Eazy-E

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Greatest Hits

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Emerging with deft artistry in the mid-1990s, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony made their presence felt as they heralded a new rap era. The five friends based out of Cleveland, Ohio, created an indelible impression on fans with their harmonious singing and compelling street stories through their personalities. Consequently, after drawing the attention of Eazy-E, the group signed to Ruthless Records in 1993 and released the EP Creepin’ On Ah Come-up, sparking the greatest Bone Thugs-n-Harmony hits.

However, tragedy struck when Eazy passed away in 1995, yet their music continued to thrive, dominating multiple charts and even earning them a Grammy for Classic E. 1999 Eternal. Not only that, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony changed the expectations for rap stardom in the Midwest and revolutionized the genre for years to come. To this day, Bone Thug’s legacy is remembered in hip-hop culture, confirming their place as one of the most influential acts of the 1990s.

7. “Notorious Thugs” (1997)

Boasting five hours in the studio together, Layzie Bone and Notorious B.I.G delivered the hotly anticipated “Notorious Thugs,” a track featured on the late rapper’s second studio album Life After Death. The song infamously referenced the lingering animosity between Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. and aimed at Three Six Mafia, Do or Die, and Twista via hard-hitting verses from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. In addition to its bold demonstration of Notorious B.I.G.’s mastery of the melodic chopper flow made famous by the Cleveland group, “Notorious Thugs” also highlights the iconic star’s desire to be recognized globally.

6. “Days of Our Livez” (1998)

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s 1998 single “Days of Our Livez” was a remarkable success. Its soundscape, built on the foundations of “Tender Love” by Force MDs and “Making Love in the Rain” by Herb Alpert, evoked an emotive response from fans and critics alike, with its soulful, reflective aura resembling that of the group’s crossover hit “Tha Crossroads.” The track reached admirable heights on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Tracks charts, and No. 37 on the UK Singles Chart. Furthermore, it garnered Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Undeniably, “Days of Our Livez” is an understated classic and one of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s most iconic hits.

5. “1st of Tha Month” (1995)

The 1995 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony classic “1st of Tha Month” reached No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100, garnering their first Top 20 status. For this reason, nominated for a Grammy Award and certified gold by the RIAA, this upbeat track celebrates the arrival of welfare checks in the hood on the first day of each month. All things considered, friends and family come together to revel in their collective good fortune and enjoy a momentary respite from life’s struggles. It’s an uplifting song that serves as a reminder of hope amidst challenging times.

4. “Foe Tha Love of $” (1995)

For the final time, Eazy-E graced a music video with his presence in the song “Foe Tha Love of $” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. This hustler’s anthem captures all facets of the moneymaking game. Subsequently, it also touches upon its consequences with graphic realism. Its success was widespread, reaching No. 4 on Hot Rap Songs and number 39 on Billboard Hot 100. As an artist who embodied an untainted urban culture, Eazy-E set the tone for many artists to come.

3. “I Tried ft. Akon” (2007)

“I Tried” emerges as the uplifting lead single from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s 2007 album Strength & Loyalty. Emphatically featuring soulful vocals from Akon, this anthem brought the group’s story of resilience and commitment to the Billboard Hot 100. It debuted at No. 82 and peaked at a remarkable No. 6 – their highest charting song of the decade. “I Tried” remains an enduring favorite amongst fans, embodying the spirit of perseverance in times of struggle.

2. “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” (1994)

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s debut EP features their iconic single “Thuggish Ruggish Bone,” with special guest vocals from Cleveland artist Shatasha Williams. The song’s title alludes to their wild and rogue “thug” identities. Lyrically, the track is bold and fiery, showcasing Shatasha Williams’s powerful vocals. It saw recognition when included in the True Crime: Streets of L.A. soundtrack. Later Layzie Bone’s second verse was adapted on Mo Thugs Family first album, Family Scriptures. With authoritative energy, this timeless classic remains a landmark piece in hip-hop, displaying the group’s unbridled talent.

