5.29.2008
THE FORMATION OF THE N.W.A
Biography
FORMED: 1986
DISBANDED: 1991
N.W.A., the unapologetically violent and sexist pioneers of gangsta rap, is in many ways the most notorious group in the history of rap. Emerging in the late '80s, when Public Enemy had rewritten the rules of hardcore rap by proving that it could be intelligent, revolutionary and socially aware, N.W.A. capitalized on PE's sonic breakthroughs while ignoring their message. Instead, the five-piece crew celebrated the violence and hedonism of the criminal life, capturing it all in blunt, harsh language. Initially, the group's relentless attack appeared to be serious, vital commentary, and it even provoked the FBI to caution N.W.A.'s record company, but following Ice Cube's departure late 1989, the group began to turn to self-parody. With his high-pitched whine, Eazy-E's urban nightmares now seemed like comic book fantasies, but that fulfilled the fantasies of the teenage, White suburbanites that had become their core audience, and the group became more popular than ever. Nevertheless, clashing egos prevented the band from recording a third album, and they fell apart once producer Dr. Dre left for a solo career in 1992. Although the group was no longer active, their influence -- from their funky, bass-driven beats to their exaggerated lyrics -- was evident throughout the '90s. Ironically, in its original incarnation NWA was hardly revolutionary. Eazy-E (b. Eric Wright), a former drug dealer who started Ruthless Records with money he earned by pushing, was attempting to start a rap empire, by building a roster of successful rap artists. However, he wasn't having much success until Dr. Dre -- a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru -- and Ice Cube (b. O'Shea Jackson) began writing songs for Ruthless. Eazy tried to give one of the duo's songs, "Boyz N The Hood, " to Ruthless signees HBO and when the group refused, Eazy formed NWA -- an acronym for Niggaz With Attitude -- with Dre and Cube, adding World Class Wreckin' Cru member DJ Yella (b. Antoine Carraby), the Arabian Prince and the D.O.C. to the group.
N.W.A.'s first album, N.W.A. and the Posse, was a party-oriented jam record that largely went ignored upon its 1987 release. In the following year, the group added MC Ren and revamped their sound, bringing in many of the noisy, extreme sonic innovations of Public Enemy and adopting a self-consciously violent and dangerous lyrical stance. Late in 1988, N.W.A. delivered Straight Outta Compton, a vicious hardcore record that became an underground hit with virtually no support from radio, the press or MTV. N.W.A. became notorious for their hardcore lyrics, especially those of "Fuck Tha Police, " which resulted in the FBI sending a warning letter to Ruthless and its parent company Priority, suggesting that the group should watch their step.
Most of the group's political threat left with Ice Cube when he departed in late 1989 amidst many financial disagreements. A nasty feud between N.W.A. and Cube began that would culminate with Cube's "No Vaseline, " an attack on the group's management released on his 1991 Death Certificate album. By the time the song was released, N.W.A., for all intents and purposes, was finished.
In the two years between Ice Cube's departure and the group's dissolution, N.W.A. was dominated by Eazy-E's near-parodic lyrics and Dr. Dre's increasingly subtle and complex productions. The group quickly released an EP, 100 Miles and Runnin', in 1990 before following it up early the next year with Efil4zaggin ("Niggaz 4 Life" spelled backward). Efil4zaggin was teeming with dense, funky soundscapes and ridiculously violent and misogynist lyrics. Naturally, the lyrics provoked outrage from many critics and conservative watchdogs, but that only increased the group's predominately male, White suburban audience. Even though the group was at the peak of their popularity, Dre began to make efforts to leave the crew, due to conflicting egos and what he perceived as an unfair record deal.
Dre left the group to form Death Row Records with Suge Knight in early 1992. According to legend, Knight threatened to kill NWA's manager Jerry Hibbler if he refused to let Dre out of his contract. Over the next few years, Dre and Eazy engaged in a highly-publicized feud, which included both of the rappers attacking each other on their respective solo albums. MC Ren and Yella both released solo albums, which were largely ignored, and Eazy-E continued to record albums that turned him into a complete self-parody until his tragic death from AIDS in March 1995. Before he died, Dre and Cube both made amends with Eazy. With his first solo album, 1992's The Chronic, Dr. Dre established himself as the premier hip-hop producer of the mid-'90s, setting the pace for much of hardcore rap with its elastic bass and deep, rolling grooves. Gangsta rap established itself as the most popular form of hip-hop during the '90s -- in other words, N.W.A.'s amoralistic, hedonistic stance temporarily triumphed over the socially conscious, self-award hip-hop of Public Enemy, and it completely rewrote the rules of hip-hop for the '90s.
Finally in the year 2000 Dr.Dre, Ice Cube, MC ren were talking about a reunion and also putting in Snoop Dogg into the group, it didn't work out because snoop dogg and Ice cube were to busy on solo projects.
FORMED: 1986
DISBANDED: 1991
N.W.A., the unapologetically violent and sexist pioneers of gangsta rap, is in many ways the most notorious group in the history of rap. Emerging in the late '80s, when Public Enemy had rewritten the rules of hardcore rap by proving that it could be intelligent, revolutionary and socially aware, N.W.A. capitalized on PE's sonic breakthroughs while ignoring their message. Instead, the five-piece crew celebrated the violence and hedonism of the criminal life, capturing it all in blunt, harsh language. Initially, the group's relentless attack appeared to be serious, vital commentary, and it even provoked the FBI to caution N.W.A.'s record company, but following Ice Cube's departure late 1989, the group began to turn to self-parody. With his high-pitched whine, Eazy-E's urban nightmares now seemed like comic book fantasies, but that fulfilled the fantasies of the teenage, White suburbanites that had become their core audience, and the group became more popular than ever. Nevertheless, clashing egos prevented the band from recording a third album, and they fell apart once producer Dr. Dre left for a solo career in 1992. Although the group was no longer active, their influence -- from their funky, bass-driven beats to their exaggerated lyrics -- was evident throughout the '90s. Ironically, in its original incarnation NWA was hardly revolutionary. Eazy-E (b. Eric Wright), a former drug dealer who started Ruthless Records with money he earned by pushing, was attempting to start a rap empire, by building a roster of successful rap artists. However, he wasn't having much success until Dr. Dre -- a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru -- and Ice Cube (b. O'Shea Jackson) began writing songs for Ruthless. Eazy tried to give one of the duo's songs, "Boyz N The Hood, " to Ruthless signees HBO and when the group refused, Eazy formed NWA -- an acronym for Niggaz With Attitude -- with Dre and Cube, adding World Class Wreckin' Cru member DJ Yella (b. Antoine Carraby), the Arabian Prince and the D.O.C. to the group.
