible for distributing the releases by N W A and other artists like the Fila Fresh Crew a West Coast rap group originally based in Dallas Texas 20 21 Eazy E s debut album Eazy Duz It was released in 1988 and featured twelve tracks It was labeled as West Coast hip hop gangsta rap and later as golden age hip hop It has sold over 2 5 million copies in the United States and reached number forty one on the Billboard 200 10 22 The album was produced by Dr Dre and DJ Yella and largely written by MC Ren Ice Cube and The D O C 23 Both Glen Boyd from the Seattle Post Intelligencer and MTV s Jon Wiederhorn claimed that Eazy Duz It paved the way for N W A s most controversial album Straight Outta Compton 24 25 Wright s only solo in the album was a remix of the song 8 Ball which originally appeared on N W A and the Posse The album featured Wright s writing and performing he performed on seven songs and helped write four songs 26 Ice Cube left N W A in 1989 because of internal disputes and the group continued as a four piece ensemble 17 N W A released 100 Miles and Runnin in 1990 and Niggaz4Life in 1991 A diss war started between N W A and Ice Cube when 100 Miles and Runnin and Real Niggaz were released Ice Cube responded with No Vaseline on Death Certificate 27 Wright performed on seven of the eighteen songs on Niggaz4Life 28 In March 1991 Wright accepted an invitation to a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle hosted by then U S President George H W Bush 29 A spokesman for the rapper said that Eazy E supported Bush because of his performance in the Gulf War 30 End of N W A and feud with Dr Dre 1991 1994 N W A began to split up after Jerry Heller became the band s manager Dr Dre recalls The split came when Jerry Heller got involved He played the divide and conquer game Instead of taking care of everybody he picked one nigga to take care of and that was Eazy And Eazy was like I m taken care of so fuck it Dr Dre and The D O C sent Suge Knight to look into Eazy E s financial situation as they began to grow suspicious of Eazy E and Jerry Heller Dr Dre and The D O C asked Eazy E to release them from Ruthless but Eazy E refused The impasse led to what reportedly transpired between Suge Knight and Eazy E at the recording studio where Niggaz4life was recorded After he refused to release Dr Dre and The D O C Suge Knight told Eazy E that he had kidnapped Jerry Heller and was holding him prisoner in a van This did not convince Eazy E to release Dr Dre and The D O C from Ruthless and Suge Knight threatened Eazy E s family Suge Knight gave Eazy E a piece of paper that contained Eazy s mother s address telling him I know where your mama stays Eazy E finally signed Dr Dre and The D O C s releases officially ending N W A 31 In 1993 Eazy E regularly attended court in the prosecution of the officers involved in the beating of Rodney King often standing alongside Theodore J Briseno who he had met through sharing the same lawyer Eazy E said The difference is that most people look at the video and say four white officers were responsible for the beating of this helpless innocent black man I say Wrong Three white officers were responsible for beating Rodney King The other officer Theodore J Briseno happens to be Mexican American and he tried to stop them This caused controversy in the hip hop community with Willie D calling Eazy E a sellout 32 The feud with Dr Dre continued after a track on Dre s debut album The Chronic Fuck wit Dre Day And Everybody s Celebratin contained lyrics that insulted Eazy E Eazy responded with the EP It s On Dr Dre 187um Killa featuring the tracks Real Muthaphuckkin G s and It s On The album which was released on October 25 1993 contains pictures of Dre wearing lacy outfits and makeup when he was a member of the Electro hop World Class Wreckin Cru 31 Personal lifeWright had a son Eric Darnell Wright known as Lil Eazy E in 1984 He also had a daughter named Erin 33 who changed her name to Ebie 34 In October 2016 Ebie launched a crowd funding campaign to produce a film called Ruthless Scandal No More Lies to investigate her father s death 35 It ended unsuccessfully in December 2016 36 Wright met Tomica Woods at a Los Angeles nightclub in 1991 and they married in 1995 twelve days before his death 37 They had a son named Dominick and a daughter named Daijah born six months after Wright s death 38 After Wright s death Ruthless was taken over by his wife According