#tomica woods-wright

[lboogie1906]

Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1964 – March 26, 1995) known as Eazy-E, was a rapper who propelled West Coast rap and gangsta rap by leading the group N.W.A and its label, Ruthless Records. He is referred to as the “Godfather of Gangsta Rap”.

After a short solo career with frequent collaborations with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, they joined, forming N.W.A. N.W.A’s debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, which was released in 1988. It is ranked among the greatest and most influential albums ever. The group released its third and final studio album, Niggaz4Life, in 1991.

He became embroiled in rivalries with fellow group members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, who had departed for solo careers in 1989 and 1991, respectively. Resuming his solo career, Eazy-E released two EPs. Yet he remained significant behind the scenes, signing and nationally debuting the rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. He was suddenly hospitalized and diagnosed with AIDS and died due to its complications.

He was born to Richard and Kathie Wright in Compton. His father was a postal worker and his mother was a grade school administrator. He dropped out of high school in the tenth grade but received a GED. He supported himself mainly by selling drugs and introduced his cousin to the illicit occupation.

In 1986, had allegedly earned as much as $250,000 from dealing drugs. After his cousin was shot and killed, he decided that he could make a better living in the hip-hop scene. He started recording songs during the mid-1980s in his parent’s garage, thus starting Ruthless Records.

The original idea for Ruthless Records came when he asked Heller to go into business with him. He suggested a half-ownership company, but it was decided that he would get eighty percent of the company’s income.

He had a son, Eric Darnell Wright (known as Lil Eazy-E). He had a daughter named Erin, who changed her name to Ebie.

He married Tomica Woods in 1995, 12 days before his death, and they had two children. According to Jerry Heller, he had 11 children with eight women.

According to his son Lil Eazy-E, he was worth an estimated $50 million at the time of his death. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[mmorggay]

Tomica wright eazy e wife

Here we have collected some information about Daijah’s siblings. Her experience led her to be successful in Ruthless company records.Ī film producer and an entrepreneur, Tomica Woods Daijah Wright siblingsĪccording to reporters, Daijah’s father had 11 childrens in total from 5 different women. Tomica collected a lot of experience to be a proficient person in the music industry. For the first, she worked under the guidance of Clarence Avant. Tomica stepped into the music industry by working with Tabu records. She dreamed of serving for the entertainment.Īfter graduation, Tomica started to work in various production houses. Tomica had a passion for working in the film industry. Later, she transferred to West of Los Angles. After she enrolled, she attended Santa Monica for her college. Talking about her education, she joined San Fernando Valley for high school. Tomica Wright spent her childhood days in California. In a short time of 2 years, Tomica grew up the company by managing it well and expanding it. The record company was formerly controlled by Eazy-E, her husband, until his death. She came into the spotlight after she became the C.E.O. Tomica is a film producer and an entrepreneur as well. Tomica Wright, Daijah’s mother, was born on 7th December 1969, in the U.S.A. Three weeks after his underlying conclusion, Eazy-E was dead, and his little girl, the producer Ebie Wright, 27, is resolved to make quick work of his inexplicable death.Įbie’s doubts fall on her stepmother, Tomica Woods-Wright, who was granted control of Eazy-E’s domain even though they were hitched for under about fourteen days.Įazy-E’s long-term colleague Jerry Heller concurs with Ebie that the rapper’s demise was sudden and dubious. The rapper had been experiencing a drawn-out cold while on a special visit with Ice Shape, and specialists determined him to have AIDS and acute pneumonia. This speedy marriage has powered trick and murder hypotheses upheld by Eazy E’s kids. After Eric tied a knot with Tomica, he left his organization in her grasp. The rapper Eazy-E wedded Tomica Woods only 12 days after he was diagnosed with AIDS. Daijah Wright’s Parents only stayed married for 12 days Her father, Eazy-E passed away of cancer later, Daijah was also diagnosed with cancer.įurther information about her childhood days is hidden from the public eye. Who is Daijah Wright? Age and Early Lifeĭaijah Wright is the child of the late record producer and rapper Eric Lynn Wright, famously known as Eazy-E, and Tomica Wright, his 5th wife. Know everything about this adorable lady in this review.

