Eric Wright (September 7, 1963 – March 26, 1995), better known as Eazy-E, was a United States rapper, record producer, and record executive who initially rose to fame as a member of the group N.W.A.

Life and Death

Eazy-E was born in Compton, California. He dropped out of Dominguez High School while in tenth grade and began selling drugs. He used the profits to form a record label, Ruthless Records, with Jerry Heller. He soon recruited Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince. The group's first album, released as N.W.A ("Niggaz With Attitude") in 1987, N.W.A. and the Posse, sold few copies. However, the groups second album, 1989's Straight Outta Compton and its title track were smash hits.

Eazy-E quickly released his vanguard solo LP, Eazy-Duz-It, which went double-platinum. Ice Cube left N.W.A in 1989, convinced that Eazy-E and Heller were reaping an undue share of the group's profits at the expense of the group's other members, and Eazy-E largely took over Cube's writing and rapping duties for Efil4zaggin (1991). The album was not as successful as Straight Outta Compton, and N.W.A soon broke up, initiating a long court battle between its various members, Heller, Ruthless Records and Death Row Records (Dr. Dre's label, headed by Suge Knight). Dr. Dre's solo debut, the blockbuster hit The Chronic made fun of Eazy-E on several tracks. In response Eazy-E released a second solo album It's On (Dr.Dre) 187um Killa, which eventually sold more than 1.5 million copies. The album contains repeated references to Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg. The album shows Dre on the album's inner sleeve from his days as a member of World Class Wreckin' Cru; the photo's caption accuses him of being dressed in drag and wearing eye shadow, lipstick and sequins. Ruthless Records found considerable success with Above the Law, MC Ren, N.W.A and, most famously, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Eazy-E was heavily criticized by many rap fans after vocally supporting Theodore Briseno, the only non-white police officer who took part in the Rodney King beating and attending a Republican Party fundraiser (Willie D is quoted as saying "Eazy-E is a sellout"). In spite of their hostility toward him and N.W.A, the FBI actually uncovered a plot by white supremacists to assassinate Eazy-E.

In 1995, Eazy-E entered the hospital with what he believed to be asthma. He was diagnosed with AIDS, and almost immediately announced his illness to the public. He died soon after, on March 26, 1995 approximately 6:35 PM. Before his death he made peace with both Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. Dre claimed on MTV when he said goodbye to Eazy, he never replied and died. Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton was released posthumously. His oldest son, nicknamed "Eazy-E, Jr." or "Lil Eazy-E", released a documentary about his father entitled The Life and times of Eric Wright. The Impact of a Legend pack came with its own documentary of the same name, produced separately from Eazy-E, Jr.'s. Eazy-E fathered seven children by six different women. He is now considered one of the founding fathers of Gangsta rap. By order of the mayor, Eazy-E Day is celebrated once a year in Compton.

In 2004, Eazy-E became the influence of the character Ryder from Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Although voiced by MC Eiht of Compton's Most Wanted, the character design looks just like Eazy-E: the Jheri Curls, the black outed sunglasses, the short size and the famous Compton baseball cap replaced with a San Andreas design, but still with the same font.

Quotes

• "Records don't make anybody do nothing. You make yourself do that."
• "Don't quote me boy, 'cause i ain't said shit."

Discography

Albums

• Eazy-Duz-It (1988)
• 5150: Home 4 tha Sick (EP) (1992)
• It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa (EP) (1993)
• Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton (1995)
• Eternal E (2003)

Singles

From Eazy-Duz-It

• 1988 "Boyz-N-The-Hood"
• 1988 "Eazy-Duz-It"
• 1989 "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn"
• 1989 "We Want Eazy"

From It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa

• 1993 "Real Muthaphuckkin G's"

From Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton

• 1993 "Just tah Let U Know"

Quotes

"Drinking whisky straight out of the 8-bottle kid do I look like a motherfucking role model? To a kid looking up to me I say life aint nothing but bitches and money.."

"my nigga sabby khabra wuz my gun"

External links

• EAZY-E.com (Official Ruthless Records fan site)
• Eazy-ECPT.com For tha Latest News,Updates, and exclusive audio related to Lil Eazy and Eazy-E

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