Eazy-E, born Eric Lynn Wright, was an American rapper who rose to fame in the 1980s as a founding member of the seminal gangsta rap group N.W.A. He was one of the most influential figures in the history of rap music. Eazy-E had a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death in 1995. That is equivalent to approximately $50 million in 2022.
Eazy-E was born and raised in Compton, California. He dropped out of high school in the 10th grade and began selling drugs to support himself. He later started his record label, Ruthless Records, and released his debut album, Eazy-Duz-It, in 1988.
The album was a commercial and critical success and helped to establish Eazy-E as one of the most influential figures in the nascent gangsta rap scene. He followed it up with the equally successful albums Straight Outta Compton (1988) and Eazy-E’s E.P. (1989).
In 1991, Eazy-E was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. He publically announced his diagnosis in 1995 and died a month later.
Eazy-E’s death was a significant blow to the rap community. Everyone widely respected him for his business acumen and commitment to social causes. His death also brought renewed attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its impact on the African-American community.
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How did Eazy E make his Net worth?
Eazy-E made his net worth through his successful music career. He was a founding member of the influential hip-hop group N.W.A.
Eazy-E started his music career in the early 1980s, releasing a series of successful solo albums. He was also a founding member of the hip-hop group N.W.A., which became one of the most successful and controversial rap groups.
Eazy-E was born in Compton, California, on September 7, 1963. He dropped out of high school in the tenth grade and began dealing drugs.
In 1986, Eazy-E and several other rappers, including Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, formed the group N.W.A. The group’s debut album, Straight Outta Compton, got instant success after being released, selling over two million copies.
The album was controversial due to its explicit lyrics about drugs, sex, and violence. Despite the controversy, the album was a commercial and critical success. Also, it was one of the greatest rap albums of all time.
N.W.A.’s follow-up album, Efil4zaggin and was a commercial and critical success. The album featured the hit single “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang,” which became one of the most iconic rap songs.
In 1995, Eazy-E released his final solo album, Str8, off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton. The album was a commercial success but was not as well-received as his previous albums.
Eazy-E died of AIDS-related complications on March 26, 1995. He was 31 years old.
At the time of his death, Eazy-E had a net worth of $8 million. Also, he survived with his wife, Tomica Woods-Wright, and their four children.
Early Life
Eazy-E was born Eric Lynn Wright on September 7, 1963, in Compton, California. Wright grew up in the low-income housing projects of Compton, an area plagued by gang violence. Despite the danger, Wright loved rap music and began writing his rhymes. Wright dropped out of high school in the eleventh grade and started dealing drugs to make ends meet.
In 1986, Wright met Antoine Carraby, a local D.J. who went by the name Dr. Dre. Dre impressed to see Wright’s rapping skills, and the two decided to start a record label together called Ruthless Records. They recruited another local rapper, Ice Cube, to join their new company.
Ruthless released its first album, N.W.A., and the World’s Most Dangerous Group, in 1988. The album was a success, selling over two million copies. However, it included the hit single “Straight Outta Compton,” which brought notoriety to the young label.
The members of N.W.A. began to have disagreements, and Ice Cube left the group in 1989. He replaces with another rapper, MC Ren. N.W.A. released its second album, Efil4zaggin (Niggaz4Life spelled backward), in 1991. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making N.W.A. the first group to have its first two albums debut at the top of the chart.
Eazy-E released his debut solo album, Eazy-Duz-It, in 1988. Dr. Dre produced the album and featured the hit single “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” Eazy-E’s follow-up album, 5150: Home 4 tha Sick. However, the album’s title referred to the California state law that allows for involuntary hospitalization and treatment of people with mental illness.
However, Eazy-E’s final album was Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton.
Death
On March 26, 1995, American rapper Eazy-E died of complications from AIDS. He was only 31 years old. At the time of his death, Eazy-E was one of the most successful rappers in the world. Also, he was a founding member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group N.W.A. and had a successful solo career. Eazy-E’s death sent shockwaves through the music industry and the world.
In 1989, Eazy-E helped form the supergroup N.W.A. with Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and D.J. Yella. N.W.A. was one of the most controversial and successful groups in music history. However, their debut album, Straight Outta Compton, is considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums.
The album’s explicit lyrics and violent themes caused controversy and made N.W.A. targets of the F.B.I. and law enforcement. Despite the controversy, N.W.A. was a massive success. They toured the world and sold millions of records.
In 1991, Eazy-E released his second solo album, 5150: Home 4 tha Sick. The album was another success and cemented Eazy-E’s status as a rap icon. He followed up with his third album, It’s On (Dr. Dre), 187um Killa, in 1993. The album was another critical and commercial success.
By the mid-1990s, Eazy-E’s health was in decline. He was diagnosed with AIDS in February 1995. Eazy-E kept his diagnosis a secret from the public and even his closest friends. He died just a month after his diagnosis.
Eazy-E’s death was a shock to the music world. However, he was one of the most successful rappers in the world and had a bright future ahead of him.
His untimely death sent a message to the world about the dangers of AIDS. Eazy-E’s legacy continues to live on through his music. He was one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Eazy-E’s solo career was relatively short-lived, but he did release two albums, Eazy-Duz-It and 5150: Home 4 tha Sick, before his untimely death from complications related to AIDS in 1995. However, his influence on the rap world and popular culture, in general, has been lasting.
Eazy-E’s career in rap began in the mid-1980s when he introduced himself to aspiring rapper Ice Cube through a mutual friend Dr. Dre. The three of them, along with Eazy-E’s friend MC Ren, formed the groundbreaking hip-hop group N.W.A.
N.W.A.’s debut album is Straight Outta Compton and caused a sensation with its graphic depictions of inner-city life. However, the album’s success helped make gangsta rap a commercial force, and Eazy-E became one of the genre’s most recognizable faces.
After N.W.A disbanded in 1991, Eazy-E founded Ruthless Records and signed several good gangsta rap groups, including Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and the Compton Posse. He also released two solo albums, Eazy-Duz-It and 5150: Home 4 tha Sick.
Tragically, Eazy-E’s life was cut short by AIDS-related complications in 1995. He was just 31 years old. However, his influence on the rap world and popular culture, in general, has been lasting.
FAQs on Eazy E Net Worth
Where did Eazy-E’s money go?
Tomica and her two children are the primary beneficiaries of Eazy-E’s estate. According to court documents, they are each entitled to a portion of the rapper’s royalties and earnings. So, whenever people played or purchased Eazy-E’s music, Tomica and her children received a percentage of the proceeds.
As a result, they have maintained a comfortable lifestyle since Eazy-E’s death.
How much money did Eazy-E make off of Dre Day?
The track’s success led to Eazy-E receiving a significant payday. According to a report by The Source, Eazy-E was paid $1 million for his verse on “Dre Day.”
However, it was an unprecedented amount of money for a rap verse at the time and helped solidify Eazy-E’s status as one of the wealthiest men in hip-hop.
In addition to the money he made from “Dre Day,” Eazy-E also profited from the sales of The Chronic. The album was a commercial and critical success and sold over five million copies in the United States. As a result, Eazy-E likely made millions of dollars in royalties from the album.