1. “The Crossroads” (1996)

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony hits broke genre boundaries 27 years ago, transforming their struggles into a resonating song that captivated many. Capturing the vision Eazy-E saw in them, the group crafted music that would go beyond their Cleveland, Ohio. The group’s signature anthem, “Crossroads,” was a tribute to the beloved Eazy-E following his passing. Crafted initially as “Crossroads” in honor of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s lost friend Wallace, the song skyrocketed in popularity upon its rerelease. It debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. As a result, this iconic hit secured the top spot for eight weeks. The song earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group in 1997. It remains a poignant reminder of the legacy left behind by their beloved mentor.

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“Menace II Society” Director Claims Eazy-E Was In Original Cast

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Menace II Society is a classic teen drama from the 1990s. The directorial debut of the Hughes Brothers (Dead Presidents, The Book Of Eli), the film highlighted the realities of life for Black teenagers in a post-Rodney King LA. The film’s cast featured a wealth of big-name actors, Jada Pinkett-Smith among them. The film also featured Larenz Tate, Samuel L. Jackson, Clifton Powell, and Tyrin Turner in the lead role.

However, a recent interview from one-half of the directorial team has revealed some fascinating new information about the film’s production. Allen Hughes, appearing on The Breakfast Club, spoke about who was meant to star in one of the lead roles. It also shed some light on the eventual breakup of N.W.A.

Eazy-E Was Cast And Later Dropped From “Menace II Society”

O-Dog is the best friend of Menace II Society‘s main character, Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner). He is played by Larenz Tate (Power) to masterful perfection. However, the casting of Tate was not the production’s first choice. According to Allen Hughes, Eazy-E of N.W.A fame was originally cast in the role. “We wrote that role for Eazy-E,” Hughes said of O-Dog. Hughes and Eazy-E had a close relationship, with Hughes going as far as to call E his “mentor.”

However, Eazy and his business manager Jerry Heller ultimately led to a production change. According to Hughes, E and Heller were overly demanding about changes to the script, eventually forcing the Brothers to find a new actor. They first turned to Ice Cube, who turned down the role for fear of being type-cast after Boyz In The Hood. Eventually, they settled on Tate. “I learned everything from Eazy, but one of the things with him and Jerry is they always try to keep you in a box and control you. And they were trying to control us in the script and I just had to move on, and it was for peanuts. I adore Eazy. He was so giving and so down-to-earth. By the way, great with his fans, too. Very patient with his fans. But I see why Cube left, I see why Dre left. There was a whole thing there.” Hughes said.

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Eazy-E Collab With Guns N’ Roses Reportedly Exists

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It has been three decades since Eazy-E passed away. Still, it seems like new information regarding the late legend’s career comes to light every few days. The rapper was just 30 years old at the time of his passing in 1995. Not long before his death, Eazy publicly revealed that he had contracted HIV/AIDS. He was hospitalized for complications stemming from the disease. Shortly thereafter, he passed away. It was a huge loss for the culture, but Eazy’s influence is felt to this day. In fact, three decades after his death, the legend is still making headlines.

Many things about Eazy’s past have been called into question in recent years – even the cause of his death. His daughter revealed in 2021 that she was working on a documentary about the circumstances around his passing. The four-hour documentary was titled The Mysterious Death of Eazy-E. In the documentary, the reason for Eazy’s death was the subject of much debate. Some allege that the rapper was purposely exposed to the virus. Some, like Too $hort, don’t think that Eazy died of HIV/AIDS at all. If it was different than what was reported, we may never know the truth of his death. Still, some seem keen to share new information about Eazy at every turn. More previously unknown information about his career has come to light recently by way of friends and collaborators.

Eazy-E’s Unreleased Music

Rapper Eazy-E performs during the ‘Straight Outta Compton’ tour at the Genesis Convention Center. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

In a recent interview with Rock The Bells, Eazy-E’s childhood friend Arnold “Bigg A” White revealed that the rap legend had quite a bit of unreleased music. “There is unreleased music still out there,” said White. “We know for a fact that he had two or three or four reels in his car when he went to the hospital.” He went on to talk about what might have been on the lost reels, which may surprise some fans. “He had songs with Slash from Guns n’ Roses,” he said.

