User:Mr. Eric Eazy-E Wright
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eric Eazy-E 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 ghetto 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 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. Eazy-E Background information Birth name Eric Lynn Wright Born September 7, 1963 Origin Compton, California Died March 26, 1995 Genre(s) Gangsta rap, West Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, old school 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 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-E'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; Dr. 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 "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. Criticisms Eazy-E was heavily criticized by many rap fans in the Los Angeles area 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-E claimed:[citation needed] “ "So what they did was picked my name off for giving donations and they sent me an invitation to come down there, an invitation that said "We want to invite you to the Republicans' party". I'm not no fuckin' Republican you know. When we went down there, and as soon as I got off the plane, we had CNN and all these people like 'Eazy-E: gang member, drug dealer..' and they just blew it up. Basically, what I did was paid $1,500 for $1,000,000 worth of press"
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: [1][citation needed] “ "...I may not seem like a guy you would pick to preach a sermon. But I feel it is now time to testify because I do have folks who care about me hearing all kinds of stuff about what's up. Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of Compton doing a lot of things most people look down on -- but it did pay off. Then we started rapping about real stuff that shook up the LAPD and the FBI. But we got our message across big time, and everyone in America started paying attention to the boys in the 'hood. Soon our anger and hope got everyone riled up. There were great rewards for me personally, like fancy cars, gorgeous women and good living. Like real non-stop excitement. I'm not religious, but wrong or right, that's me. I'm not saying this because I'm looking for a soft cushion wherever I'm heading, I just feel that I've got thousands and thousands of young fans that have to learn about what's real when it comes to AIDS. Like the others before me, I would like to turn my own problem into something good that will reach out to all my homeboys and their kin. Because I want to save their asses before it's too late. "I'm not looking to blame anyone except myself. I have learned in the last week that this thing is real, and it doesn't discriminate. It affects everyone. My girl Tomika and I have been together for four years and we recently got married. She's good, she's kind and a wonderful mother. We have a little boy who's a year old. Before Tomika I had other women. I have seven children by six different mothers. Maybe success was too good to me. I love all my kids and always took care of them. 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 your support. Just remember: It's YOUR real time and YOUR real life." ” 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-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. [edit] Honors and legacy Before his death, 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 Mayor of Compton Omar Bradley announced Eazy-E day to be held every year on April 7 for the city.[3] 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 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack on one of the game radio stations Radio Los Santos and the character of Lance "Ryder" Wilson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was inspired by Eazy-E, and modeled on him.[4] 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.
Eazy-E albums
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"
Official tribute albums Album information Eternal E - Gangsta Memorial Edition Released: September 6, 2005 Label: Ruthless/Priority/Epic Chart positions: Last RIAA Certification: Gold Singles: In Loving Memory Released: September 8, 2006 Label: Ruthless/Epic Chart positions: Singles:
Singles Year Song U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK singles Album 1988 "We Want Eazy" - 43 7 - Eazy-Duz-It
1988 "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn" - 84 - - Eazy-Duz-It 1988 "Boyz-n-the-Hood" - - - - Eazy-Duz-It 1988 "Eazy-Duz-It" - - 1 - Eazy-Duz-It 1992 "Only If You Want It" - - - - 5150: Home 4 tha Sick
1992 "Neighborhood Sniper" - - - - 5150: Home 4 tha Sick 1993 "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" 42 31 2 - It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa 1993 "Any Last Werdz" - - - - It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa 1994 "Foe tha Love of $" (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony featuring Eazy-E) 41 33 4 - Creepin on ah Come Up
1996 "Just tah Let U Know" 45 30 4 30 Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton
1996 "Tha Muthaphuckkin' Real" - - - - Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton 2002 "Switchez" - - - - Impact of a Legend
Notes Eazy-E's Death Eazy-E Timeline Williams, Frank B. (1995-04-08). 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 on 2007-04-08. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas trivia at the Internet Movie Database
Sources This article does not cite its references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!) Any material not supported by sources may be challenged and removed at any time. This article has been tagged since February 2007.
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 NWA World Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eazy-E"
Eric "Eazy-E" Wright
Rapper-singer. Founder of N.W.A. Eazy-E alias tha Godfather of Gangsta Rap.
Birth: Sep. 7, 1963 Death: Mar. 26, 1995
Cause of death: Complications of AIDS
Burial:
Rose Hills Memorial Park Whittier Los Angeles County California, USA Plot: Lupine Lawn, Lot 2482, Gr 1