N.W.A.'s first album, N.W.A. and the Posse, was a party-oriented jam record that largely went ignored upon its 1987 release. In the following year, the group added MC Ren and revamped their sound, bringing in many of the noisy, extreme sonic innovations of Public Enemy and adopting a self-consciously violent and dangerous lyrical stance. Late in 1988, N.W.A. delivered Straight Outta Compton, a vicious hardcore record that became an underground hit with virtually no support from radio, the press or MTV. N.W.A. became notorious for their hardcore lyrics, especially those of "Fuck Tha Police, " which resulted in the FBI sending a warning letter to Ruthless and its parent company Priority, suggesting that the group should watch their step.
Most of the group's political threat left with Ice Cube when he departed in late 1989 amidst many financial disagreements. A nasty feud between N.W.A. and Cube began that would culminate with Cube's "No Vaseline, " an attack on the group's management released on his 1991 Death Certificate album. By the time the song was released, N.W.A., for all intents and purposes, was finished.
In the two years between Ice Cube's departure and the group's dissolution, N.W.A. was dominated by Eazy-E's near-parodic lyrics and Dr. Dre's increasingly subtle and complex productions. The group quickly released an EP, 100 Miles and Runnin', in 1990 before following it up early the next year with Efil4zaggin ("Niggaz 4 Life" spelled backward). Efil4zaggin was teeming with dense, funky soundscapes and ridiculously violent and misogynist lyrics. Naturally, the lyrics provoked outrage from many critics and conservative watchdogs, but that only increased the group's predominately male, White suburban audience. Even though the group was at the peak of their popularity, Dre began to make efforts to leave the crew, due to conflicting egos and what he perceived as an unfair record deal.
Dre left the group to form Death Row Records with Suge Knight in early 1992. According to legend, Knight threatened to kill NWA's manager Jerry Hibbler if he refused to let Dre out of his contract. Over the next few years, Dre and Eazy engaged in a highly-publicized feud, which included both of the rappers attacking each other on their respective solo albums. MC Ren and Yella both released solo albums, which were largely ignored, and Eazy-E continued to record albums that turned him into a complete self-parody until his tragic death from AIDS in March 1995. Before he died, Dre and Cube both made amends with Eazy. With his first solo album, 1992's The Chronic, Dr. Dre established himself as the premier hip-hop producer of the mid-'90s, setting the pace for much of hardcore rap with its elastic bass and deep, rolling grooves. Gangsta rap established itself as the most popular form of hip-hop during the '90s -- in other words, N.W.A.'s amoralistic, hedonistic stance temporarily triumphed over the socially conscious, self-award hip-hop of Public Enemy, and it completely rewrote the rules of hip-hop for the '90s.
Finally in the year 2000 Dr.Dre, Ice Cube, MC ren were talking about a reunion and also putting in Snoop Dogg into the group, it didn't work out because snoop dogg and Ice cube were to busy on solo projects.
EAZY-E TIMELINE
September 7, 1963 - Eric Wright, a.k.a. Eazy-E was born in Compton
Winter 1979 - Eazy-E drops out of high school in 10th grade. He later returned to receive his GED.
March 3, 1987 - Eazy-E meets Jerry Heller at a record-pressing plant in Hollywood. Heller hears a sample of Eazy-E's music and the two become partners, launching Ruthless Records.
March 1987 - Eazy-E discovers D.O.C., signs him to a Ruthless/Atlantic Records deal and brings him out on tour with N.W.A.
November 1987- N.W.A. with members Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and Arabian Prince, Starts a 14-date national tour on the bill with UTFO, Salt & Pepa and Heavy D.
July 1988 - Ruthless Records cuts a deal with Atco Records to distibute products by JJ Fad and Michel'le
August 1988 - N.W.A. releases "Straight Outta Compton", which eventually sells more than 3 million units
September 1988 - - MTV refuses to air the video for "Straight Outta Compton, "claiming the clip, a re-creation of a police gang sweep of black teens, "glorified violence"
September 1988 - - Eazy-E releases solo project "Eazy Duz It, " which eventually sells more than 2.5 million copies.
June 19, 1989 - Members of N.W.A. are arrested for performing "Fuck Tha Police" on stage.
August 6, 1989 - Members of N.W.A. are briefly detained by Detroit police after chanting a few lines from "Fuck Tha Police" in concert
August 20, 1989 - D.O.C. falls asleep while behind the wheel of a car he gets into a serious accident. He loses his voice as a result of the accident
August 1989 - A woman, 16, says she was raped after a concert in Birmingham, Ala. In a later civil suit she claims she had a daughter as a result of being raped by N.W.A. member Lorenzo "MC Ren" Patterson on a tour bus after the concert.
September 1989 - FBI sends a letter to ruthless Records, warning the group that the agency didn't take kindly to the single "Fuck Tha Police"
January 1990 - Ice Cube leaves N.W.A. over finacial disputes
March 26 1990 - Tennesse District Attourney Joe Baugh rules that N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton" and 2 Live Crew's "As Nasty as They Wanna Be" violates the Tennessee obscenity laws
August 1990 - N.W.A releases "100 MILES AND RUNNIN" EP, which eventually sells more than 500, 000 copies.
September 1990 - WaxWorks, a 110-store, Kentucky basedretail chain, pulls 100 Miles and Runnin from its store shelves and refuses to sell it due to its explicit references to oral sex and gang violence.
November 1990 - Fox TV rap video show "Pump it up" runs a segment on N.W.A in which it crosscut between members of the group badmouthing Ice Cube and a interview Ice Cube saying bad things about them.
January 27, 1991 - Dre runs into "Pump it up" host Dee Barnes at a record release party in Los Angeles and gets into a physical confrintation with her.
Febuary 1991 - Barnes files criminal charges against Dre for "assault and battery" and files a $22.7 million lawsuit against Dre and the members of N.W.A. The civil case is eventually settled outside of court.
May 29, 1991 - N.W.A releases "Efil4zaggin", which eventually sells more then 1 million copies. Debuts at No.2 on the pop chart.
June 22, 1991 - "Efil4zaggin" becomes the first gangsta rap album to reach No.1 on the Billboard charts.
June 1991 - Irish singer Sinead O'Conner, after originally aggreeively defending N.W.A, tells British music magazine "New Musical Express" that N.W.A's "attitudes have become increasingly dangerous". O'Conner also said "the way they deal with women is pathetic".
Summer 1991 - N.W.A breaks up.
August 1991 - Eazy-E files a state court complaint against Dr.Dre, DeatRow Records executive Marion "Suge" Knight and rap artist D.O.C. that alleges the defendents used "duress" and "menace" to get Eazy-E to void his exclusive contracts with Dre and the D.O.C. The case is still pending.
