Eazy-E

Eazy-E, born Eric Lynn Wright in Compton, California, was a founding member and driving force behind N.W.A, the group widely credited with popularizing gangsta rap in the late 1980s. Before turning to music, he was involved in street activity in Compton, and he used the proceeds to launch Ruthless Records in 1986, partnering with manager Jerry Heller and assembling N.W.A alongside Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella.

His raspy, high-pitched delivery and unapologetically graphic lyrics defined his solo debut «Eazy-Duz-It» and singles like «Boyz-n-the Hood», tracks that helped establish the sonic and narrative template for West Coast gangsta rap alongside N.W.A's «Straight Outta Compton». As an executive, Eazy-E also shaped the careers of other Ruthless artists, extending his influence beyond his own recordings.

Eazy-E died in 1995, but his catalog and Ruthless Records legacy remain foundational to hip-hop history, and he is frequently cited as the «Godfather of Gangsta Rap» for the raw, street-level authenticity he brought to the genre's formative years.