[johnson8113-blog]

Eazy-E was a well known artist, but was also a very well known drug dealer in the streets of LA.He used this money and became very wealthy and was able to begin the record label Ruthless Records.

[blackkudos]

Eazy-E

Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1964 – March 26, 1995), known professionally as Eazy-E, was an American rapper and rap mogul who propelled West Coast rap and gangsta rap by leading the group N.W.A and its label, Ruthless Records, pushing the boundaries of lyrical content.

Born and raised in Compton, a small yet violent city near Los Angeles, Wright had several legal troubles before founding Ruthless in 1987. After a short solo career with frequent collaboration with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, they joined, forming N.W.A, later that year.

N.W.A's debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, released in 1988, highly controversial then, is now ranked among the greatest and most influential albums. The group released its third and final studio album, Niggaz4Life, in 1991, and soon disbanded.

During N.W.A's splintering, largely by disputes over money, Eazy-E became embroiled in bitter rivalries with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, who had departed for solo careers in 1989 and 1991, respectively. Resuming his sole career, Eazy-E released two EPs.

Yet Wright remained more significant behind the scenes, signing and nationally debuting the rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony from 1993 to 1994. But in 1995, suddenly hospitalized and diagnosed with AIDS, Wright died through its complications.

Early life and Ruthless Records investment

Eric Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright on September 7, 1964, in Compton, California, a Los Angeles suburb noted for high crime rates and gang culture. His father was a postal worker and his mother was a grade-school administrator. Wright dropped out of high school in the tenth grade, but later received a general equivalency diploma (GED).

Wright supported himself mainly by selling drugs, and introduced his cousin to the illicit occupation. 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". Wright was also labeled as a "thug". Heller explains: "The hood where he grew up was a dangerous place. He was a small guy. 'Thug' was a role that was widely understood on the street; it gave you a certain level of protection in the sense that people hesitated to fuck with you. Likewise, 'dope dealer' was a role that accorded you certain privileges and respect."

In 1986, at age 22, Wright had allegedly earned as much as US$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, which was growing rapidly in popularity. He started recording songs during the mid-1980s in his parents' garage.

The original idea for Ruthless Records came when Wright asked Heller to go into business with him. Wright suggested a half-ownership company, but it was later decided that Wright would get eighty percent of the company's income and Heller would only get twenty percent. According to Heller, he told Wright, "Every dollar comes into Ruthless, I take twenty cents. That's industry standard for a manager of my caliber. I take twenty, you take eighty percent. I am responsible for my expenses and you're responsible for yours. You own the company. I work for you." Along with Heller, Wright invested much of his money into Ruthless Records. Heller claims that he invested the first $250,000 and would eventually put up to $1,000,000 into the company.

Musical career

N.W.A and Eazy-Duz-It (1986–1991)

N.W.A's original lineup consisted of Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. DJ Yella and MC Ren joined later. 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. The album featured material previously released as singles on the Macola Records label, which was responsible for distributing the releases by N.W.A and other artists like the Fila Fresh Crew, a West Coast rap group originally based in Dallas, Texas.

Eazy-E's debut album, Eazy-Duz-It, was released on September 16, 1988, and featured twelve tracks. It was labeled as West Coast hip hop, gangsta rap and, later, as golden age hip hop. It has sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States and reached number forty-one on the Billboard 200. The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella and largely written by MC Ren, Ice Cube and The D.O.C.. Both Glen Boyd from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and MTV's Jon Wiederhorn claimed that Eazy-Duz-It "paved the way" for N.W.A's most controversial album, Straight Outta Compton. Wright's only solo in the album was a remix of the song "8 Ball", which originally appeared on N.W.A. and the Posse. The album featured Wright's writing and performing; he performed on seven songs and helped write four songs.