October 1992 - Ruthless Records sues Dr. Dre's Death Row Records and accuses Dre's label of racketeering. The suit gets dismissed on Aug.9, 1993. It is under appeal.
November 1992 - Dr. Dre releases "Dre Day, " a video where he shows an Eazy-E likeness in a disparaging light.
December 1992 - Eazy-E releases solo EP "5150 Home For Tha Sick, Which has sold more than 500, 000 copies.
April 1993 - Amid a swirl of controversy, Eazy-E publicly speaks out in support of Timothy Briseno, one of the police officers who was video taped beating Rodney King.
May 1993 - Houston-based rapper Willie Dee, formerly of the Getto Boys, tells the Los Angeles Times in a interview that "Eazy-E is a sellout, " for supporting Briseno.
August 1993 - Relitivity Records signs a deal with Ruthless Records to promote, market and distribute Ruthless artist.
October 26, 1993 - Eazy-E releases second solo album "It's on(Dr.Dre)187um Killa, " which eventually sell more than 1.5 million copies. The album contains repeated references to Dr.Dre and shows Dre on the album's inner sleeve wearing eye shadow, lipstick and sequins.
Winter 1993 - Eazy-E pays $2, 500 to attend a fund-raising luncheon for the Republic Inner Circle, where George Bush spoke.
Winter 1993 - Eazy-E ordered to pay child support of $58, 000 a year for a girl he fathered in Nebraska.
April 1994 - Eazy-E starts hosting "The Ruthless Radio Show" at Los Angeles radio station KKBT (The Beat) on Saturday nights with former N.W.A. member Yella.
October 14, 1994 - Members of the rap act Po' Broke & Lonely sue Eazy-E, claiming Ruthless Records interfered with their ability to negotiate with other labels.
Febuary 24, 1995 - Eazy-E is hospitalized for what he believes to be a case of chronic asthma.
March 16, 1995 - Through attourney Ron Sweeney Eazy-E releases a statement, disclosing he has contracted full-blown AIDS. In this statement, Eazy-E also says that he has fathered 7children with 6 different women
March 1995 - Eazy-E marries Tomika Wood, with whom he had a son, Dominick, In his statement Eazy-E says that both Wood and Dominick have tested negative for HIV
March 26, 1995 - Eazy-E dies aty Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at the age of 31.The cause was complications from AIDS, according to his doctor, Dr. Williams Young
Winter 1979 - Eazy-E drops out of high school in 10th grade. He later returned to receive his GED.
March 3, 1987 - Eazy-E meets Jerry Heller at a record-pressing plant in Hollywood. Heller hears a sample of Eazy-E's music and the two become partners, launching Ruthless Records.
March 1987 - Eazy-E discovers D.O.C., signs him to a Ruthless/Atlantic Records deal and brings him out on tour with N.W.A.
November 1987- N.W.A. with members Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and Arabian Prince, Starts a 14-date national tour on the bill with UTFO, Salt & Pepa and Heavy D.
July 1988 - Ruthless Records cuts a deal with Atco Records to distibute products by JJ Fad and Michel'le
August 1988 - N.W.A. releases "Straight Outta Compton", which eventually sells more than 3 million units
September 1988 - - MTV refuses to air the video for "Straight Outta Compton, "claiming the clip, a re-creation of a police gang sweep of black teens, "glorified violence"
September 1988 - - Eazy-E releases solo project "Eazy Duz It, " which eventually sells more than 2.5 million copies.
June 19, 1989 - Members of N.W.A. are arrested for performing "Fuck Tha Police" on stage.
August 6, 1989 - Members of N.W.A. are briefly detained by Detroit police after chanting a few lines from "Fuck Tha Police" in concert
August 20, 1989 - D.O.C. falls asleep while behind the wheel of a car he gets into a serious accident. He loses his voice as a result of the accident
August 1989 - A woman, 16, says she was raped after a concert in Birmingham, Ala. In a later civil suit she claims she had a daughter as a result of being raped by N.W.A. member Lorenzo "MC Ren" Patterson on a tour bus after the concert.
September 1989 - FBI sends a letter to ruthless Records, warning the group that the agency didn't take kindly to the single "Fuck Tha Police"
January 1990 - Ice Cube leaves N.W.A. over finacial disputes
March 26 1990 - Tennesse District Attourney Joe Baugh rules that N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton" and 2 Live Crew's "As Nasty as They Wanna Be" violates the Tennessee obscenity laws
August 1990 - N.W.A releases "100 MILES AND RUNNIN" EP, which eventually sells more than 500, 000 copies.
September 1990 - WaxWorks, a 110-store, Kentucky basedretail chain, pulls 100 Miles and Runnin from its store shelves and refuses to sell it due to its explicit references to oral sex and gang violence.
November 1990 - Fox TV rap video show "Pump it up" runs a segment on N.W.A in which it crosscut between members of the group badmouthing Ice Cube and a interview Ice Cube saying bad things about them.
January 27, 1991 - Dre runs into "Pump it up" host Dee Barnes at a record release party in Los Angeles and gets into a physical confrintation with her.
Febuary 1991 - Barnes files criminal charges against Dre for "assault and battery" and files a $22.7 million lawsuit against Dre and the members of N.W.A. The civil case is eventually settled outside of court.
May 29, 1991 - N.W.A releases "Efil4zaggin", which eventually sells more then 1 million copies. Debuts at No.2 on the pop chart.
June 22, 1991 - "Efil4zaggin" becomes the first gangsta rap album to reach No.1 on the Billboard charts.
June 1991 - Irish singer Sinead O'Conner, after originally aggreeively defending N.W.A, tells British music magazine "New Musical Express" that N.W.A's "attitudes have become increasingly dangerous". O'Conner also said "the way they deal with women is pathetic".
Summer 1991 - N.W.A breaks up.
August 1991 - Eazy-E files a state court complaint against Dr.Dre, DeatRow Records executive Marion "Suge" Knight and rap artist D.O.C. that alleges the defendents used "duress" and "menace" to get Eazy-E to void his exclusive contracts with Dre and the D.O.C. The case is still pending.
October 1992 - Ruthless Records sues Dr. Dre's Death Row Records and accuses Dre's label of racketeering. The suit gets dismissed on Aug.9, 1993. It is under appeal.
November 1992 - Dr. Dre releases "Dre Day, " a video where he shows an Eazy-E likeness in a disparaging light.
December 1992 - Eazy-E releases solo EP "5150 Home For Tha Sick, Which has sold more than 500, 000 copies.
