Eazy E and Dr. Dre: Collaborators and Rivals By: Eliana Lehrman, Jessica Thorla-Mitchell,

Simon Vierstra

Eazy E was born Eric Lynn Wright in 1965 in Compton California. After dropping out of school in

the tenth grade, Wright began selling drugs to finance his

music career. He used this money to start his own music production company, RuthlessRecords.

Dr. Dre, born Andre Rommel was also born in Compton in 1965. He began his career as a member of the World Class Wrecking Cru.

Later the two collaborated in the group NWA.

Eazy E sought out Dr. Dre to sign with his label. The two formed the group NWA (Niggaz Wit Attitude). They added several more members including:

Ice Cube MC Yella MC Ren Arabian Prince

NWA’s first release “Straight Outta Compton” gained national notoriety with its first single, “Fuck Tha Police.” The songs discussed

drugs, violence (towards women and others), sex, urban life and gangs. Because of its explicit lyrics, the FBI and concerned parent

groups actually designed the “Parental Advisory” label. The album, however was

hugely popular and, eventually went double platinum.

NWA went on to produce the album “Niggaz For Life”. With these albums, NWA created what was to become known as

“gangsta rap;” a style that has been duplicated by many.

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HOW THE FEUD BEGAN:

Ice Cube, because he wrote most of the songs, felt he

deserved a bigger share of the profits, so he left the group.

Soon Dr. Dre discovered that Eazy E and his partner were

keeping most of the profits, so he left, too. Because of this dispute, the two formed a

formidable rivalry.

Dre signed with Death Row Records. His first release, “The Chronic” features the

song “Fuck wit Dre Day.” The video for the song features a money grubbing character

named “Sleazy E.”

Eazy E retaliated with several songs on his album, “It’s on

(Dr. Dre)” which insulted Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and

several other artists.

In “Fuck Wit Dre Day,” Dr. Dre sent a message to the man who cheated him. Eazy E responded with several songs on his next album, which calls out Dr. Dre, Death Row Records, Dre’s protege Snoop Doggy Dogg and others. The rivalry escalated afterwards with different

rappers lyrically taunting each. As the feud continued, many thought that each was using the feud to promote their careers while others were getting kicks and giggles from the verbal bashing

between the two. In reality, the the songs produced were becoming quite popular.

The rivalry between Eazy E and Dr. Dre came to an end on March 26th, 1995 when Eazy E died from complications due to AIDS. Dr. Dre visited him at his bedside.

Eazy E, Dr, Dre, Ice Cube and the others came together to make the kind of music that reflected their lives, their language, their culture and their attitudes. NWA was the first rap group of its kind to make music that urban/ghetto youthcould identify with and appreciate. Although laced with profanity and violence,

the music spoke to a culture permeated with drugs, violence and poverty.NWA were also the pioneers of the sub-genre, “gangsta rap” that has permeated

rap culture ever since and inspired artists like Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, NAS and

many others; their influence can still be seen today in artists like Chief Keef and Juicy J.

Works Cited