Eazy-E
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.
Eazy-E's style as a lyricist and rapper are recognizable by his fairly high voice, and his lyrics which centered around the carrying of guns, sale of drugs, evasion of police, violent acts against those who disrespect him, abundant sexual activity and flaunting his lack of emotional involvement with partners, even misogyny. While Eazy-E and his group didn't invent all of these things, Eazy-E and NWA played a huge part in bringing this gangsta rap into homes across the United States and the world.
Life and Death
Eazy-E was born in Compton, California. He attended Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California (being bussed from South Central), where his music teacher, Kenneth Kamp, remembered him as brilliant. He 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-Duz-It“ album cover 1988 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 May of 2000, Eazy-E had a boost in popularity among listeners of "alternative rock" radio stations, after the band Dynamite Hack did a parody cover of "Boyz n' tha Hood" in a harmonious rock style deliberately reminiscent of The Beatles' "Blackbird." They used gentle rhythms and a soothing vocal style juxtaposed with the harsh ghetto lyrics (shortened but otherwise unaltered) for ironic effect. During Eazy-E's lifetime, there were still wider gaps in common tastes between rap and rock music; Many of the people listening to these same radio stations in 1995 wouldn't likely have heard any of Eazy-E or NWA's music.
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."
q is a hard mothafucka
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 (1995)
- Impact Of A Legend w/DVD (2002)
- Eternal E - Gangsta Memorial Edition w/ DVD (2005)
Singles
From Eazy-Duz-It
From It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa
From Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton
- 1993 "Just tah Let U Know"
External links
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