April 1993 - Amid a swirl of controversy, Eazy-E publicly speaks out in support of Timothy Briseno, one of the police officers who was video taped beating Rodney King.
May 1993 - Houston-based rapper Willie Dee, formerly of the Getto Boys, tells the Los Angeles Times in a interview that "Eazy-E is a sellout, " for supporting Briseno.
August 1993 - Relitivity Records signs a deal with Ruthless Records to promote, market and distribute Ruthless artist.
October 26, 1993 - Eazy-E releases second solo album "It's on(Dr.Dre)187um Killa, " which eventually sell more than 1.5 million copies. The album contains repeated references to Dr.Dre and shows Dre on the album's inner sleeve wearing eye shadow, lipstick and sequins.
Winter 1993 - Eazy-E pays $2, 500 to attend a fund-raising luncheon for the Republic Inner Circle, where George Bush spoke.
Winter 1993 - Eazy-E ordered to pay child support of $58, 000 a year for a girl he fathered in Nebraska.
April 1994 - Eazy-E starts hosting "The Ruthless Radio Show" at Los Angeles radio station KKBT (The Beat) on Saturday nights with former N.W.A. member Yella.
October 14, 1994 - Members of the rap act Po' Broke & Lonely sue Eazy-E, claiming Ruthless Records interfered with their ability to negotiate with other labels.
Febuary 24, 1995 - Eazy-E is hospitalized for what he believes to be a case of chronic asthma.
March 16, 1995 - Through attourney Ron Sweeney Eazy-E releases a statement, disclosing he has contracted full-blown AIDS. In this statement, Eazy-E also says that he has fathered 7children with 6 different women
March 1995 - Eazy-E marries Tomika Wood, with whom he had a son, Dominick, In his statement Eazy-E says that both Wood and Dominick have tested negative for HIV
March 26, 1995 - Eazy-E dies aty Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at the age of 31.The cause was complications from AIDS, according to his doctor, Dr. Williams Young
5.28.2008
MUSIC VIDEOS & FILMS
Eazy-e - Any Last Werdz via a href='http://www.noolmusic.com'>Noolmusic.com
Bone Thugs-n-harmony And Eazy-e - For The Love Of Money via Noolmusic.com
BLURBS & RECORD COMPANY
Parent company: Sony BMG
Founded : March 3, 1987Founder : Eric Wright (Eazy-E)
Jerry Heller
Distributing label: Priority Records
Relativity Records
Epic Records (U.S.)
Genre : Gangsta Rap
Country of origin: USA
Location : Los Angeles, California
On September 7, 1963 a man who would change the rap industry for ever was born. Eric “Eazy-E” Wright. Growing up young in the hard streets of Compton, CA Eazy-E had to hustle to make a living. Eazy-E always had an ambition to do something positive with his money and get a legit lifestyle. In 1987 Eazy-E used his money to start Ruthless Records. On Ruthless Records Eazy-E along with Ice Cube, MC Ren, Dr. Dre, and DJ Yella formed the revolutionary rap group, N.W.A. This group single-handedly changed the rap scene with gangsta rap. In 1988 Eazy-E became the first member from N.W.A. to release a solo album, Eazy-Duz-It, featuring the hit singles “We Want Eazy” and “Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn”. Friction within the members of N.W.A. first started in 1989 when the group’s primary song writer, Ice Cube, left the group for a solo career. In 1991 at the groups peak of fame, Dr. Dre left the group to pursue a solo career. On December 28, 1992 Eazy-E released an EP, 5150 Home 4 Tha Sick. Dr. Dre blasted Eazy-E on songs such as hit single, “Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody’s Celebrating)”. In response, Eazy-E released a second solo album, It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa. The critically acclaimed album includes the singles "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" and "Any Last Werdz". In 1995 Eazy-E was diagnosed with AIDS. Eazy-E died on March 26, 1995. He is an artist that is gone but not forgotten. His legacy will live on forever through his music Eternal E.
THE RUTHLESS RECORDS FAMILY:
Above The Law isn't about being outside the law, its about being superior to it mentally. Above the Law is Hutch aka Cold 187um, KMG and Total K-Oss. Together they paved a road of constructive ideals for their peers by tearing others down. They were focused on turning a negative into a positive. They began as gangsta rappers, telling stories about the lifestyle they knew best on their debut LP, Livin' Like Hustlers. Then came Black Mafia Life, which after a taste of success on their own terms, showed them there could be a better system. Uncle Sam's Curse proved their hoodside brio was about exceeding the limits set by the system. The results were a passionate, funky and strong commitment to rap music and the community that made them.
In 1988, a group of hip-hop dancers from downtown Los Angeles called themselves Tribal Nation. Still in high school, a few of the members, inspired by the East Coast rap movement of A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One and Public Enemy, began writing their own raps in addition to dancing to other people's. They eventually broke off from Tribal Nation to form their own rap crew, A Tribe Beyond A Nation, or the ATBAN Klann. According to group member Will OneX, "A Tribe Beyond A Nation is a state of mind." Simplified the concept is: A Tribe is about staying true to your roots--knowing yourself and Beyond A Nation means to go out and be successful without getting caught up and trapped by it.
Blood of Abraham is Benyad and Mazik, two 21-year-old rappers who share a singular vision of positivity based not on some naive idealism but on mutual regard for all cultures, people and religion. The group's brand of hardcore rap consisted not of gory street stories, but of simple truths communicated from a universal perspective. Their debut album, Future Profits, put a message across without sacrificing their musical integrity.
The Bone thugs-n-harmony saga began in 1993 when Layzie, Krazyie, Flesh, Wish and Bizzy, broke and hungry, but loaded with talent, confidence and the bravado to try anything to achieve success, boarded a bus to Los Angeles. Their destination was the offices of Ruthless Records, home to the legendary rap group NWA. Bone auditioned over the phone but Eazy didn't get back with them. When Bone heard that Eazy-E was doing a show in their hometown, they scraped their money together and hustled back to Cleveland. They auditioned live for Eazy backstage and he signed them on the spot. Within weeks they were in the studio recording their '94 debut EP, Creepin' On Ah Come Up. They turned the hip-hop nation onto a fresh new style of rap and in the process sold over two million copies of Creepin', fueled by their hit single, "Thuggish Ruggish Bone." Bone thugs-n-harmony followed with the '95 release of the five times platinum LP, E. 1999 Eternal which debuted at #1 on top of the pop charts. The group made history when their hit single, "Tha Crossroads," tied a record the Beatles set in 1964 as the fastest rising single on the charts. Bone thugs-n-harmony recently won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Rap Duo or Group and the 1997 Soul Train Music Award for Best Video, "Tha Crossroads."
