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 Compton, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. He was a Kelly Park Compton Crip from the early teenage years until his death, mentioned in the song 'Any Last Werdz?'. He was the son of Richard and Kathie Wright. 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 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.

Contents

Life and music

Illness and death

Honors and legacy

Discography

Solo albums

Tribute albums

Group albums

References

External links

Life and music

When N.W.A. was first started, Eazy-E never planned on rapping in any songs; he was set to provide the money, not the talent. After hearing Eazy-E rap, however, Ice Cube gave him some lyrics he had already written (see "Boyz-n-the-Hood").
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 the High Powered Productions duo of 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 "Alwayz into Somethin'" and "Appetite for Destruction".
These differences of opinion led to a bumpy relationship; a break-up ensued when it was revealed that Eazy-E and Jerry Heller were borrowing money from the group. Ice Cube had previously discovered 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 (during which time Eazy-E was physically harmed by Suge Knight), 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 "The Defense League offered to provide bodyguards to Eazy-E when Knight allegedly threatened him in the early 1990s."^[2] 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.
Jerry Heller has explained JDL’s involvement with Ruthless Records for even more reasons than the FBI investigated. Heller has acknowledged that Eazy E received death threats, and it was discovered that he was on hit list by some neo-Nazi skinheads. The FBI never bothered to inform Eazy that his life was in danger. Heller has speculated that it may have been because of "Fuck Tha Police" song. Heller 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.^[3]

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, Eazy-E drafted what would be his last message to his fans: ^[4]
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, Tomica Woods-Wright, whom he married just days before, and seven children -- one with Woods-Wright, and six others from previous relationships.
^[5]
Some believe that before his death, Eazy-E had made amends with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre (although others believe that only DJ Yella saw Eazy-E while he was in the hospital). Dr. Dre believes that their history together overshadowed the feud. Four years later, Dr. Dre publicly discussed the death of Eazy in the song "What's the Difference?" from ''2001'' with his lyrics, "Eazy, I'm still wit' you, fuck the beef, nigga I miss you, and that's just bein' real with you". Ice Cube later paid tribute to him on the song "Growin Up", off his comeback album ''Laugh Now, Cry Later'' with the lyrics:
:Never thought I'd see Eazy in a casket
:Thanks for everythang, that's on everythang
:I learned a lot of game from you
:I like your son, he got his name from you
:I tell him everythang that he need to know
:If he ask my advice, I won't think twice homey
Wright's body was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

Honors and legacy

The Mayor of Compton Omar Bradley announced Eazy-E day to be held every year on April 7 for the city.^[6]
In 1995, two posthumous albums were released: ''Eternal E'' and ''Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton''. Both releases proved to be successful. Following Eazy's death, his record label was taken over by his widow, Tomica Wright. It is currently a division of Epic Records. Ruthless Records has also found considerable success with former N.W.A. member MC Ren, as well as with Above the Law, B.G. Knocc Out and Dresta, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, among others. The latter group has dedicated their performance at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards and also a few of its songs to Eazy, mainly their 1997 Grammy Award winning single "Tha Crossroads".
In 2002, Eazy's oldest son, Eric "Lil Eazy-E" Wright, Jr., released a documentary about his father entitled ''The Life and Times of Eric Wright''. Another documentary called ''Impact of a Legend'' was produced and sold along with the CD of the same name.
In 2004, the song "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn" was featured in on one of the game radio stations and the character of in '' was inspired by Eazy-E, and modeled on him.^[7]
In 2006, Eazy-E was honored at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors along with other legendary hip hop artists and pioneers such as Afrika Bambaataa, the Beastie Boys, MC Lyte, Ice Cube, Rakim, Russell Simmons, and the Wu-Tang Clan.

Discography

Solo albums

★ 1988: ''Eazy-Duz-It''

★ 1992: ''

★ 1993: ''It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa''

★ 1995: ''Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton''

★ 1995: ''Eternal E''

★ 2002: ''Impact of a Legend''

Tribute albums

★ 2005: ''Eternal E - Gangsta Memorial Edition''

★ 2006: ''In Loving Memory''

Group albums

★ 1987: ''N.W.A. and the Posse''

★ 1988: ''Straight Outta Compton''

★ 1990: ''100 Miles and Runnin'''

★ 1991: ''Efil4zaggin''

★ 1996: ''Greatest Hits''

★ 1999: ''

★ 2002: ''The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 2''

References

1. Huey, Steve. Eazy-E Biography. All Music Guide. Last accessed August 24, 2007.
2. Berry, Jahna. The FBI Screws Up Again. Jewish Defense League: September 19, 2000.
3. [1]
4. Eazy-E's Death
5. Eazy-E Timeline
6. 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.
7. ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' trivia at the Internet Movie Database

External links

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★ NWA World