Ice Cube left N.W.A in 1989 because of internal disputes and the group continued as a four-piece ensemble. N.W.A released 100 Miles and Runnin' in 1990 and Niggaz4Life in 1991. A diss war started between N.W.A and Ice Cube when "100 Miles and Runnin'" and "Real Niggaz" were released. Ice Cube responded with "No Vaseline" on Death Certificate. Wright performed on seven of the eighteen songs on Niggaz4Life. In March 1991 Wright accepted an invitation to a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by then-U.S. President George H. W. Bush. A spokesman for the rapper said that Eazy-E supported Bush because of his performance in the Persian Gulf War.

End of N.W.A and feud with Dr. Dre (1991–1994)

N.W.A began to split up after Jerry Heller became the band's manager. Dr. Dre recalls: "The split came when Jerry Heller got involved. He played the divide and conquer game. Instead of taking care of everybody, he picked one nigga to take care of and that was Eazy. And Eazy was like, 'I'm taken care of, so fuck it'." 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 him from Ruthless, but Eazy-E refused. The impasse led to what reportedly transpired between Suge Knight and Eazy-E at the recording studio where Niggaz4life was recorded. 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 threatened Eazy-E's family: Suge Knight gave Eazy-E a piece of paper that contained Eazy's mother's address, telling him, "I know where your mama stays." Eazy-E finally signed Dr. Dre and The D.O.C.'s releases, officially ending N.W.A.

The feud with Dr. Dre continued after a track on Dre's debut album The Chronic, "Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')", contained lyrics that insulted Eazy-E. Eazy responded with the EP, It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, featuring the tracks "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" and "It's On". The album, which was released on October 25, 1993, contains pictures of Dre wearing "lacy outfits and makeup" when he was a member of the Electro-hop World Class Wreckin' Cru.

Personal life

Wright had a son, Eric Darnell Wright (known as Lil Eazy-E), in 1984. He also had a daughter named Erin who has legally changed her name to Ebie In October 2016 she launched a crowd-funding campaign to produce a film called Ruthless Scandal: No More Lies to investigate her father's death. It ended unsuccessfully in December 2016.

Wright met Tomica Woods at a Los Angeles nightclub in 1991 and they married in 1995, twelve days before his death. They had a son named Dominick and a daughter named Daijah (born six months after Wright's death). After Wright's death, Ruthless was taken over by his wife. According to Jerry Heller, Wright had 11 children with eight different women.

Illness and death

On February 24, 1995, Wright was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with a violent cough. He was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. He announced his illness in a public statement on March 16, 1995. It is believed Wright contracted the infection from a sexual partner.During the week of March 20, having already made amends with Ice Cube, he drafted a final message to his fans. On March 26, 1995, Eazy-E died from complications of AIDS, one month after his diagnosis. He was 30 years old (most reports at the time said he was 31 due to the falsification of his date of birth by one year). He was buried on April 7, 1995, at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. Over 3,000 people attended his funeral, including Jerry Heller and DJ Yella. He was buried in a gold casket, and was dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans, and his Compton hat. On January 30, 1996, ten months after Eazy-E's death, his final album, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton was released.

According to his son Lil Eazy-E, Eazy-E was worth an estimated USD$50 million at the time of his death.

Musical influences and style

Allmusic cites Eazy-E's influences as Ice-T, Redd Foxx, King Tee, Bootsy Collins, Run–D.M.C., Richard Pryor, Egyptian Lover, Schoolly D, Too $hort, Prince, the Sugarhill Gang and George Clinton. In the documentary The Life and Timez of Eric Wright, Eazy-E mentions collaborating with many of his influences.

When reviewing Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted "... Eazy-E sounds revitalized, but the music simply isn't imaginative. Instead of pushing forward and creating a distinctive style, it treads over familiar gangsta territory, complete with bottomless bass, whining synthesizers, and meaningless boasts." When reviewing Eazy-Duz-It, Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic said, "In terms of production, Dr. Dre and Yella meld together P-Funk, Def Jam-style hip-hop and the leftover electro sounds of mid-'80s Los Angeles, creating a dense, funky, and thoroughly unique style of their own." Birchmeier described Eazy-E's style as "dense, unique and funky", and said that it sounded "absolutely revolutionary in 1988".