Kid Frost is not only a trailblazer of Chicano rap but a West Coast hip-hop pioneer. Frost, the son of an ex-gangbanger, established himself through a hard work ethic. Early on, he was signed to rap at Florentine Gardens in Hollywood every Saturday at midnight. His songs made Frost one of the first west coast rappers to make it to wax. In 1994, Frost entered negotiations with Ruthless Records and the result was his debut album, Smile Now, Die Later.
Hoez With Attitude (H.W.A.) offered scintillating rhymes and sexy get-ups. But that's not all. These three striking young ladies - Kim Kenner, Tonja Kenner and Robin Nelson - had more than just sex on their minds. What's most explicit about their rhymes was their intent: creating an atmosphere where men and women could talk frankly and meaningfully about sex, relationships and love.
Although Ruthless Records is synonomous with "rap" music, the label does explore releasing acts within other musical genres. Jimmy Z is a shining example. Jimmy Z teamed up with Dr. Dre to produce funky jazz tracks. "Funky Flute" (the album's most notable track) was a jazzy dance track that featured Dr. Dre. Jimmy Z also played saxophone as he was featured on several of Ruthless' other artists releases.
Everybody knows J.J. Fad. They were one of Eazy-E's biggest successes. And if someone doesn't remember, all you have to say is "Supersonic" and their memories are sure to snap. The boomin' sounds of their chart-topping single was the first release off J.J. Fad's self-titled debut. A platinum best-seller, J.J. Fad became the first female rap group to be nominated for a Grammy award. All told, J.J Fad was one of the most successful dance/party acts of the late 80's.
Kokane was the psychedelic rapper whose hip hop debut, Funk Upon A Rhyme, caused critics to call him a "religious experience." Released in 1994, Kokane's first single, "Slow Burnin' 22.5 Fahrenheit" heated up the charts and transported listeners into a time when lyrics were deep and meaningful
Just scan MC Ren's credentials: 17 years old recruited straight outta Compton, California from high school by Eazy-E to join his trailblazing rap group, NWA. The stern faced rapper became known as the villain in black and also became one of the premiere rappers of the West Coast. Ren's solo career began with a gold industry buzzing EP called Kizz My Black Azz in 1992 followed by his acclaimed 1994 first album, Shock of the Hour featuring "Mayday on the Front Line" from the rap spoof movie, CB4.
Menajahtwa represented the hardcore streets of Compton, but they were not gangsta MC's. The female rap duo made up of Spice and Royal T emerged from the West with their groundbreaking debut, Cha-Licious. With influences like MC Lyte and Ice Cube, Menajahtwa was about serious hip-hop, mic skills and coming correct. No females emerged so cleverly, so bluntly and so in your face.
Michel'le took the music industry by storm when she released her self-titled platinum debut in 1990. Featuring the hit singles "No More Lies" (a platinum seller) and "Nicety," Michel'le became one of the first Ruthless artists to win ASCAP's coveted Pop music award.
Their debut Ruthless Records/Priority release, Paid The Cost, received national attention when their critically acclaimed single, "Explanation of a Playa," was released. The dymamic duo of Playa Hamm and Tweed Cadillac created music with trend-setting lyrics and funky tracks. Their style of rap was unmatched by any other.
Nashville, TN has always been the undisputed capitol of country music. It's hardly the place one would expect to find Pistol, the first rapper from Nashville to make an impact on the music industry. Pistol's rise to the forefront on the Nashville hip-hop scene began on the streets of the Preston-Taylor projects. He honed his rhyme skills by rapping at talent shows, on the playground and around the hood. His album Hittin' Like a Bullet had explosive lyrics that hit hard.
Po' Broke N Lonely was set to be released just prior to Eazy-E's passing. The group would have been Ruthless' first male singing group, primed to join the ranks of Jodeci, Shai and Dru Hill. Their most notable single "Twisted" was released in 1996.
At a time when rap was becoming more serious, the light-heartedness of Steffon was a breath of fresh air. He started out as a dancer for Breeze and the LA Posse. After an appearance on the hip hop show, "Pump It Up," Steffon jokingly asked about giving the producers extra help. This resulted in Steffon co-hosting the show until it ended in 1991. Throughout his career, Steffon had done a lot of work with children which caused a significant effect on the music he would record. His album, Trippin' Wit No Luggage injected positivity into his rap. Most of the songs were laid back, party-oriented west coast funk that included Steffon's humorous side.
The rap duo of Tab N Da Villain was one of Ruthless' acts signed via the joint marketing venture with Relativity Records. Representing the emerging Midwest, the group released its debut project, Do or Die, in the spring of 1995.
Ruthless' version of Teena Marie ("Lady T"), Tairrie B., released her debut album, The Power of a Woman, on Ruthless Records in 1990. She teamed her songwriting talents with producer Quincy D. III to produce the hit single, "Swingin' Wit' T."
The D.O.C. was one of rap's most promising new voices because of his association with NWA and was at the height of his career after penning lyrics and contributing vocals to the group's revoloutionary album, Straight Outta Compton. In 1992, the D.O.C. then released his mind-blowing Dr. Dre-produced album No One Can Do It Better, proving he could more than hold is own on a mircophone. His delivery was sharp and his deep charismatic voice demanded respect.
Ruthless's only psychedelic act, YoMo & Maulkie released their debut project, Are U Xperienced? in 1991. They collaborated with M.C. Yella of NWA to produce such notable tracks as "Watch Out Black Folks," "Are U Experienced?" and "Mama Don't" which features a saxophone solo by labelmate, Jimmy Z.
FAMILY
Lil Eazy-E
Eric Wright Jr. (born April 23, 1984), better known by his stage name Lil Eazy-E, is an American rapper and the oldest son of gangsta rap pioneer Eazy-E.
Wright was born and raised in Compton, California, in the same house his father grew up in. He was 10 years old when his father died of AIDS. He first appeared on the hip hop scene with Daz Dillinger, during which time an independent album release was expected. However, no contract was actually signed, and this led to an eventual feud between the two rappers. Lil Eazy-E left Virgin Records for a deal with Blackground and Universal Motown Records Group in 2006. He created the recording label Kings of L.A. Entertainment and released the album Compton For Life
He has performed duets with rappers such as Timbaland and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. He is due to release an eagerly awaited album named The Prince Of Compton, alongside Young Mav and DL. Lil Eazy-E was involved in a feud with rapper The Game, because he thought The Game was overusing his fathers name. He disses The Game on the track Coming From Compton on his mixtape Rebirth of Gangsta Rap. The Game shot back on the song 120 Bars where he claims Lil Eazy-E doesn't even write his own lyrics, but on the same track he believes he shouldn't beef with Lil Eazy-E because of deep inner respect he has for his father. Lil Eazy-E retaliated on the song They Know Me where he claims nobody even knows The Game the way they know Lil Eazy-E. Later the Game would go on and say he and Lil Eazy-E had ended their feud.
