Eazy-E's life was brief and eventful. Born Eric Lynn Wright in 1964, Eazy-E changed the
rap world. Seemingly nothing can touch the unassailable legacy of Eazy-E, the godfather
of gangsta rap.
Eric Wright — otherwise known as Eazy-E — was born in Compton, California, a dangerous
place to come of age in the Eighties. After dropping out of high school in the tenth grade,
he reportedly became a drug dealer in order to survive. Wright's future manager Jerry
Heller wrote in his memoir:
"You had to have a role. You had to be 'thug,' 'playa,' 'athlete,' 'gangsta,' or 'dope man.'"
In the mid-Eighties, Wright set up a makeshift music studio in the garage of his parents'
home, where he made his first recordings. He formed Ruthless Records with Jerry Heller
in 1986, partly funding the company with money he made from dealing drugs, according to Vibe.
He soon began collaborating with two local musicians who would come to be known as Dr.
Dre and Ice Cube.
"As long as there's violence there's gonna be rap music, gangsta rap music, whatever."
They called themselves N.W.A.
In 1988, N.W.A.'s album Straight Outta Compton went double platinum and pulled gangsta rap
into the public spotlight.
"Despite being banned in many places, N.W.A. sold three million copies of their Straight
Outta Compton album."
The rap group gained more infamy after the FBI issued N.W.A.'s distributor a warning
letter after the release of "F--- tha Police."
Controversy followed N.W.A. like a shadow. A few members faced criminal charges in the
early '90s, including Dr. Dre, who became embroiled in a legal scandal after attacking
rap artist and TV personality Dee Barnes, then the host of a rap show, in 1991.
"They grabbed me by the hair ...and started slamming me against the wall."
Dre also submitted to house arrest after assaulting a record producer and a police officer. Meanwhile,
Eazy-E found another way to court criticism: In 1991, he attended a fundraising lunch for
then-President George H.W. Bush — and even donated to his cause.
"Before the Republicans realized it was all a computer foul-up, Eazy-E just sent in the
money, and was made an official member."
"Basically what I did is I paid $1,500 for a million dollars worth of press."
N.W.A. didn't last. In 1989, Ice Cube left the group after a dispute about royalties.
The rap group continued releasing music without him, with several tracks attacking Ice Cube
for his perceived betrayal.
Cube responded in turn, criticizing N.W.A.,Jerry Heller, and Eazy on a number of solo tracks
— most notably on "No Vaseline."
In 1992, Dre also became unhappy with Ruthless Records. He and fellow N.W.A member The D.O.C.
left to join Suge Knight's label, Death Row Records.
"Suge tried to destroy my record company, with the help of others… Dre…"
Only six years after Eazy-E had started N.W.A., the rap group was over.
"What happened with N.W.A.? Basically the breakup was, I think, like, egos… I don't
know."
As early as 1994, Eazy began experiencing the symptoms of an apparent bout of asthma.
It wasn't until early 1995, however, that he finally checked himself into the Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center in Los Angeles. To his surprise, the doctors diagnosed him with AIDS.
"A hardcore rapper who celebrates sex, crime, and violence in his music is in a hospital
tonight with AIDS."
Eazy's condition worsened quickly. Knowing the end was near, he issued a statement to
fans, warning them to, quote, "learn about what's real when it comes to AIDS," and signing
off with a final message:
"Just remember: It's your real time and your real life."
In 2016, his son Lil' Eazy-E recalled his father's final moments in an interview with
Vlad TV:
"I went to see him and, really more so, him kind of crying and me crying, so, there were
just no more words."
"He took all of that street knowledge and hustlings on the streets and brought it over
to this thing that he was doing, know what I'm saying? And, uh, super smart, creative."
Eric Wright's spirit lives on in his seven children, including his daughter, rap artist
E.B. Wright, who began working a documentary about her father's life in 2013. In 2015,
she told the website Datzhott:
"Yeah, I'm just pretty much gonna touch on every little thing that people want to know
about, and things that people don't even know that they want to know about yet, it's going
to be very jaw-dropping, absolutely."
That same year, Eazy-E was the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Straight Outta Compton,
which charted the rise of N.W.A. and was dedicated to Eazy. Actor Jason Mitchell portrayed him
in the film.
"Not only do I get to re-humanize him, but I also get the ultimate challenge as an actor:
To really embody that person."
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus, even more Grunge videos about your favorite
artists are coming soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't
miss a single one.