White is not Eazy’s only childhood friend talking about the rapper. Keefe D revealed in a VladTV interview that Eazy was actually approached to join Death Row Records before Dr. Dre. However, because Eazy-E already established a name for himself at the time, he didn’t think it was a good idea to be doing business with people who were incarcerated. “Once the phone call went dead, Eazy showed up to my house 30 minutes later,” Keefe recalled, “He like, ‘Dude, them dudes in jail and I’m already established.’” What do you think about all of the new information being revealed about Eazy? Let us know in the comments!

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Keefe D: Eazy-E Offered Spot At Death Row Records Before Dre

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Keefe D has dropped some interesting facts about the early days of Death Row Records in a new interview with VladTV. In the early-to-mid 90s, it was practically impossible to ignore the label. It gave birth to some of the most legendary artists in the hip-hop genre. In the 30-plus years since its founding, Death Row has gone through plenty of ups and downs. After quite a bit of stagnation, it was recently acquired by Snoop Dogg, who released his debut album on the label. At this point in the game, you might think there is nothing left to learn about Death Row’s history. However, in his new interview, Keefe D proved that there’s probably a lot we still don’t know.

Duane Davis, AKA Keefe D, is a former prominent member of the South Side Compton Crips. He was a childhood friend of Eazy-E and was present for or involved with many of the events surrounding the founding of Death Row Records. Keefe was also allegedly connected to the murder of Tupac. In fact, he was behind the claims that Diddy placed a $1 million hit on the late Shakur. Whether or not there is any truth to that claim is still unclear. Still, Keefe seems to have plenty left to say about Death Row. This time, he’s opening up about the founding of the label and how Dr. Dre wasn’t actually the first choice.

Keefe D’s Involvement With Death Row

While speaking to VladTV, Keefe revealed that Death Row Records wanted Eazy-E to join before they approached Dr. Dre. He says that his friend was in prison with Death Row co-founder, Michael Harris. Through this friend, Harris asked Keefe to set up a call with Eazy. The late rapper was not too keen to do business with people behind bars, though. After the call, Eazy apparently showed up at Keefe’s house in person to talk. “Once the phone call went dead, Eazy showed up to my house 30 minutes later,” Keefe recalled, “He like, ‘Dude, them dudes in jail and I’m already established.”

The former gangster says that Harris called Dr. Dre the next day, and he accepted. The acquisition wasn’t quite so simple, as the NWA member was actually signed to Eazy-E’s label at the time. For many years, it’s been said that Suge Knight had to strongarm Eazy to get him to release Dre from his contract. According to Keefe, the truth is a lot less interesting. For the early contract termination, Eazy was allegedly paid $200,000. Once Dre was free of his contract, he joined Death Row, and the rest is history. What do you think Death Row would have been like if Eazy had said yes? Let us know in the comments!

A Look at Eazy-E’s Children Today

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Eazy-E is a West Coast Hip-Hop legend best known for his time with the rap group N.W.A. along with Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and MC Ren. Tragically, Eazy-E passed away in 1995 at age 30 after he was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. His short bout with the disease shocked fans, and before anyone knew it, the world collectively grieved his loss. Before his untimely death, Eazy-E reportedly welcomed eleven children, and we’re looking at where they are today. Some are artists, and others have avoided the spotlight. Yet, they all carry on the late rapper’s legacy.

Eric & Erica Wright

Eazy-E’s son, Eric Wright, was born in 1984 and is professionally known as Lil Eazy-E. He followed in his father’s footsteps, currently works as a rapper, and is president of Rich & Ruthless Records. Eazy-E’s eldest daughter Erica was still a child when her father died. Not much is known of Erica’s professional career; however, in 2019, she worked to get her father’s tombstone changed. Erica had known for most of her life that the birth year on Eazy-E’s tombstone was wrong. She worked with Tim Morris of Yakima Valley headstone company in 2019 to fix the headstone and hosted a public event to unveil the new look.

Marquise & Henree Wright

Eazy-E’s son Marquise was born on February 14, 1990. He is known as Yung Eazy and followed his father’s path as he pursued a career as a rapper. Marquise made controversial remarks on Instagram regarding his father’s death, as he accused the former Death Row Records CEO, Suge Knight, of injecting his father with HIV and thus killing him. He believed that the timing of his father’s death aligned with a studio incident between Suge Knight and Eazy-E, as Eazy-E did not get sick until afterward. Marquise also pointed to a Knight interview with Jimmy Kimmell that he felt implicated Suge as the murderer of his father.