Several members of N.W.A wrote lyrics for Eazy-Duz-It: Ice Cube, The D.O.C. and MC Ren. The EP 5150: Home 4 tha Sick features a song written by Naughty By Nature. The track "Merry Muthaphuckkin' Xmas" features Menajahtwa, Buckwheat, and Atban Klann as guest vocalists, and "Neighborhood Sniper" features Kokane as a guest vocalist. It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa features several guest vocalists, including Gangsta Dresta, B.G. Knocc Out. Kokane, Cold 187um, Rhythum D, and Dirty Red. Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton featured several guest vocalists, including B.G. Knocc Out, Gangsta Dresta, Sylk-E. Fyne, Dirty Red, Menajahtwa, Roger Troutman and ex-N.W.A members MC Ren and DJ Yella.

Legacy

Eazy-E has been called the godfather of gangsta rap. MTV's Reid Shaheem said that Eazy was a "rap-pioneer", and he is sometimes cited by critics as a legend. Steve Huey of AllMusic said that he was "one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap". Since his 1995 death, many book and video biographies have been produced, including 2002's The Day Eazy-E Died and Dead and Gone.

When Eazy was diagnosed with AIDS, many magazines like Jet, Vibe, Billboard, The Crisis, and Newsweek covered the story and released information on the topic. All of his studio albums and EPs charted on the Billboard 200, and many of his singles—"Eazy-Duz-It", "We Want Eazy", "Real Muthaphuckkin G's, and "Just tah Let U Know"—also charted in the U.S.

In 2012 an Eazy-E documentary was released by Ruthless Propaganda, called Ruthless Memories. The documentary featured interviews from Jerry Heller, MC Ren and B.G. Knocc Out.

In the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-E is played by Jason Mitchell and the film is dedicated in his memory.

Discography

Studio albums

Eazy-Duz-It (1988)

Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton (1996)

Extended Plays

5150: Home 4 tha Sick (1992)

It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa (1993)

Impact of a Legend (2002)

with N.W.A

N.W.A. and the Posse (1987)

Straight Outta Compton (1988)

100 Miles and Runnin' (1990)

Niggaz4Life (1991)

[glucophage5mg]

Tomica Wright Net Worth 2022: Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Kids, Bio-Wiki

Tomica Wright Net Worth 2022: Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Kids, Bio-Wiki

Tomica Woods Celebrated Name: Tomica Wright Real Name/Full Name: Tomica Woods Gender: Female Age: 52 years old Birth Date: 7 December 1969 Birth Place: Los Angeles, California, United States Nationality: American Height: 1.62 m Weight: 57 kg Sexual Orientation: Straight Marital Status: Married Husband/Spouse (Name): Eazy-E (m. 1995–1995) Children: Yes (Daijah Wright, Dominick…

[youths4successblog]

Tomica Woods Net Worth And Biography 2021

Tomica Woods Net Worth And Biography 2021

Tomica Woods-Wright is a famous American film producer and the Ex-wife of one American rapper called Easy E. Maybe you have heard of her, but do you know the net worth of Tomica Woods? How much do you know about her? Tell me, and I will tell you everything I know about Tomica Woods, including her early life, career, marriage, children, and net worth. Who Is Tomica Woods? Tomica Wood is the CEO…

[naijawapaz1]

Eazy-E Daughter Daijah Wright Bio, Wiki, Net Worth, Affairs, Married

Eazy-E Daughter Daijah Wright Bio, Wiki, Net Worth, Affairs, Married

Born Name Daijah Wright Birth Place Compton, California, USA Height 5 feet 4 inches Eye Color Black Zodiac Sign Pisces Nationality American Ethnicity Afro-American Age 23 years old Sibling Lil Eazy-E Parents Eazy E and Tomica Woods

Last Updated on July 4, 2019

Renowned as the daughter of the famous late American gangster rapper, Eazy E. Daijah came to limelight after…

[lboogie1906]

Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1964 – March 26, 1995), known as Eazy-E, was a rapper who propelled West Coast rap and gangsta rap by leading the group N.W.A and its label, Ruthless Records. He is referred to as the "Godfather of Gangsta Rap". After a short solo career with frequent collaboration with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, they joined, forming N.W.A. N.W.A's debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, which was released in 1988. It is ranked among the greatest and most influential albums ever. The group released its third and final studio album, Niggaz4Life, in 1991. He became embroiled in rivalries with fellow group-members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, who had departed for solo careers in 1989 and 1991, respectively. Resuming his solo career, Eazy-E released two EPs. Yet he remained significant behind the scenes, signing and nationally debuting the rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. He was suddenly hospitalized and diagnosed with AIDS and died due to its complications. He was born to Richard and Kathie Wright in Compton. His father was a postal worker and his mother was a grade-school administrator. He dropped out of high school in the tenth grade but received a GED. He supported himself mainly by selling drugs and introduced his cousin to the illicit occupation. In 1986, had allegedly earned as much as $250,000 from dealing drugs. After his cousin was shot and killed, he decided that he could make a better living in the hip hop scene. He started recording songs during the mid-1980s in his parent's garage, thus starting Ruthless Records. The original idea for Ruthless Records came when he asked Heller to go into business with him. He suggested a half-ownership company, but it was decided that he would get eighty percent of the company's income. He had a son, Eric Darnell Wright (known as Lil Eazy-E). He had a daughter named Erin, who changed her name to Ebie. He married Tomica Woods in 1995, 12 days before his death, and they had two children. According to Jerry Heller, Wright had 11 children with eight women. According to his son Lil Eazy-E, he was worth an estimated $50 million at the time of his death. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CiPiDYLuuOUEAdapWPEq83Wruo1QxP2pipW15c0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[voicesofrefugees]

Latest Industry: Eazy-E Trademark Lawsuit, Madonna, iKON, Eventbrite, Peermusic, UMPG, Republic Records, More…

Eazy-E’s widow reaches agreement with his son. Eric Darnel Wright, son of rapper Eazy-E – Eric Lynn Wright – has reached an agreement with his late father’s widow, Tomica Woods-Wright.  She had sued Eazy-E’s son for illegally monetizing the NWA trademark.  Eric Darnel Wright has agreed to stop using ‘NWA,’ ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ ‘Ruthless,’ and […]

The post Latest Industry: Eazy-E Trademark Lawsuit, Madonna, iKON, Eventbrite, Peermusic, UMPG, Republic Records, More… appeared first on Digital Music News.

[lambfans]

Eazy-E's Widow Sues Stepson Over Ruthless Records, N.W.A Trademarks

Eazy-E's widow, Tomica Woods-Wright, is suing her stepson, Eric Darnell Wright, among others, for trademark infringement over his use of the Ruthless Records name and N.W.A.

Per the lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone,

This article originally appeared on www.rollingstone.com: Eazy-E's Widow Sues Stepson Over Ruthless Records, N.W.A Trademarks

via a http://ift.tt/2wTZObb

[ebonynightclubblog]

Eazy-E's Widow Sues Stepson Over Ruthless Records, N.W.A Trademarks

[Ebony Nightclub] Rolling Stone Music News: Eazy-E's widow, Tomica Woods-Wright, is suing her stepson, Eric Darnell Wright, among others, for trademark infringement over his use of the Ruthless Records name and N.W.A. Per the lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone, This article originally appeared on www.rollingstone.com: Eazy-E's Widow Sues Stepson Over Ruthless Records, N.W.A Trademarks http://dlvr.it/PfprL6 #RollingStone #MusicNews

[howardmackenzie75]

Eazy-E's Widow Sues Stepson Over Ruthless Records, N.W.A Trademarks

Eazy-E's widow, Tomica Woods-Wright, is suing her stepson, Eric Darnell Wright, among others, for trademark infringement over his use of the Ruthless Records name and N.W.A.

