Eazy-E

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Eazy-E
Background information
Birth name	Eric Lynn Wright
Born	September 7, 1963
Origin	Compton, California
Died	March 26, 1995 (age 31)(AIDS related complications)
Genre(s)	Gangsta rap, West Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, Producer
Years active	1986 - 1995
Label(s)	Ruthless Records (1987-1995) Priority Records (1988-1993) Relativity Records (1993-1995) Epic Records (1993-1995)
Associated acts	N.W.A. Above the Law B.G. Knocc Out Dresta Kokane Dirty Red Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

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 the son of Richard and Kathie Wright. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the gangsta rap sub-genre who initially rose to fame as a member of the group N.W.A., and 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.

[edit] 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, the other N.W.A. members liked his distinct, almost child-like voice^{[citation needed]} and Ice Cube gave him some lyrics he had already written (see "Boyz-N-The-Hood").

Eazy-E's first solo album, Eazy-Duz-It, sold two million copies certifying it as a double platinum album. This album had three hit singles: "We Want Eazy", "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn," and "Boyz-N-The-Hood." Fellow N.W.A. rapper Ice Cube wrote the lyrics for Eazy's first songs.

Eazy-E's creative vision was not always shared by the other members of N.W.A.. Dr. Dre was especially critical of the direction Eazy-E was leading the group^{[citation needed]}. Eazy-E wanted to portray a rough, realistic image using stark production and minimal beats; Dre preferred to incorporate more mainstream elements into his production.^{[citation needed]}

The subsequent period saw the release of several EPs as both group and Eazy-E solo efforts, plus a side project from the D.O.C. On the final N.W.A. album, Efil4zaggin (1991), some of the lyrics provoked outrage from many critics and conservative circles, but this served to increase the group's audience.^{[citation needed]} Eazy-E included even more of the elements that Dr. Dre considered cartoonish,^{[citation needed]} such as the use of pistols and shotguns in videos for Always 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 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 and Dre started feuding--a feud that grew to embroil most of Ruthless Records and Dre's new label, Death Row Records.

[edit] Criticisms

Eazy-E was heavily criticized by many rap fans in the Los Angeles area, especially in Compton, for supporting the lawyer of Theodore Briseño, one of the police officers that took part in the Rodney King beating. Eazy was also criticized for attending a Republican Party fundraiser. Eazy claimed:^{[citation needed]}

[edit] 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, and the illness was in an advanced stage. During the week of March 20, Eazy-E drafted what would be his last message to his fans: ^{[1][citation needed]}

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. ^[2]

Some believe that before his death, Eazy had made amends with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre (although others believe that only D.J. Yella saw Eazy while he was in the hospital). 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 Chronic 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.

Wright's body was laid to rest at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

[edit] Legacy

Two posthumous albums were released in 1995, 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 a few of its songs to Eazy, mainly their 1997 Grammy Award winning single "Tha Crossroads" and also their performance at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.

Eazy's oldest son, Eric Lynn "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. Lil' Eazy also plans to release his own rap album named 'Prince of Compton' in honor of his father, working with Bone Thugs and some of Eazy-E's old N.W.A. cohorts. Also Eazy E's Daughter Erin Bria Wright, called “E.B.”, plans to release an album by the end of 2007.

The track "Still Cruisin'" has appeared on several mix tapes including G-Unit Radio Part 8. "How We Do (Remix)" is another rare track featuring Eazy, 50 Cent, and Tupac. The Game often mentions Eazy-E in his songs, most notably on his album The Documentary and even has a tattoo of him on his right arm. Also in his music video for Hate It Or Love It the game is seen as a teenager dressing up like Eazy-E wearing a black Compton cap and his infamous sunglasses

In 2001, post-grunge band Dynamite Hack released "Boyz-N-The-Hood", a cover of the 1986 original written by Ice Cube and performed by Eazy-E. Eazy is also mentioned in the songs "Pass Me By", "The Staleness", and "Terrible" by Insane Clown Posse. Rapper South Park Mexican has released a song called "Boyz On Da Cut" which is a Houston, TX version of Eazy-E's "Boyz-N-The-Hood".

Before Eazy-E died, he was scheduled to make music with artists such as Guns N' Roses, Tupac Shakur, Scarface, Dirty Red, Brotha Lynch Hung, Kid Frost and Bizzy Bone^{[citation needed]}. The character of Lance "Ryder" Wilson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was inspired by Eazy-E, and modeled on him.^[3] Two unreleased tracks from Eazy-E will also be featured on two tracks on Mastermynd's debut album Oraculum.

On February 5, 2007, his daughter Erin appeared on the MTV series 'My Super Sweet 16.' Her party was at a 16 million dollar mansion in Bel-Air, and in her entrance she appeared in an approx. $400k Lamborghini Murciélago. She is noted for her diva attitude to her clothing and hair stylist^{[citation needed]}. She got a Porsche Cayenne for her birthday and had her party shut down due to noise levels.

[edit] Trivia

• Eazy-E was honored at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors 2006 along with other legendary hip hop artists/pioneers such as Afrika Bambaataa, the Beastie Boys, MC Lyte, Ice Cube, Rakim, Russell Simmons and the Wu-Tang Clan.
• The Mayor of Compton announced an Eazy-E day to be held every year on April 7th in the city of Compton.
• He has been honored by Snoop Dogg on BET by having hit Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn played at #2 on a 50 countdown.
• He is known for his visit to the White House and having dinner with then-President George H.W. Bush.
• Has a new pre-recorded album coming out this summer, "Round One: Down-N-Out."

[edit] Discography

Main article: Eazy-E discography

[edit] Solo Albums

Album cover	Album information
	Eazy-Duz-It Released: September 16, 1988 Label: Ruthless/Priority Chart positions: #41 US Last RIAA certification: 2x Platinum Singles: "We Want Eazy," "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn," "Boyz-N-The-Hood," "Eazy-Duz-It"
	5150: Home 4 tha Sick Released: December 28, 1992 Label: Ruthless/Priority Chart positions: #1 US Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "Only If You Want It," "Neighborhood Sniper"
	It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa Released: October 19, 1993 Label: Ruthless/Epic Chart positions: #1 US Last RIAA certification: 2x Platinum Singles: "Real Muthaphuckkin G's, "Any Last Werdz
	Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton Released: October, 1995 Label: Ruthless/Epic Chart positions: #1 US Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "Just Tah Let U Know," "Sippin On A 40", "Creep N Crawl"
	Eternal E Released: December, 1995 Label: Ruthless/Priority Chart positions: #84 US Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles:
	Impact Of A Legend Released: May, 2002 Label: Ruthless/Priority Chart positions: #113 US Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "Switchez"

[edit] Official tribute albums

Album cover	Album information
	Eternal E - Gangsta Memorial Edition Released: September 6, 2005 Label: Ruthless/Priority Chart positions: Last RIAA Certification: Gold Singles:
	In Loving Memory Released: September 8, 2006 Label: Ruthless Chart positions: Singles:

[edit] Singles

[edit] External links

• Eazy-E at MySpace
• Eric "Eazy E" Wright at the Internet Movie Database
• Eazy-E Memorial at Find A Grave
• Eazy-E at the Notable Names Database

[edit] Official Site

• [[1]]