Remembering Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright: A pioneer of hip-hop gone too soon

Eazy-E initially invested in Dr. Dre’s music, acting as a financial backer. However, his role quickly shifted when Dre had an altercation with the artiste originally roped in to record a track. With no one else to step in, Eazy was pulled into the recording booth and ended up delivering “Boyz-n-the-Hood” under the banner of Ruthless Records. The rest was history—the track quickly took over California’s club scene, and overnight, the duo skyrocketed to fame.

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Soon, the duo began assembling what would become one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time—N.W.A. The lineup featured Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Ice Cube. In 1988, they released their groundbreaking debut album, Straight Outta Compton, followed by an extended LP the following year. The rise of gangsta rap turned heads, and whether you agreed with the lyrics or not, you could not ignore the revolution that had been set in motion.

Eazy-E may not have been the most gifted lyricist or performer, but he was a polarizing figure who played a pivotal role in putting the West Coast on the hip-hop map. Through provocative and hard-hitting lyrics, he made the world take notice of Compton. Though N.W.A eventually split after a few successful years, with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre going their separate ways, the group had already reshaped the genre—opening the floodgates for a new era in hip-hop.

The rapper contracted AIDS and succumbed to the disease.

The opening line of N.W.A’s debut album is, “You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge,” and that’s exactly what Eazy-E embodied. He knew his home wasn’t perfect—neither was he—but he was determined to tell it like it was. N.W.A. was a group of fierce, unapologetic kids who grew into influential, trailblazing men. Ice Cube and Eazy-E reportedly reconciled before his passing; perhaps, if Eazy had been granted just a little more time, we might have witnessed those five men take the stage once more—not as separate artists, but as one. As N.W.A.