Per the lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone,

This article originally appeared on www.rollingstone.com: Eazy-E's Widow Sues Stepson Over Ruthless Records, N.W.A Trademarks

from Rolling Stone Latest Sports and Music and Movies and Politics and Culture News http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eazy-es-widow-sues-stepson-over-ruthless-nwa-trademarks-w498276

[stacksmag]

The widow and son of deceased hip-hop legend #EazyE are battling it out in court, reportedly over the famous Ruthless Records imprint. Current owner Tomica Woods-Wright filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against her stepson Eric “Lil Eazy-E” Wright. Woods-Wright claims Lil Eazy and a biz partner, Arnold White, are illegally using the Ruthless Records name for profit on their website, ruthlessrecordsinc.com. The suit claims White and Wright tried to trademark “Ruthless Records Inc.” in 2016, but was rejected by the US Trademarks office. The name was too similar to the Eazy's Ruthless Records. Also, the duo has incorporated NWA-LLC, which infringes on the N.W.A trademark. #nwa #lawsuit #ruthlessrecords #losangeles #hiphop #stacksmag #stacksmagazine

[blackkudos]

Easy-E

Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1964 – March 26, 1995), better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who performed solo and in the hip hop group N.W.A. Wright is affectionately called "The Godfather of Gangsta Rap". He was born to Richard and Kathie Wright in Compton, California. After dropping out of high school in the tenth grade, he supported himself primarily by selling drugs before founding Ruthless Records and becoming a rapper. Arabian Prince, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube formed N.W.A. After DJ Yella and MC Ren joined the group, N.W.A released their debut single Panic Zone. In 1988, they released their most controversial album, Straight Outta Compton. The group released two more albums and then disbanded after Eazy released Dr. Dre from his contract.

Eazy's main influences included 1970s funk groups, contemporary rappers, and comedians. When reviewing Eazy's albums, many critics noted his unique overall style, with Steve Huey of the All Music Guide remarking: "While his technical skills as a rapper were never the greatest, his distinctive delivery... over-the-top lyrics, and undeniable charisma made him a star."

Early life and Ruthless Records investment

Eric Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright on September 7, 1964, in Compton, California, a Los Angeles suburb notorious for gang activity and crime. His father was a postal worker and his mother was a grade school administrator. Wright dropped out of high school in the tenth grade, but later received a high-school general equivalency diploma (GED).

Wright supported himself primarily by selling drugs, introduced to the occupation by his cousin. Wright's friend Jerry Heller admits that he witnessed Wright selling marijuana, but says that he never saw him sell cocaine. As Heller noted in his book Ruthless: A Memoir, Wright's "dope dealer" label was part of his "self-forged armor". Wright was also labeled as a "thug". Heller explains: "The hood where he grew up was a dangerous place. He was a small guy. 'Thug' was a role that was widely understood on the street; it gave you a certain level of protection in the sense that people hesitated to fuck with you. Likewise, 'dope dealer' was a role that accorded you certain privileges and respect."

In 1986, at the age of 22, Wright had allegedly earned as much as US$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, which was growing rapidly in popularity. He started recording songs during the mid-1980s in his parents' garage.

The original idea for Ruthless Records came when Wright asked Heller to go into business with him. Wright suggested a half-ownership company, but it was later decided that Wright would get eighty percent of the company's income, and Heller would only get twenty percent. According to Heller, he told Wright, "Every dollar comes into Ruthless, I take twenty cents. That's industry standard for a manager of my caliber. I take twenty, you take eighty percent. I am responsible for my expenses, and you're responsible for yours. You own the company. I work for you." Along with Heller, Wright invested much of his money into Ruthless Records. Heller claims that he invested the first $250,000, and would eventually put up to $1,000,000 into the company.

Musical career

N.W.A and Eazy-Duz-It (1986–91)

N.W.A's original lineup consisted of Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. DJ Yella and MC Ren joined later. 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. The album featured material previously released as singles on the Macola Records label, which was responsible for distributing the releases by N.W.A and other artists like the Fila Fresh Crew, a West Coast rap group originally based in Dallas, Texas.

Eazy-E's debut album, Eazy-Duz-It, was released on September 16, 1988, and featured twelve tracks. It was labeled as West Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap, and Golden age hip hop. It has sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States and reached number forty-one on the Billboard 200. The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella and largely written by MC Ren, Ice Cube, and The D.O.C.. Both Glen Boyd from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and MTV's Jon Wiederhorn claimed that Eazy-Duz-It "paved the way" for N.W.A's most controversial album, Straight Outta Compton. Wright's only solo in the album was a remix of the song "8 Ball", which originally appeared on N.W.A. and the Posse. The album featured Wright's writing and performing; he performed on seven songs and helped write four songs.