to Jerry Heller Wright had 11 children with eight women 39 Illness and death 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 all your support Just remember It s your real time and your real life Statement from Eazy E s camp on his behalf March 16 40 On February 24 1995 Wright was admitted to the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with a violent cough 41 He was diagnosed with HIV AIDS 42 He announced his illness in a public statement on March 16 1995 It is believed Wright contracted the infection from a sexual partner 12 43 44 During the week of March 20 having already made amends with Ice Cube he drafted a final message to his fans 45 On March 26 1995 Eazy E died from AIDS induced pneumonia one month after his diagnosis 46 39 He was 30 years old most reports at the time said he was 31 due to the falsification of his date of birth by one year 10 47 He was buried on April 7 1995 at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier California Over 3 000 people attended his funeral 48 including Jerry Heller and DJ Yella 49 He was buried in a gold casket and was dressed in a flannel shirt jeans and his Compton hat On January 30 1996 ten months after Eazy E s death his final album Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton was released According to his son Lil Eazy E Eazy E s net worth was an estimated US 50 million at the time of his death 50 Musical influences and style Logo used by Eazy E Allmusic cites Eazy E s influences as Ice T Redd Foxx King Tee Bootsy Collins Run D M C Richard Pryor Egyptian Lover Schoolly D Too hort Prince the Sugarhill Gang and George Clinton 51 In the documentary The Life and Timez of Eric Wright Eazy E mentions collaborating with many of his influences 52 When reviewing Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted Eazy E sounds revitalized but the music simply isn t imaginative Instead of pushing forward and creating a distinctive style it treads over familiar gangsta territory complete with bottomless bass whining synthesizers and meaningless boasts 53 When reviewing Eazy Duz It Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic said In terms of production Dr Dre and Yella meld together P Funk Def Jam style hip hop and the leftover electro sounds of mid 80s Los Angeles creating a dense funky and thoroughly unique style of their own Birchmeier described Eazy E s style as dense unique and funky and said that it sounded absolutely revolutionary in 1988 51 Several members of N W A wrote lyrics for Eazy Duz It Ice Cube The D O C and MC Ren 54 The EP 5150 Home 4 tha Sick features a song written by Naughty by Nature The track Merry Muthaphuckkin Xmas features Menajahtwa Buckwheat and Atban Klann as guest vocalists and Neighborhood Sniper features Kokane as a guest vocalist 55 It s On Dr Dre 187um Killa features several guest vocalists including Gangsta Dresta B G Knocc Out Kokane Cold 187um Rhythum D and Dirty Red 56 Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton featured several guest vocalists including B G Knocc Out Gangsta Dresta Sylk E Fyne Dirty Red Menajahtwa Roger Troutman and ex N W A members MC Ren and DJ Yella 57 Legacy Graffiti of Eazy E in Leeuwarden Netherlands Eazy E has been called the godfather of gangsta rap 58 59 3 60 MTV s Reid Shaheem said that Eazy was a rap pioneer 60 and he is sometimes cited by critics as a legend 61 62 Steve Huey of AllMusic said that he was one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap 5 Since his 1995 death many book and video biographies have been produced including 2002 s The Day Eazy E Died and Dead and Gone 63 64 65 When Eazy was diagnosed with AIDS many magazines like Jet 66 Vibe 67 Billboard 68 The Crisis 69 and Newsweek covered the story and released information on the topic 70 All of his studio albums and EPs charted on the Billboard 200 71 72 73 and many of his singles Eazy Duz It We Want Eazy Real Muthaphuckkin G s and Just tah Let U Know also charted in the U S 73 74 In 2012 an Eazy E documentary was released by Ruthless Propaganda called Ruthless Memories The documentary featured interviews with Jerry Heller MC Ren and B G Knocc Out 75 In the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton Eazy E is played by Jason Mitchell and the film is dedicated in his memory 76 Eazy E was then portrayed by Omari Wallace in the 2016 film Surviving Compton Dre Suge amp Michel le The film portrays Eazy E