Eazy-E’s daughter Henree Cheron Wright was also born in 1990, to Eazy-E and Kelly Faultersack Robinson. Henree is a rapper and is professionally known as ReeMarkable. She has also appeared on the reality show Growing up Hip-Hop: Atlanta. ReeMarkable’s single “Don’t Stop” was released in 2021 and featured Uncle Luke. She is also a popular figure on Instagram, as she has over 200,000 followers.

Ebie & Dominick Wright

Eazy E’s daughter, Erin Wright, was born in 1991. Erin legally changed her name to Ebie and was a star on the reality show Relatively Famous: Ranch Rules in 2007. She also helped produce a documentary about her father, exploring the theories surrounding his death. She works as a singer, actress, and entrepreneur. Eazy-E’s son, Dominick, was also born in 1991 to the rapper and Tomica Woods in Los Angeles, California. Along with Ebie, Dominick also decided to pursue a career in acting, and his most famous role was as Curtis in the 2015 film Mistaken.

Derrek & Daijah Wright

Eazy-E’s son Derrek began following his father’s career path at a young age as he began rapping at age eight. Derrek is professionally known as Baby Eazy-E or E3. As of 2022, he continues to make music. He was also reportedly featured in Eazy-E’s music video for “Only if You Want It” as a child. Meanwhile, Daijah was born to Eazy-E and Tomica Woods in 1996 and is the full sister of Dominick. Sadly, Eazy-E passed away six months before Daijah’s birth. She is currently an actress, rapper, and singer. Daijah’s most popular appearance on television was on the third season of Growing up Hip-Hop: Atlanta.

Raven, Elijah, & David Wright

Not much is known about Eazy-E’s children Raven, Elijah, and David. Eazy-E’s daughter Raven has kept a low profile throughout her life, and little is known about her career. She has never been pictured at celebrity gatherings or parties and has remained out of the limelight. Elijah is like Raven; he keeps a low profile, and little to nothing is known about his personal life. David is just as elusive, and not much can be found about him.

Legacy

Eazy-E’s children have kept his legacy alive, and some of his children, such as Eric, Marquise, Henree, Ebie, Dominick, Derrek, and Daijah, have also pursued careers in the arts. Many of the rap icon’s children are active on social media, and their music and contributions to film and television are available publicly. Despite Eazy-E’s early death at 30, he is loved by his children, and many of them, such as Erica, continue to make concerted efforts to ensure his legacy is respected and admired.

Happy Birthday To N.W.A./Ruthless Records Founder Eazy-E! (RIP)

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Despite the fact that the Hip Hop community lost this giant in the game over two decades ago, the legacy of Eazy-E will always be seen, heard and celebrated by the culture of Hip Hop.

Eazy-E was born Eric Lynn Wright on this date in 1964 in Compton, California. As most of his gang-infested Compton neighborhood, Eazy adopted the street life and began a career in selling drugs in the early 80s. Wright earned as much as $250K selling drugs, but quickly reinvested his street profits into the music business, thus starting Ruthless Records.

Not long after, Eazy linked up with O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson, Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and Lorenzo “MC Ren” Paterson and founded “the world’s most dangerous group”, N.W.A. This multi-platinum, Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame group catapulted Eazy’s status to the “godfather of gangster rap”.

Even though the world said goodbye to Eazy in 1995 after his short battle with AIDS, his musical genius continues to live on and influence future generations of Hip Hoppers.

Happy born day Eazy! #RIPEazyE

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Today In Hip Hop History: N.W.A. Dropped Their Second LP ‘Straight Outta Compton’ 34 Years Ago

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On 8/8/88, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, Eazy E, along with the legendary Dr. Dre from the World Class Wreckin’ Crew put together the second N.W.A. album called Straight Outta Compton. This album came on the heels of Eazy E’s debut release, Eazy E, and The Posse, which led Eazy E and his Ruthless Records label partner Jerry Heller to put out another release exploiting the gang culture that saturated the West Coast, giving birth to what is known as “gangsta rap’. Their debut release, N.W.A. And The Posse was already certified and had anticipating fans around the world the second time around.