After the release of Straight Outta Compton, Ice Cube left because of internal disputes, and the group continued as a four-piece ensemble. N.W.A released 100 Miles and Runnin' and Niggaz4Life in 1991. A diss war started between N.W.A and Ice Cube when "100 Miles and Runnin'" and "Real Niggaz" were released. Ice Cube responded with "No Vaseline" on Death Certificate. Wright performed on seven of the eighteen songs on Niggaz4Life. In March 1991 Wright accepted an invitation to a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by then-U.S. President George H. W. Bush. A spokesman for the rapper said that Eazy-E supported Bush because of his performance in the Persian Gulf War.

End of N.W.A and feud with Dr. Dre (1991–94)

N.W.A began to split up after Jerry Heller became the band's manager. Dr. Dre recalls: "The split came when Jerry Heller got involved. He played the divide and conquer game. Instead of taking care of everybody, he picked one nigga to take care of and that was Eazy. And Eazy was like, 'I'm taken care of, so fuck it'." Dre sent Suge Knight to look into Eazy's financial situation because he was beginning to grow suspicious of Eazy and Heller. Dre asked Eazy to release him from the Ruthless Records contract, but Eazy refused. The impasse led to what reportedly transpired between Knight and Eazy at the recording studio where Niggaz4life was recorded. After he refused to release Dre, Knight declared to Eazy that he had kidnapped Heller and was holding him prisoner in a van. The rumor did not convince Eazy to release Dre from his contract, and Knight threatened Eazy's family: Knight gave Eazy a piece of paper that contained Eazy's mother's address, telling him, "I know where your mama stays." Eazy finally signed Dre's release, officially ending N.W.A.

The feud with Dr. Dre continued after a track on Dre's The Chronic, "Dre Day", contained lyrics that insulted Eazy-E. Eazy responded with the EP, It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, featuring the tracks "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" and "It's On". The album, which was released on October 25, 1993, contains pictures of Dre wearing "lacy outfits and makeup" when he was a member of the Electro-hop World Class Wreckin' Cru.

Personal life

Wright had a son, Eric Darnell Wright, in 1984. He also had a daughter named Erin who has legally changed her name to Ebie. (Ebie is currently crowd-funding a film called Ruthless Scandal: No More Lies to investigate her father's death.) Wright also knew that he had at least five other children by five separate women during his lifetime.

Wright met Tomica Woods at a Los Angeles nightclub in 1991, and they married in 1995, twelve days before his death. They had a son named Dominick and a daughter named Daijah (born six months after Wright's death). After Wright's death, Ruthless Records was taken over by his wife.

Legal issues

After Dr. Dre left Ruthless Records, executives Mike Klein and Jerry Heller sought assistance from the Jewish Defense League (JDL). Klein, a former Ruthless Records director of business affairs, said this provided Ruthless Records with leverage to enter into negotiations with Death Row Records over Dr. Dre's departure. While Knight had sought an outright release from Ruthless Records for Dr. Dre, the JDL and Ruthless Records management negotiated a release in which the record label would continue to receive money and publishing rights from future Dr. Dre projects with Death Row Records, founded by Dr. Dre with Suge Knight. The FBI launched a money-laundering investigation under the assumption that the JDL was extorting money from Ruthless Records to fight their causes. This led to JDL spokesperson Irv Rubin issuing a press release stating "There was nothing but a close, tight relationship" between Eazy-E and the organization.

