Eazy E

Eric Lynn Wright † (September 7, 1964 - c. March 26, 1995 [aged 30]), better known online as Eazy E, was an American rapper who led the group N.W.A and its label, Ruthless Records. 
==History==
Eric Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright on September 7, 1964, in Compton, California. http://www.rapnews.net/0-202-261116-00.html Wright dropped out of high school in the tenth grade, but later received a general equivalency diploma. https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60617FA345A0C7B8EDDAA0894DD494D81 
Wright supported himself mainly by selling drugs, and introduced his cousin to the occupation. https://web.archive.org/web/20121015115439/http://www.dallasobserver.com/2002-09-12/music/straight-outta-left-field/ Wright's music manager Jerry Heller recalls seeing Wright selling marijuana, but not cocaine. Heller would claim that Wright's "dope dealer" label was part of his "self-forged armor". https://archive.org/details/ruthlessmemoir00hell/page/65 Wright was also labeled as a "thug". https://archive.org/details/ruthlessmemoir00hell/page/65 
In 1986, at age 22, Wright had allegedly earned as much as $250,000 from dealing drugs. However, after his cousin was shot and killed, he decided that he could make a better living in the Los Angeles hip hop scene. https://web.archive.org/web/20071025012955/http://swindlemagazine.com/issue02/eazy-e/ He started recording songs during the mid-1980's, in his parents' garage, which was when he started up Ruthless Records. https://allrapnews.com/2020/09/07/happy-56th-birthday-to-n-w-a-ruthless-records-founder-eazy-e-rip/ 
N.W.A's original lineup consisted of Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. DJ Yella and MC Ren joined later. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p77 The compilation album N.W.A. and the Posse was released on November 6, 1987, and would go on to be certified Gold in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America The album featured material previously released as singles on the Macola Records label. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofra0000byno 
In March 1991, Wright accepted an invitation to a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by former President George H. W. Bush. http://articles.latimes.com/1991-03-18/entertainment/ca-376_1_rap-group A spokesman for the rapper said that Eazy-E supported Bush because of his performance in the Gulf War. https://web.archive.org/web/20130730175858/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,313775,00.html 
N.W.A began to split up after Jerry Heller became the band's manager. Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. sent Suge Knight to look into Eazy-E's financial situation as they began to grow suspicious of Eazy-E and Jerry Heller. Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. asked Eazy-E to release them from Ruthless, but Eazy-E refused. After he refused to release Dr. Dre and The D.O.C., Suge Knight told Eazy-E that he had kidnapped Jerry Heller and was holding him prisoner in a van. This did not convince Eazy-E to release Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. from Ruthless, and Suge Knight started threatening Eazy-E's family. Eazy-E finally signed Dr. Dre and The D.O.C.'s releases, officially ending N.W.A. https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Dre-Biography-Greenwood-Biographies/dp/0313338264 pg. 52-55 
In 1993, Eazy E regularly attended court in the prosecution of the officers involved in the beating of Rodney King, often standing alongside Theodore J. Briseno, who he had met through sharing the same lawyer. This caused controversy in the hip-hop community, with Willie D calling Eazy E a "sellout". https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-06-ca-19744-story.html
==Death==
On February 24, 1995, Wright was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with a violent cough. http://www.newsweek.com/gangster-wake-call-181568 He was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/03/17/Rapper-Eazy-E-hospitalized-with-AIDS/3965795416400/ He announced his illness in a public statement on March 16. During the week of March 20, having already made amends with Ice Cube, he drafted a final message to his fans. https://web.archive.org/web/20141227125232/http://www.eazy-e.com/eazy_e_last_words.php On March 26, 1995, Eazy-E died from AIDS-induced pneumonia, one month after his diagnosis, he was 30 years old. https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60617FA345A0C7B8EDDAA0894DD494D81 
===Legacy===
Eazy-E has been called the "godfather of gangsta rap". http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1634863/20100326/nwa.jhtml MTV's Reid Shaheem said that Eazy-E was a "rap-pioneer", and he is sometimes cited by critics as a legend. http://www.live-pr.com/en/hip-hop-hall-of-fame-awards-r1048616226.htm Steve Huey of AllMusic said that he was "one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap". https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p33 Since his 1995 death, many book and video biographies have been produced about him. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BJUNT8 
Shortly after his death, in 1996, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, a group mentored by Eazy-E and signed to Ruthless Records, dedicated the single "Tha Crossroads" to his memory, which went on to reach #1 on the Billboard charts and earn the group a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1996-05-18http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1997/grammys.htm 
In 2012, an Eazy-E documentary was released by Ruthless Propaganda, called Ruthless Memories. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.19618/title.eazy-e-documentary-to-release-featuring-jerry-heller-mc-ren-bg-knocc-out
In 2024, Eazy-E was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously as a member of N.W.A. https://www.grammy.com/news/2024-grammys-special-merit-awards-recipients-lifetime-achievement-award
==Discography==
===Albums===
*Eazy-Duz-It (1988)
*St8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton (1996)
===Compilation Albums===
*Eternal E (1995)
*Featuring...Eazy-E (2007)
*Tri-Pack (2010)
*Merry Muthafuckin' X-Mas (2015)
===Extended Plays===
*5150: Home 4 tha Sick (1992)
*It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa (1993)
*Impact of a Legend (2002)
==References==
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