Some of the most lethal, straight no chaser lyrical assaults can be heard on tracks like the “Dopeman” remix, “Gangsta Gangsta,” and the anti-cop anthem “Fuck The Police.” What made this album so unique was that it rose to platinum status with no radio play or major promotion. The album even drew attention from the federal government, with the FBI and U.S. Secret Service sending letters to Ruthless about the violent message of “Fuck The Police.” N.W.A.’s popularity with the law increased their fan base and record sales. This album was also when Dr. Dre was officially recognized as the legendary producer he has evolved into today. Careers from both coasts and everywhere in between was created from the Straight Outta Compton prototype.

The Source salutes Cube, Ren, Dre, the Wright family, DJ Yella, and the Arabian Prince for this unforgettable masterpiece!

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Today in Hip Hop History: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Dropped Their Third LP ‘Art Of War’ 26 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip Hop history, we celebrate a quarter-century of one of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s most popular pieces of work, The Art of War. As a follow-up to the group’s most successful album E. 1999 Eternal, The Art of War did everything but disappoint.  The album kept the group’s momentum up, claiming the top spot on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. This album even capitalized on the double LP trend of the 90s in a way that was cohesive and unsaturated.

Originally rumored to be titled DNA Level C or “Cleveland” spelled backward, this album took its current title and became a declaration of war against rappers whom Bone Thugs believed to be imitators of the style they created. Some of the groups and artists targeted were Three 6 Mafia, Twista, Crucial Conflict, and Tommy Wright III. Through this project, Bone Thugs looked to cement themselves as the only soulful east coast gangsta rappers in the industry.

Commercially this album was a great success, selling 349,000 copies in its first week on shelves and going on to be certified quadruple platinum only one year after its release. The album’s two singles were also big hits with “If I Could Teach the World” reaching #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and “Look Into My Eyes” peak at #4 on the same chart.

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J.J. Fad Honored With Street Name In Hometown

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Hip-Hop legends J.J. Fad receive street name honor in their hometown of Rialto, California on Saturday (June 11). NWA’s DJ Yella and World Class Wreckin’ Crew attend the legend’s ceremony.

MORE: Girl Group Tribute: The Supersonic Sound of J.J. Fad

Awarded the prestigious honor at the San Bernardino County Government Center. Group members Juana “MC JB” Burns, Dania “Baby D” Birks, and Michelle “Sassy C” Franklin were on hand to receive the honor bestowed by San Bernardino Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. KOLA-FM personality Jesse Duran hosted the event.

J.J. Fad signed to Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records and scored the 1988 hit “Supersonic” which reached No. 30 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and earned them a nomination for the first-ever Best Rap Performance GRAMMY award in 1989. Burns, Birks, and Franklin were humbled by the recognition.

“Rialto raised us in the most amazing way,” they said. “We attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Rialto, and this is where the group was formed. If it weren’t for the positive influences in our lives from teachers to family to coaches, etc., this would not have been possible. We are proud to hail from Rialto and are so thankful for this honor. J.J. Fad Way will be standing long after we are gone, and that’s a legacy that our children and their children can all be proud of.”

MORE: Former Death Row Artist CPO Boss Hogg Dead At 52

Supervisor Baca said he was honored to get a street named after the trio.

“The street is called J.J. Fad Way and is named after the group who always supported their city no matter how famous and busy they got,” he said in a statement. “I would like to thank all who came out. I would like to thank Jesse Duran for emceeing the event, and I would also like to thank the members of World Class Wreckin’ Crew and Arabian Prince for coming out and showing support to our girls and our city.”

“Supersonic” celebrated its 34th anniversary on June 15. J.J. Fad has kept busy over the years, regularly performing concert dates across the nation. They will join Cee Lo Green, Treach of Naughty By Nature, Kid ‘N Play and others on the upcoming Boombox! A Vegas Residency on Shuffle concert dates at the Westgate Resort in Las Vegas. An interpolation of “Supersonic” “Super Bonnet” appears in the Disney Junior television series “Rise Up, Sing Out.”

In April, they performed “Supersonic” at the opening of the CinemaCon Convention as a tribute to Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” film. 

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