Erin Bria Wright
Erin Bria Wright is Eazy-E's daughter and is pursuing a career in acting & singing, with songs like "Dear Daddy", "16 & Rich", "Just Like Her", and "I wanna be a Movie Star". She was also featured on the MTV show My Super Sweet Sixteen living in Woodlan Hills California with her mother. Currently, she is making an album for Eazystreet records, with help from her half brother, Eric Wright Jr, a.k.a Lil Eazy-E. The pair are also producing a movie called "No More Lies a Ruthless Scandal".
PROFILE
Background information
Birth name : Eric Lynn Wright
Also known as: Eazy-E
Born: September 7, 1963(1963-09-07)
Origin: Compton, California
Died: March 26, 1995 (aged 31)
Genre(s): West Coast hip hop
Occupation(s): Rapper, producer
Years active: 1983–1995
Label(s): Ruthless, Priority, Relativity, Epic, MCA
Associated acts: N.W.A, Above the Law
DISCOGRAPHY
Straight Outta Compton (1988) :
01. Straight Outta Compton
02. F**k Tha Police
03. Gangsta Gangsta
04. If It Ain't Ruff
05. Parental Discretion Iz Advised
06. 8 Ball - (remix)
07. Something Like That
08. Express Yourself
09. Compton's N The House - (remix)
10. I Ain't Tha 1
11. Dopeman - (remix)
12. Quiet On Tha Set
13. Something 2 Dance
Eazy-duz-it :
Release Date : 1988
Label : Fourth & Broadway Records, Island Records, Priority Records, Ruthless Records
type : LP
Tracklisting :
01. Still Talkin'
02. Nobody Move
03. Ruthless Villain
04. 2 Hard Mutha's
05. Boyz-N-The-Hood (Remix)
06. Eazy-duz-it
07. We Want Eazy
08. Eazy-er said then dun
09. Radio
10. No More ?'s
11. I'mma Break It Down
12. Eazy-Chapter 8 Verse 10 (B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.)
N.W.A. And The Posse (1989) :
01. Boyz-N-The-Hood
02. 8 Ball
03. Dunk The Funk
04. Bitch Iz A Bitch, A
05. Drink It Up
06. Panic Zone
07. L. A. Is The Place
08. Dope Man
09. Tuffest Man Alive
10. Fat Girl
11. 3 The Hard Way
100 miles and runnin' (1990, cd single) :
01. 100 miles and runnin'
02. Just don't bite it
03. SA prize pt.2
04. Real niggaz
05. Kamurshol
Niggaz4life (1991) :
01. Prelude
02. Real Niggaz Don't Die
03. Niggaz 4 Life
04. Protest
05. Appetite For Destruction
06. Don't Drink That Wine
07. Alwayz Into Somethin'
08. Message To B. A.
09. Real Niggaz
10. To Kill A Hooker
11. One Less Bitch
12. Findum, Fuckum And Flee
13. Automobile
14. She Swallowed It
15. I'd Rather Fuck You
16. Approach To Danger
17. 1-900-2-COMPTON
18. The dayz Of Wayback
5150 home for tha sick :
Release Date : 1992
Label : Priority Records, Ruthless Records
type : EP
Tracklisting :
01. New Year's Evil
02. Only If You Want It
03. Neighborhood Sniper
04. Niggaz My Height Don't Fight
05. Merry Muthafucking Xmas
It's on (dre) 187Um Killa :
Release Date : 1993
Label : Ruthless Records
type : EP
Tracklisting :
01. Extra Special Thankz
02. Real Muthaphuckkin G's
03. Amy Last Wordz
04. Still A Nigga
05. Gimmie That Nutt
06. It's On
07. Boyz Tha Hood (G-Mix)
08. Down 2 Tha Last Roach
Eternal E :
Release Date : 1996
Label : Priority Records, Ruthless Records
type : LP
Tracklisting :
01. Boyz-N-The Hood (Remix)
02. 8 Ball
03. Eazy-Duz-It
04. Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn
05. No More ?'s
06. We Want Eazy
07. Nobody Move
08. Radio
09. Only If You Want It
10. Neighborhood Sniper
11. I'd Rather Fuck You
12. Automobile
13. Niggaz My Height Don't Fight
14. Eazy Street
Greatest hits (1996) :
01. Live Intro (1989)
02. Arrested (Insert)
03. Gangsta Gangsta
04. Fuck Tha Police (Insert)
05. Fuck Tha Police
06. Compton's In The House - (live)
07. Break Out (Insert)
08. Straight Outta Compton - (Extended Mix)
09. If It Ain't Ruff
10. Real Niggaz
11. I Ain't Tha 1
12. Alwayz Into Somethin'
13. Don't Drink That Wine
14. Just Don't Bite It
15. Cash Money (Insert)
16. Express Yourself - (Remix)
17. 100 Miles And Runnin'
18. Bitch Iz A Bitch, A
19. Real Niggaz Don't Die
Str8 Of tha streetz of muthaphukkin' Compton :
Release Date : 1995
Label : Ruthless Records
type : LP
Tracklisting :
01. First Power
02. Ole School Shit
03. Sorry Louie
04. Just Tah Let U Know
05. Sippin On A 40
06. Nutz On Ya Chin
07. Tha Muthafucking Real
08. Licking, Sucking, Fucking
09. Hit The Hooker
10. My Baby'z Mama
11. Creep N Crawl
12. Wut Would You Do
13. Gangsta Beat 4 Tha Street
14. Eternal E
10th Anniversary Tribute (1998) :
Before u check the tracklist... the songs were performed by the artists who are named behind the titles, so they were not performed by NWA just by other rappers as a tribute.