sympathetically as having been a friend to Michel le in one scene warning her to get out of the house because he fears that a drunken Dr Dre is returning home to beat her DiscographyMain article Eazy E discographySee also N W A discography Studio albums Eazy Duz It 1988 Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton 1996 Extended plays 5150 Home 4 tha Sick 1992 It s On Dr Dre 187um Killa 1993 Impact of a Legend 2002 with N W A N W A and the Posse 1987 Straight Outta Compton 1988 100 Miles and Runnin 1990 Niggaz4Life 1991 References Lonzo Williams Dre amp Eazy Were Supposes to Co Own Ruthless Records DJVlad Retrieved November 30 2021 Westhoff 2017 p 284 Though most obituaries list his birth year as 1963 that is likely not accurate The funeral program gave his birth year as 1964 as do most official court documents That would make him thirty at his death rather than thirty one as was widely reported a b The Black Dot 2005 Hip Hop Decoded From Its Ancient Origin to Its Modern Day Matrix MOME Publishing p 100 ISBN 0 9772357 0 X Vladislav Lyubovny interview with Lonzo Williams Dre amp Eazy were supposed to co own Ruthless Records DJVlad YouTube August 26 2015 a b Huey Steve 2003 Eazy E Biography Allmusic Retrieved August 24 2007 Hochman Steve March 28 1995 Rap Star Record Company Founder Eazy E Dies of AIDS Los Angeles Times Hip Hop News Remembering Eric Eazy E Wright Archived May 16 2013 at the Wayback Machine Rap News Network March 26 2006 Harris Carter June July 1995 Eazy Living Vibe 3 5 62 a b Straight Outta Left Field Dallas Observer September 12 2002 Archived from the original on October 15 2012 Retrieved January 6 2010 a b c d Pareles Jon March 28 1995 Eazy E 31 Performer Who Put Gangster Rap on the Charts The New York Times a b c d e Heller Jerry 2007 Ruthless A Memoir Gallery pp 65 77 ISBN 978 1 4169 1794 6 a b Chang Jeff April 24 2004 The Last Days of Eazy E Swindle Archived from the original on October 25 2007 Retrieved December 5 2010 a b Happy 56th Birthday To N W A Ruthless Records Founder Eazy E RIP All Rap News September 7 2020 Retrieved September 8 2020 Hunt Dennis October 22 1989 Dr Dre Joins an Illustrious Pack In the last year producer has hit with albums for N W A Eazy E J J Fad and the D O C Archived November 4 2012 at the Wayback Machine Los Angeles Times Arabian Prince interview www huffingtonpost com Huffington Post September 8 2015 Retrieved September 16 2015 Arabian Prince interview www vladtv com VladTV Retrieved September 16 2015 a b Erlewine Stephen Thomas 2000 N W A Biography Allmusic Koroma Salima September 29 2008 Vh1 Airs Documentary On N W A Archived June 7 2011 at the Wayback Machine Hiphopdx com Gold amp Platinum November 26 2010 Recording Industry Association of America Archived from the original on May 24 2012 Retrieved November 27 2010 Bynoe Yvonne 2005 Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip Hop Culture Greenwood Publishing Group p 294 ISBN 0 313 33058 1 Brackett Nathan 2004 The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition Fireside Books p 248 ISBN 0 7432 0169 8 Eazy Duz It Eazy E Billboard Retrieved November 27 2010 Eazy Duz It Media notes Eazy E Ruthless Priority 1988 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Boyd Glen March 20 2010 Music Review Eazy E Eazy Duz It Uncut Snoop Dogg Approved Edition Remastered Seattle Post Intelligencer Wiederhorn Jon July 31 2002 N W A Classics To Be Reissued With Bonus Tracks MTV Straight Outta Compton Media notes N W A Ruthless Priority EMI Records 1988 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Lazerine Cameron Lazerine Devin 2008 Rap Up The Ultimate Guide to Hip Hop and R amp B Grand Central Publications pp 43 67 ISBN 978 0 446 17820 4 Niggaz4Life Media notes N W A Ruthless Priority 1991 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Rap s Bad Boy to Get Lunch With the Prez Los Angeles Times March 18 1991 Do the Right Wing Thing Entertainment Weekly No 59 March 29 1991 Archived from the original on July 30 2013 a b Borgmeyer Jon Lang Holly 2006 Dr Dre A Biography Greenwood Publishing Group pp 52 55 ISBN 0 313 33826 4 Philips Chuck April 6 1993 Rapper Takes Officer s Side Trial Controversial N W A founder Eazy E has stood by Theodore J Briseno at the Rodney King trial His actions have shocked some in the rap community Los Angeles Times Retrieved December 29 2020 Eazy E s daughter pays photo tribute says father due more respect Retrieved