Today is the 11yr. Anniversary of the passing of the Godfather of gangsta rap – Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright. Hip-hop cultures loss of the west coast gangsta rap legend Eazy-E will forever leave us wondering ‘What if?’
The tragic loss of Eric 'Eazy-E’ Wright before his time; is often over shadowed by the passing of other hip-hop icons like Tupac Shakur (2Pac) and Notorious BIG; since their deaths were so close together.
This leaves a very sour taste in the mouths of many as the accomplishments of Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright seem to be taken so lightly and many times just overlooked. It seems Eric does not get the full credit and admiration he deserves nor is he remembered for his accomplishments in the music and entertainment fields as well as the business man that he was.
From the streets of Compton to NWA to Ruthless Records, Eric ‘Eazy–E’ Wright made his mark. And it is sad that he is not remembered in the way that some other artists are remembered when they suddenly pass.
Under the leadership of Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright Ruthless Records brought us many ‘classic’ gangsta tracks along with great hip-hop. Eazy paved the way for the gangsta rap movement. He had Dr. Dre (who later turned his back on Eazy and went to Suge Knight’s Death Row Records), he discovered and brought us the Bone Thugs. He added so much to the ‘rap’ game with his street savvy and business skillz. His contributions to hip-hop culture are numerous.
I have always enjoyed and respected Eazy’s work and his tracks still are played here with the same enthusiasm as they were in the 90’s.
We can only imagine how different the ‘game’ would be today if Eric were still with us, but what he started and contributed to is what we still enjoy – and that is west coast gangsta rap.
Don’t let the memory of this true legend be lost or over shadowed by others who have passed or those that may be coming up. Eric ‘Eazy E’ Wright paved the way for the ones coming up, and he contributed and helped build the rap game and wrote chapters of hip-hop history. So anything that comes after that we can in part thank Eric Wright for.
Just never forget; always remember and appreciate where the roots of rap and hip hop came from.
Eazy-E lived his life hating police violence, but surprised people by lending his support to, police officer, Theodore Briseno. Briseno was one of the suspects in the Rodney King beating. Thigpen wrote what Eazy commented, “Everyone thinks four white officers beat up Rodney King. That's wrong. Briseno is a Mexican American, and he happens to be the only person who tried to stop it.” Eazy-E was criticized by many people because of this, but was quoted by Thigpen, “I don't care what people say. I'd rather be a leader than a follower.” Eazy-E received support from his wife Tomika Woods-Wright, whom he married in the hospital days before he died. When Eazy-E was not helping people he was rapping about what he believed.
Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright began his journey in life on September 7, 1963, in Compton, California. His parents were both successful workers, his father was a postal worker and his mother a school teacher.
Right before he got sick, Eazy was at his busiest: shopping a screenplay, executive producing Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony's upcoming album, and preparing to release his own oft-delayed double album-a collection culled from more than 70 tracks recorded with everyone from Bootsy Collins to Slash of Guns ‘N' Roses.
“He was driven by the thought that when he was sleeping, he was missing something,” said Jerry Heller, Eazy-E's longtime friend, personal manager, and the controversial former general manager of Ruthless Records. “He worried that people were getting ahead of him. He just never slept.“
Eazy was diagnosed with the AIDS virus on March 1st and succumbed to the disease on March 26th.
Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright was a straight up G, but he was also a devoted father.
His son, Eric ‘Lil Eazy-E’ is making noise all thru out the country with his upcoming album ‘The Prince of Compton’, due out this summer. Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright’s memory lives on as his son carries on the family tradition of ground breaking music and ‘reppin’ Eric’s hometown Compton, which he (Eazy-E) really put on the map and brought national attention to.
R.I.P. – Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright
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