Eazy-E Biography: Age, Net Worth, Spouse, Parents, Siblings, Children, Career, Awards, Songs

Eric Lynn Wright, better known as Eazy-E, was an influential American rapper who played a key role in popularizing West Coast and gangsta rap through his leadership of N.W.A and Ruthless Records.

He is often recognized as the “Godfather of Gangsta Rap.” Born and raised in Compton, California, Wright faced legal issues before establishing Ruthless in 1987.

He later collaborated with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre and co-founded N.W.A, which released the groundbreaking album Straight Outta Compton in 1988. After the group disbanded, Eazy-E continued his solo career and also signed the rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony before his passing in 1995 due to complications from HIV/AIDS.

Profile

• Full Name: Eric Lynn Wright
• Nickname: Eazy-E
• Date of Birth: September 7, 1964
• Age: 60 years old (as of 2024)
• Gender: Male
• Place of Birth: Compton, California, United States
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Rapper, Record Producer, Entrepreneur
• Height: 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm)
• Parents: Kathie Wright (Mother)
• Siblings: Rodney Wright (Brother)
• Spouse: Tomica Woods-Wright
• Children: Eric Darnell Wright, Ebie Wright, Dominick Wright, and Daijah Wright
• Relationship Status: Married
• Net Worth: $50 million

Early Life and Education

Eazy-E, born Eric Lynn Wright, who is now late, would have been at the age of 60 as of 2024. He was born on September 7, 1964, in Compton, California, a suburb of Los Angeles known for its high crime rates and gang presence.

Richard Wright, his father, worked for the postal service, while Kathie Wright, his mother, held a position as a grade-school administrator. Despite dropping out of high school during the tenth grade, Wright later obtained a general equivalency diploma (GED).

To sustain himself financially, Wright primarily engaged in the sale of narcotics and introduced his cousin to this illicit trade.

Jerry Heller, Wright’s music manager, recalls witnessing him peddling marijuana, though not cocaine. Heller argued that Wright’s association with the drug trade was a form of self-defense.

Wright also earned the label “thug,” a term Heller attributes to the dangerous environment of his upbringing.

According to Heller, being recognized as a “thug” provided a level of protection and respect in his neighborhood. Similarly, being known as a “dope dealer” granted certain privileges and status.

By the age of 22, in 1986, Wright had reportedly amassed around $250,000 from his drug dealings. However, following the tragic death of his cousin in a shooting incident, he opted to pursue a more lucrative career in the burgeoning Los Angeles hip-hop scene.

He began recording music in the mid-1980s, setting up a makeshift studio in his parents’ garage and laying the foundation for Ruthless Records.

Personal Life

In 1984, Wright welcomed a son named Eric Darnell Wright, commonly known as Lil Eazy-E. He also had a daughter named Erin Wright, who later changed her name to Ebie Wright.

In October 2016, Ebie initiated a crowdfunding campaign to fund a film titled Ruthless Scandal: No More Lies, aimed at delving into her father’s death. Unfortunately, the campaign concluded without success in December 2016.

In 1991, Wright crossed paths with Tomica Woods at a nightclub in Los Angeles, and they exchanged vows on March 14, 1995, just twelve days before his demise.

They were blessed with a son named Dominick Wright and a daughter named Daijah Wright, who arrived six months after Wright’s demise.

Following his death, Ruthless Records came under the management of his wife. According to Jerry Heller, Wright fathered eleven children with eight different women.

Career

Eazy-E’s career in music began to take shape when he co-founded Ruthless Records alongside Jerry Heller in 1986. This venture proved to be instrumental in propelling Eazy-E into the spotlight.

In 1987, he formed N.W.A. with Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. The group’s debut album, Straight Outta Compton, garnered widespread acclaim and controversy for its unapologetic portrayal of life in Compton.

Initially, N.W.A’s lineup comprised Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube, earning them the moniker “the world’s most dangerous group.” DJ Yella and MC Ren joined the group later.

Their compilation album N.W.A and the Posse dropped on November 6, 1987, ultimately achieving Gold certification in the U.S.

This album showcased tracks previously released as singles under the Macola Records label, which also distributed works by N.W.A and other acts like the Fila Fresh Crew, a West Coast rap outfit originally hailing from Dallas, Texas.

Eazy-E’s debut solo album, Eazy-Duz-It, hit the shelves in 1988, containing twelve tracks. Classified as West Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, and later as a golden age hip-hop piece, it has sold over 2.5 million copies in the U.S. and peaked at number forty-one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Dr. Dre and DJ Yella produced the album, with MC Ren, Ice Cube, and The D.O.C. largely contributing to its composition.

Critics such as Glen Boyd from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and MTV’s Jon Wiederhorn suggested that Eazy-Duz-It laid the groundwork for N.W.A’s controversial album, Straight Outta Compton.

Notably, Wright’s only solo effort on the album was a remix of “8 Ball,” originally featured on N.W.A and the Posse. His involvement included performing on seven tracks and contributing to the writing of four songs.

In 1989, Ice Cube departed from N.W.A due to internal conflicts, leaving the group as a quartet. N.W.A then released 100 Miles and Runnin’ in 1990, followed by Niggaz4Life in 1991. Tensions escalated into a diss war between N.W.A and Ice Cube with the releases of “100 Miles and Runnin'” and “Real Niggaz.” Ice Cube retaliated with “No Vaseline” on his Death Certificate album.

Wright contributed to seven of the eighteen tracks on Niggaz4Life. In March 1991, he attended a luncheon supporting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by then-U.S. President George H. W. Bush. A spokesperson for Wright stated that he supported Bush due to his stance during the Gulf War.

Awards

• MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video (1991) – “F**k tha Police” with N.W.A.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A. (2016)

Net Worth

Eazy-E’s net worth is estimated to be $50 million at the time of his death, a wealth which he amassed primarily due to his success as a rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur.

Death

Tragically, Eazy-E’s life was cut short when he passed away on March 26, 1995, at the age of 30. He succumbed to complications from AIDS, sparking widespread mourning and reflection within the music community.

Controversy

Eazy-E’s career was not without controversy. He faced scrutiny for his explicit lyrics and depictions of violence in his music. Additionally, his tumultuous relationship with fellow N.W.A. members, particularly Ice Cube, fueled tensions within the group. Rumors and speculation surrounding his illness and the circumstances of his death also stirred controversy in the aftermath of his passing.

Social Media

• Instagram: @eazy_e
• Twitter: @eazy_e

Filmography

• Straight Outta Compton

Discography

• Eazy-Duz-It
• 5150: Home 4 tha Sick
• It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa
• “Fuck Tha Police”
• “Chin Check”
• “No More”
• “Gangsta Gangsta”
• “Dopeman”
• “Express Yourself”
• “Still Crushin”

Books

• Ruthless: A Memoir by Jerry Heller with Gil Reavill