August 29 2015 A lot of people remember Erin from TV but my family has called me E B my initials since birth Retrieved February 9 2016 Bandini October 19 2016 Eazy E s daughter tries to crowd fund to investigate father s death ambrosiaforheads Retrieved October 20 2016 A Ruthless Scandal Kickstarter December 14 2016 Retrieved August 15 2019 Woods Wright Tomica Retrieved August 27 2015 6 Months After Aids Kills Rapper His Baby Is Born Retrieved August 29 2015 a b Soraya Nadia McDonald August 26 2015 Eazy E s son thinks Suge Knight killed his father by infecting him with HIV Here s why that s highly unlikely The Washington Post Retrieved December 16 2019 Westhoff 2017 pp 278 279 Staff September 4 1995 A Gangster Wake Up Call Newsweek Retrieved June 29 2018 Rapper Eazy E hospitalized with AIDS UPI Los Angeles March 17 1995 Retrieved June 29 2018 Borgmeyer Jon Lang Holly 2006 Dr Dre A Biography Greenwood Publishing Group pp 99 100 ISBN 0 313 33826 4 Talia Pele September 1995 Vibe article Vibe 3 7 32 Eazy E s Last Words Retrieved December 2 2014 News Flash March 26 1995 Vibe September 2003 Retrieved December 16 2019 Kapsambelis Niki March 27 1995 Gangsta rapper Eazy E dies of AIDS Park City Daily News p 39 Williams Frank B April 8 1995 Thousands Flock to Funeral for Eazy E Music Overflow crowd is drawn to gangsta rap star s service Eulogy notes his contributions but warns of danger of AIDS which killed the rapper Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 29 2018 Schwartz Danny September 8 2015 DJ Yella Says He Was The Only Member Of N W A To Attend Eazy E s Funeral HotNewHipHop Retrieved June 29 2018 Lil Eazy E My Father Was Worth 50 Million When He Passed Away YouTube Archived from the original on October 29 2021 Retrieved January 9 2016 a b Huey Steve Eazy E Allmusic Retrieved November 27 2010 The Life and Timez of Eric Wright Color DVD NTSC April 2 2002 Event occurs at 21 03 ASIN B000063UQQ Thomas Stephen Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphu in Compton Eazy E Allmusic Retrieved November 27 2010 Eazy Duz It CD Eazy E Ruthless Priority 1988 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link 5150 Home 4 tha Sick CD Eazy E Ruthless Priority 1992 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link It s On Dr Dre 187um Killa CD Eazy E Ruthless Relativity Epic 1993 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton CD Eazy E Ruthless Relativity Epic 1995 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Simmonds Jeremy 2008 The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars Heroin Handguns and Ham Sandwiches Chicago Review Press p 332 ISBN 978 1 55652 754 8 Widow of Rapper Eazy E Gives Birth To Child Jet 88 23 40 October 16 1995 a b Shaheem Reid March 26 2010 Lil Eazy E Remembers His Dad 15 Years Later MTV Davis Todd Lil Eazy E Son of a Legend Archived May 27 2013 at the Wayback Machine Hiphopdx com December 9 2005 About the Official Hip Hop Hall Of Fame and Producer JT Thompson Live PR com November 16 2010 Hardy James Earl 2002 The Day Eazy E Died A B Boy Blues Novel 4 9781555837600 James Earl Hardy Books ISBN 1555837603 Day Eazy E Died PB 2002 Jema Eerl Herdy Books Amazon September 9 2009 Dead and Gone Tupac Eazy E Notorias BIG Aaliyah Big Pun Big L Video Amazon September 9 2009 Rap Star Eazy E Battles AIDS Listed in Critical Condition in LA Hospital Jet 13 April 3 2010 The Invisible Woman Vibe 62 June July 1995 HN August 9 1997 Ruthless Sounds Billboard p 44 Colin Potter July 1995 AIDS in Black America It s Not Just A Gay Thing The Crisis 34 35 Smith Rex Newsweek article Newsweek 137 10 18 609 Eazy E Allmusic Retrieved November 28 2010 Eazy E Allmusic Retrieved November 28 2010 a b Eazy E Allmusic Retrieved November 28 2010 Eazy E Allmusic Retrieved November 28 2010 Eazy E Documentary To Release Featuring Jerry Heller MC Ren B G Knocc Out Retrieved November 24 2012 Jason Mitchell IMDB 2015 LiteratureWesthoff Ben 2017 Original Gangstas The Untold Story of Dr Dre Eazy E Ice Cube Tupac Shakur and the Birth of West Coast Rap New York Hachette Books ISBN 978 0 3163 4485 2 External linksEazy E at Wikipedia s sister projects Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Data from Wikidata Eazy E at IMDb FBI file on Eazy E Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eazy E amp oldid 1144929203, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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