We (Still) Want Eazy

It never fails. I always manage to get the 25th and 26th mixed up with Eazy E’s passing. E was one of those intriguing, one-of-a-kind artists. He was a hustler, an icon and, if you listen to the right story, he was a snake too. He also openly used ghostwriters and was still accepted by most. I won’t run through the entire story because it’s one of those tales where you always leave something out every time you try to tell it. Just Google the N.W.A. split and go from there. Or better yet, watch “Beef.” From what I remember, it was a pretty good breakdown. Regardless, at the end of the day, Eazy was/is a legend who opened the door for a boatload of rappers after him. Many of which surfaced long after he passed (Game, Jeezy, Freddie Gibbs, etc).

Yet, in my own personal way, I’ll pay homage to the guy by running through some old footage. If you’re not familiar with Eazy and his work, consider this a crash course.

The kids love Eazy, and he loved ‘em back. Donning the famous “Compton” fitted hat, Eazy was particularly quiet during this interview. He didn’t say too much, but he spoke volumes. E was one of those people who let people make their own decisions. He was going to be him regardless, which isn’t the easiest trait to master. Side note, it was hard not to concentrate on those gigantic earrings the interviewer was wearing. God bless the ’90′s. He also did that crazy trick kids used to do with their eyes back in the day.

I’ll always thank Eazy for putting people on to Cleveland long before LeBron. One of the first cassette tapes I received was the “Crossroads” single. Not the album, just the single (flip the tape over and it was the instrumental). Either way, I must pay homage to Eazy for ultimately putting me on to Bone Thugs. Those were the days when I used to walk around with a walkman thinking I was grown by listening to explicit music. Then my mom found it and tore the tape apart. I guess I can thank Eazy for that too.

Even after Cube left, N.W.A. kept their head about water for a little while longer. This was one of my favorite post-O’Shea tracks. It was laid back, but 100% gangsta. Plus, Dre ripped it. Yeah, remember when Dre rapped and dropped albums? Eazy didn’t have a verse on this, but I really just needed a reason to post this video. I haven’t listened to efil4zaggin in a minute. That may need to change.

“Don’t quote me, boy, I ain’t say shit…” It’s not the official video, but this is one of the best Hip-Hop songs of all time. Tell me who doesn’t start nodding their head when they hear, “Woke up quick, at about noon/Just thought that I had to be in Compton soon…” Plus, as we all know, this was the inspiration behind Game, Jim Jones and Cam’s tribute some decade and a half later.

One of the greatest diss records of all time. And that’s about all I’m going to say. Just click play.

Also known as the video that started it all. Cube not only had one of the hardest intro bars EVER, but this ushered in a new era of Hip-Hop. Rap was never the same and gangsta rap was born. Wu Tang wasn’t nothing to f#ck with, but N.W.A. weren’t pushover either. An entire culture was exposed to the country and from this album we ultimately saw movies like “Boyz N The Hood” and “Menace To Society.”

Rest In Paradise, Eric “Eazy E” Wright. Hip-Hop’s “Original Gangsta.”