Illness and death

On February 24, 1995, Wright was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what he believed to be asthma due to a recurring cough and wincing that occurred beginning in July 1994. Instead, he was diagnosed with AIDS. He announced his illness in a public statement on March 16, 1995. It is believed Wright contracted the disease and its infection from a sexual partner. During the week of March 20, having already made amends with Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, he drafted a final message to his fans. On March 26, 1995, at approximately 6:35 p.m. PST, Eazy-E died from complications of AIDS, one month after his diagnosis. He was 30 years old, despite the fact that most reports at the time said he was 31 due to the falsification of his date of birth by one year. He was buried on April 7, 1995 at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. Over 3,000 people attended his funeral, including Jerry Heller and DJ Yella. He was buried in a gold casket, and instead of wearing a suit and tie, Eazy-E was dressed in a flannel shirt, a Compton hat and jeans. On January 30, 1996, ten months after Eazy-E's death, his final album, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton was released.

According to his son Lil Eazy-E, Eazy-E was worth an estimated USD$50 million at the time of his death.

Musical influences and style

Allmusic cites Eazy-E's influences as Ice-T, Redd Foxx, King Tee, Bootsy Collins, Run-D.M.C., Richard Pryor, The Egyptian Lover, Schoolly D, Too $hort, Prince, The Sugarhill Gang, and George Clinton. In the documentary The Life and Timez of Eric Wright, Eazy-E mentions collaborating with many of his influences.

When reviewing Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted "... Eazy-E sounds revitalized, but the music simply isn't imaginative. Instead of pushing forward and creating a distinctive style, it treads over familiar gangsta territory, complete with bottomless bass, whining synthesizers, and meaningless boasts." When reviewing Eazy-Duz-It, Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic said, "In terms of production, Dr. Dre and Yella meld together P-Funk, Def Jam-style hip-hop, and the leftover electro sounds of mid-'80s Los Angeles, creating a dense, funky, and thoroughly unique style of their own." Birchmeier described Eazy's style as "dense, unique, and funky", and said that it sounded "absolutely revolutionary in 1988".

Several members of N.W.A wrote lyrics for Eazy-Duz-It: Ice Cube, The D.O.C., and MC Ren. The EP 5150: Home 4 tha Sick features a song written by Naughty By Nature. The track "Merry Muthaphuckkin' Xmas" features Menajahtwa, Buckwheat, and Atban Klann as guest vocalists, and "Neighborhood Sniper" features Kokane as a guest vocalist. It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa features several guest vocalists, including Gangsta Dresta, B.G. Knocc Out. Kokane, Cold 187um, Rhythum D, and Dirty Red. Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton featured several guest vocalists, including B.G. Knocc Out, Gangsta Dresta, Sylk-E. Fyne, Dirty Red, Menajahtwa, Roger Troutman, and ex-N.W.A members MC Ren and DJ Yella.

Legacy

Eazy-E has been called the godfather of gangsta rap. MTV's Reid Shaheem said that Eazy was a "rap-pioneer", and he is sometimes cited by critics as a legend. Steve Huey of AllMusic said that he was "one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap". Since his 1995 death, many book and video biographies have been produced, including 2002's The Day Eazy-E Died and Dead and Gone.

When Eazy was diagnosed with AIDS, many magazines like Jet, Vibe, Billboard, The Crisis, and Newsweek covered the story and released information on the topic. All of his studio albums and EPs charted on the Billboard 200, and many of his singles—"Eazy-Duz-It", "We Want Eazy", "Real Muthaphuckkin G's", and "Just tah Let U Know"—also charted in the U.S.

In 2012 a Eazy-E documentary was released by Ruthless Propaganda, called Ruthless Memories. The documentary featured interviews from Jerry Heller, MC Ren and B.G. Knocc Out.

In the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-E is played by Jason Mitchell, and the film is dedicated in his honor.

Discography

Studio albums

Eazy-Duz-It (1988)

Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton (1996)

Extended Plays

5150: Home 4 tha Sick (1992)

It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa (1993)

Impact of a Legend (2002)

With N.W.A

N.W.A. and the Posse (1987)

Straight Outta Compton (1988)

100 Miles and Runnin' (1990)

Niggaz4Life (1991)

Wikipedia

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Eazy-E’s Widow And Son In Legal Battle Over Ruthless Records Name

Eazy-E’s Widow And Son In Legal Battle Over Ruthless Records Name

Blood isn’t always thicker than the ink used to print money. Tomica Woods-Wright, Eazy-E’s widow, is suing Lil Eazy-E for…