01. Straight Outta Compton - King T/MC Eiht/Dre'sta
02. Fuck Tha Police - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
03. Gangsta Gangsta - Snoop Dogg/C-Murder
04. If It Ain't Ruff - WC
05. Parental Discretion Iz Advised - The Comrads/Allfrumtha I/Boo Kapone
06. 8 Ball - Jayo Felony
07. Something Like That - J-Dubb/Ant Banks
08. Express Yourself - Silkk The Shocker
09. Compton's N The House - Dr. Dre/MC Ren (live)
10. I Ain't Tha 1 - Mr. Mike
11. Dopeman - Mack 10
12. Quiet On Tha Set - Big Pun/Fat Joe/Cuban Link
Impact Of A Legend :
Release Date : March 26th, 2002
Label : Ruthless Records
type : LP/DVD
Tracklisting :
01. Intro
02. Eazy 123
03. Cock The 9
04. Switchez
05. The Rev (skit)
06. No More Tears
07. Ruthless Life
08. Still F**kem
01. Straight Outta Compton
02. F**k Tha Police
03. Gangsta Gangsta
04. If It Ain't Ruff
05. Parental Discretion Iz Advised
06. 8 Ball - (remix)
07. Something Like That
08. Express Yourself
09. Compton's N The House - (remix)
10. I Ain't Tha 1
11. Dopeman - (remix)
12. Quiet On Tha Set
13. Something 2 Dance
Eazy-duz-it :
Release Date : 1988
Label : Fourth & Broadway Records, Island Records, Priority Records, Ruthless Records
type : LP
Tracklisting :
01. Still Talkin'
02. Nobody Move
03. Ruthless Villain
04. 2 Hard Mutha's
05. Boyz-N-The-Hood (Remix)
06. Eazy-duz-it
07. We Want Eazy
08. Eazy-er said then dun
09. Radio
10. No More ?'s
11. I'mma Break It Down
12. Eazy-Chapter 8 Verse 10 (B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.)
N.W.A. And The Posse (1989) :
01. Boyz-N-The-Hood
02. 8 Ball
03. Dunk The Funk
04. Bitch Iz A Bitch, A
05. Drink It Up
06. Panic Zone
07. L. A. Is The Place
08. Dope Man
09. Tuffest Man Alive
10. Fat Girl
11. 3 The Hard Way
100 miles and runnin' (1990, cd single) :
01. 100 miles and runnin'
02. Just don't bite it
03. SA prize pt.2
04. Real niggaz
05. Kamurshol
Niggaz4life (1991) :
01. Prelude
02. Real Niggaz Don't Die
03. Niggaz 4 Life
04. Protest
05. Appetite For Destruction
06. Don't Drink That Wine
07. Alwayz Into Somethin'
08. Message To B. A.
09. Real Niggaz
10. To Kill A Hooker
11. One Less Bitch
12. Findum, Fuckum And Flee
13. Automobile
14. She Swallowed It
15. I'd Rather Fuck You
16. Approach To Danger
17. 1-900-2-COMPTON
18. The dayz Of Wayback
5150 home for tha sick :
Release Date : 1992
Label : Priority Records, Ruthless Records
type : EP
Tracklisting :
01. New Year's Evil
02. Only If You Want It
03. Neighborhood Sniper
04. Niggaz My Height Don't Fight
05. Merry Muthafucking Xmas
It's on (dre) 187Um Killa :
Release Date : 1993
Label : Ruthless Records
type : EP
Tracklisting :
01. Extra Special Thankz
02. Real Muthaphuckkin G's
03. Amy Last Wordz
04. Still A Nigga
05. Gimmie That Nutt
06. It's On
07. Boyz Tha Hood (G-Mix)
08. Down 2 Tha Last Roach
Eternal E :
Release Date : 1996
Label : Priority Records, Ruthless Records
type : LP
Tracklisting :
01. Boyz-N-The Hood (Remix)
02. 8 Ball
03. Eazy-Duz-It
04. Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn
05. No More ?'s
06. We Want Eazy
07. Nobody Move
08. Radio
09. Only If You Want It
10. Neighborhood Sniper
11. I'd Rather Fuck You
12. Automobile
13. Niggaz My Height Don't Fight
14. Eazy Street
Greatest hits (1996) :
01. Live Intro (1989)
02. Arrested (Insert)
03. Gangsta Gangsta
04. Fuck Tha Police (Insert)
05. Fuck Tha Police
06. Compton's In The House - (live)
07. Break Out (Insert)
08. Straight Outta Compton - (Extended Mix)
09. If It Ain't Ruff
10. Real Niggaz
11. I Ain't Tha 1
12. Alwayz Into Somethin'
13. Don't Drink That Wine
14. Just Don't Bite It
15. Cash Money (Insert)
16. Express Yourself - (Remix)
17. 100 Miles And Runnin'
18. Bitch Iz A Bitch, A
19. Real Niggaz Don't Die
Str8 Of tha streetz of muthaphukkin' Compton :
Release Date : 1995
Label : Ruthless Records
type : LP
Tracklisting :
01. First Power
02. Ole School Shit
03. Sorry Louie
04. Just Tah Let U Know
05. Sippin On A 40
06. Nutz On Ya Chin
07. Tha Muthafucking Real
08. Licking, Sucking, Fucking
09. Hit The Hooker
10. My Baby'z Mama
11. Creep N Crawl
12. Wut Would You Do
13. Gangsta Beat 4 Tha Street
14. Eternal E
10th Anniversary Tribute (1998) :
Before u check the tracklist... the songs were performed by the artists who are named behind the titles, so they were not performed by NWA just by other rappers as a tribute.
01. Straight Outta Compton - King T/MC Eiht/Dre'sta
02. Fuck Tha Police - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
03. Gangsta Gangsta - Snoop Dogg/C-Murder
04. If It Ain't Ruff - WC
05. Parental Discretion Iz Advised - The Comrads/Allfrumtha I/Boo Kapone
06. 8 Ball - Jayo Felony
07. Something Like That - J-Dubb/Ant Banks
08. Express Yourself - Silkk The Shocker
09. Compton's N The House - Dr. Dre/MC Ren (live)
10. I Ain't Tha 1 - Mr. Mike
11. Dopeman - Mack 10
12. Quiet On Tha Set - Big Pun/Fat Joe/Cuban Link
Impact Of A Legend :
Release Date : March 26th, 2002
Label : Ruthless Records
type : LP/DVD
Tracklisting :
01. Intro
02. Eazy 123
03. Cock The 9
04. Switchez
05. The Rev (skit)
06. No More Tears
07. Ruthless Life
08. Still F**kem
BIOGRAPHY
Whether as a member of N.W.A., a solo act, or a label head, Eazy-E was one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap. While his technical skills as a rapper were never the greatest, his distinctive delivery (invariably described as a high-pitched whine), over-the-top lyrics, and undeniable charisma made him a star. Following N.W.A.'s breakup, E's street credibility took a major beating, though his recordings continued to sell well when they appeared; unfortunately, he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1995, and died not long after.
