Eazy-E

Known as the "Godfather of Gangsta Rap", Eazy-E was born on September 7, 1964 in Compton, California as Eric Lynn Wright. Growing up in a notoriously tough neighborhood, Eazy-E dropped out of high school and began earning money selling drugs. The Los Angeles Hip Hop scene was just getting started in the 1980s and Eazy-E began recording songs and investing his money into creating the independent record label, Ruthless Records. He teamed up with Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and others and they began making music as N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude). They released their debut album "N.W.A. and the Posse" in 1987. Eazy-E followed it up quickly with his first album "Eazy-Duz-It" (1988). This golden age hip hop album would go on to sell over 2.5 million copies and cement Eazy-E's place in gangsta rap history. The same year, N.W.A. released "Straight Outta Compton" (1988) which would go on to be certified double-platinum. The group released two more albums but internal disputes led to splintering and eventually open feuding, with Eazy-E and Dr. Dre attacking each other in their lyrics. Eazy-E continued to run Ruthless Records and enjoyed the success and notoriety that came with the rap feuds. He released two solo EPs in 1992 and 1993. In February 1995, Eazy-E was hospitalized with a severe cough and on March 16, 1995, he released a statement that he had been diagnosed with AIDS. In Los Angeles, California on March 26, 1995 Eric Wright, aka Eazy-E, died of AIDS related pneumonia. His final studio album "Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton" (1996) was released posthumously.