Eazy-E
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Eazy-E was born Eric Lynn Wright on September 7, 1963. He is an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Compton, California. Widely regarded as one of the founders of the gangsta rap subgenre, he rose to fame as the founder and member of the group N.W.A and later achieved critical and commercial success as a solo artist.
What made him different from other artist was his vocal style which was marked by his youthful, high-pitched voice. Also, his lyrics focused on the elements of urban street life such as guns, police, gangs, drugs and sex. He died on March 26, 1995 due to AIDS.
Contents |
[edit] About
[edit] Biography
Born Eric Wright in 1963, Eazy wanted to make it big, no matter how he had to do it. Hip-Hop was a flourishing conglomerate, very legal, and one that could provide a way of life that make most envious to the point of rage. The Hip-Hop scene on the western section of the United States was not as lush as it was in the east, but all that would make a drastic change.Dealing drugs to make a living, Eazy finally did something positive with the money that was leading to the bloodshed on the streets. He took a portion of his earnings and formed a rap label, called Ruthless Records. The attempt to start his rap empire didn’t prove fruitful until up and coming artists Ice Cube and Dr. Dre began to write for the label. When HBO, the signing company of Ruthless Records refused to take one of the group’s songs, titled "Boyz In The Hood," they formed the group N.W.A., an acronym for Niggaz With Attitude. They would bring aboard 1 more member DJ Yella, and the five-man team would begin to blaze the trail that we know today as gangsta rap.
[edit] Ruthless Records, N.W.A and Eazy-Duz-It (1987-1991)
In 1987, Eazy used the profits from his drug sales to co-found Ruthless Records with Jerry Heller. When Ruthless signees Dr. Dre and Ice Cube wrote "Boyz-n-the-Hood", Ahmed Saaoud and Eazy-E formed the group N.W.A with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. (DJ Yella and Arabian Prince were later added.) In this period, Ruthless Records released the compilation N.W.A and the Posse (1987), and N.W.A's proper debut Straight Outta Compton (1988). One month later, Eazy-E released his first solo album, Eazy-Duz-It. The album sold two million copies, certifying it as a double platinum album, and spawned the hit singles "We Want Eazy" and "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn". The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella and largely written by Ice Cube, with contributions from MC Ren and The D.O.C.. In March 1991, Eazy-E accepted an invitation to a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by then-President George H. W. Bush. A spokesman for the rapper claimed that Eazy-E supported Bush for overseeing Operation Desert Storm. On the final N.W.A album, Niggaz4Life (1991), some of the lyrics provoked outrage from many liberals and conservatives alike.
[edit] End of N.W.A and Feud with Dr. Dre (1991-1994)
Disputes about money caused N.W.A to break up in 1991, as it was thought Eazy-E and Jerry Heller were stealing money from the group. Ice Cube is believed to have left N.W.A for this reason, which he later referenced 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 with Merrill. Eazy-E released two Extended Play's during this period, 5150: Home 4 tha Sick (1992), and It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa (1993), the latter was a response to Dr. Dre's The Chronic.
[edit] Death and Posthumously Album (1995)
On March 16, 1995, Eazy-E checked himself into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what he believed at the time was chronic asthma. Following comprehensive tests, it was discovered that he was suffering from AIDS, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. During the week of March 20, already having made amends with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, Eazy-E drafted what would be his last message to his fans. On March 26, 1995, ten days after being admitted into the hospital, Eazy-E died at the age of 31. On his death bed days before, Eazy married long-term girlfriend and mother of his child Tomica Woods, and she inherited his share of Ruthless Records. He was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. In November of 1995, shortly after Eazy-E's death, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton was released Posthumously. The album was set to have up to 60 tracks on two discs, but Eazy-E died before he could finish it.
[edit] Awards and Certifications
Certifications
| Year | Award | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Eazy-Duz-It | Double Platinum |
| 1992 | 5150: Home 4 tha Sick | Gold |
| 1993 | It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa | Double Platinum |
| 1995 | Eternal E | Gold |
| 1995 | Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton | Platinum |
[edit] Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Hot 100 | US R&B | Hot Rap | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn | - | 84 | - | Eazy-Duz-It |
| 1989 | We Want Eazy (feat. Dr. Dre & MC Ren) | - | 3 | 7 | Eazy-Duz-It |
| 1994 | Real Muthaphuckkin G's (feat. Dresta & B.G. Knocc Out) | 42 | 31 | 2 | It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa |
| 1994 | Any Last Werdz (feat. Kokane & Cold 187um) | 69 | 5 | - | It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa |
| 1994 | Luv 4 Dem Gangsta'z | - | 26 | 63 | Beverly Hills Cop III |
| 1994 | Foe tha Love of $ (Bone Thugs N Harmony feat. Eazy-E) | - | 4 | 82 | Creepin on ah Come Up |
| 1995 | Just tah Let U Know | 45 | 30 | 4 | Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton |
[edit] News
[edit] Tours & Concerts
- There will no longer be any tour and concert for the artist.
[edit] Announcements
- There are no announcements for the artist.
[edit] Discography
Comprehensive list of the recordings made.
[edit] Albums
 September 16, 1988 Ruthless |
 December 28, 1992 Ruthless |
 November 5, 1993 Ruthless |
 November 28, 1995 Ruthless |
 January 30, 1996 Ruthless |
 March 26, 2002 Ruthless |
 December 4, 2007 Ruthless |
[edit] Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Boyz-n-the-Hood | Ruthless |
| 1988 | Boyz-n-the-Hood | Ruthless |
| 1989 | Eazy-Duz-It | Ruthless |
| 1989 | We Want Eazy (feat. Dr. Dre & MC Ren) | Ruthless |
| 1992 | Neighborhood Sniper | Ruthless |
| 1994 | Real Muthaphuckkin G's | Ruthless |
| 1995 | Any Last Werdz | Ruthless |
| 1995 | Just tah Let U Know | Ruthless |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Trivia
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[edit] Reviews
[edit] External Links