Eric "Eazy-E" Wright was born September 7, 1964, in Compton, CA, a rough part of the Los Angeles metro area that N.W.A. would later make notorious. A high school dropout, Wright turned to drug dealing to support himself, and eventually used the profits to start his own rap label, Ruthless Records, with partner and music-business veteran Jerry Heller. E discovered a major performing talent in the D.O.C., and recruited Ice Cube and Dr. Dre to write songs for his stable of artists. When their composition "Boyz-N-the Hood" was rejected by Ruthless signee HBO, Cube, Dre, and E formed the first version of N.W.A. to record it themselves. Their first album, N.W.A. and the Posse, was released in 1987 and largely ignored; after a few tweaks of the lineup and the rough-edged subject matter, 1988's Straight Outta Compton made N.W.A. into superstars. E seized the opportunity to release a solo project later in the year, titled Eazy-Duz-It, which would be the only full-length album he would complete; it would sell well over two-million copies.
After Ice Cube's bitter departure from N.W.A. toward the end of 1989 (precipitated in part by Heller's business tactics), Eazy-E took over his not inconsiderable share of the rapping and songwriting duties, becoming the group's dominant voice on 1991's Efil4zaggin. His taste for cartoon-ish vulgarity began to undermine the claims of realistic inner-city reporting that the group had used to defend themselves. Disputes between the members led to N.W.A.'s breakup that summer, and a court battle between Ruthless and Dre's new label Death Row soon followed, with Eazy alleging that Death Row head Suge Knight had coerced Ruthless into releasing Dre from his contract. The case was eventually thrown out, but a bitter feud between Dre and Eazy raged for the next several years; Dre's seminal solo debut The Chronic made merciless fun of Eazy. E's 1992 solo EP 5150 Home 4 tha Sick sold well, but did little to dispel his increasingly cartoon-ish image; he found more success running the Ruthless label, with a roster that included Above the Law, N.W.A. bandmate MC Ren, the poorly received all-female group H.W.A. (Hoez With Attitude), and, eventually, the lucrative Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Eazy addressed his feud with Dre on the 1993 EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, which famously included an actual photo of Dre wearing makeup and sequins during his World Class Wreckin' Cru days. Still, save for dissing Dre, Eazy didn't seem to have much to say, and despite healthy record sales, his artistic credibility was declining at an alarming rate. Eazy didn't help matters much when, in early 1993, he spoke out in support of Theodore Briseno, the only LAPD officer involved in the Rodney King beating to express displeasure; later in the year, he paid 2,500 dollars to attend a Republican fund-raiser, which his detractors saw as a further betrayal of his roots.
In early 1995, Eazy entered the hospital with respiratory difficulties, believing he had developed asthma. The diagnosis was far more serious: he had contracted AIDS. Eazy announced his plight to the public shortly thereafter, winning admiration for his straightforward attitude. Sadly, just a few weeks later, on March 26, 1995, the disease claimed his life. The record he had been working on, Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, was released posthumously (in unfinished form) later on in the year. In 2002, on the seventh anniversary of his death, some previously unreleased material from the Ruthless vaults was released as the EP Impact of a Legend, which was accompanied by a DVD.
Two postmortem albums were subsequently released, "Eternal E" in 1995 after his death, and "Str8 off Tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton," in 1998, both of which proved to be successful. An upcoming group discovered by Eazy, were in the beginning stages of their careers, which would prove fruitful later on. The legacy of Eazy E lives on in the hearts and minds of Hip-Hop and its long list of fans.
Eazy E: 1964-1995 R.I.P.
Eric "Eazy-E" Wright was born September 7, 1964, in Compton, CA, a rough part of the Los Angeles metro area that N.W.A. would later make notorious. A high school dropout, Wright turned to drug dealing to support himself, and eventually used the profits to start his own rap label, Ruthless Records, with partner and music-business veteran Jerry Heller. E discovered a major performing talent in the D.O.C., and recruited Ice Cube and Dr. Dre to write songs for his stable of artists. When their composition "Boyz-N-the Hood" was rejected by Ruthless signee HBO, Cube, Dre, and E formed the first version of N.W.A. to record it themselves. Their first album, N.W.A. and the Posse, was released in 1987 and largely ignored; after a few tweaks of the lineup and the rough-edged subject matter, 1988's Straight Outta Compton made N.W.A. into superstars. E seized the opportunity to release a solo project later in the year, titled Eazy-Duz-It, which would be the only full-length album he would complete; it would sell well over two-million copies.
After Ice Cube's bitter departure from N.W.A. toward the end of 1989 (precipitated in part by Heller's business tactics), Eazy-E took over his not inconsiderable share of the rapping and songwriting duties, becoming the group's dominant voice on 1991's Efil4zaggin. His taste for cartoon-ish vulgarity began to undermine the claims of realistic inner-city reporting that the group had used to defend themselves. Disputes between the members led to N.W.A.'s breakup that summer, and a court battle between Ruthless and Dre's new label Death Row soon followed, with Eazy alleging that Death Row head Suge Knight had coerced Ruthless into releasing Dre from his contract. The case was eventually thrown out, but a bitter feud between Dre and Eazy raged for the next several years; Dre's seminal solo debut The Chronic made merciless fun of Eazy. E's 1992 solo EP 5150 Home 4 tha Sick sold well, but did little to dispel his increasingly cartoon-ish image; he found more success running the Ruthless label, with a roster that included Above the Law, N.W.A. bandmate MC Ren, the poorly received all-female group H.W.A. (Hoez With Attitude), and, eventually, the lucrative Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Eazy addressed his feud with Dre on the 1993 EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, which famously included an actual photo of Dre wearing makeup and sequins during his World Class Wreckin' Cru days. Still, save for dissing Dre, Eazy didn't seem to have much to say, and despite healthy record sales, his artistic credibility was declining at an alarming rate. Eazy didn't help matters much when, in early 1993, he spoke out in support of Theodore Briseno, the only LAPD officer involved in the Rodney King beating to express displeasure; later in the year, he paid 2,500 dollars to attend a Republican fund-raiser, which his detractors saw as a further betrayal of his roots.
In early 1995, Eazy entered the hospital with respiratory difficulties, believing he had developed asthma. The diagnosis was far more serious: he had contracted AIDS. Eazy announced his plight to the public shortly thereafter, winning admiration for his straightforward attitude. Sadly, just a few weeks later, on March 26, 1995, the disease claimed his life. The record he had been working on, Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, was released posthumously (in unfinished form) later on in the year. In 2002, on the seventh anniversary of his death, some previously unreleased material from the Ruthless vaults was released as the EP Impact of a Legend, which was accompanied by a DVD.
Two postmortem albums were subsequently released, "Eternal E" in 1995 after his death, and "Str8 off Tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton," in 1998, both of which proved to be successful. An upcoming group discovered by Eazy, were in the beginning stages of their careers, which would prove fruitful later on. The legacy of Eazy E lives on in the hearts and minds of Hip-Hop and its long list of fans.
Eazy E: 1964-1995 R.I.P.
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