Eazy-E
Quick Summary
Eric Wright, known as Eazy-E, was an American musician and a founding member of the influential hip-hop group N.W.A. The group, formed in Compton, California, in 1987, was a pioneer of the controversial gangsta rap genre. N.W.A's music, including Eazy-E's hit single "Boyz-n-the-Hood," featured explicit lyrics addressing themes of gang life, drugs, and police brutality. Eazy-E also founded the record label Ruthless Records. Despite internal disputes and member departures, N.W.A's work, particularly the album Straight Outta Compton, remains a significant force in hip-hop history. Eazy-E passed away in 1995 due to AIDS-related complications.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
