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.

.

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. 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 soon 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 Eazy E, Snoop Dogg and several other artists. Many of these artists responded with their own songs furthering the rivalry.

Eazy E, Dr, Dre, Ice Cube and the others came together to make the kind of music that reflected their lives, their culture and their attitudes. NWA was

the first rap group of its kind to make music that young people could identify with and appreciate. They also gave rise to the sub-genre

“gangsta rap” that has permeated the rap culture and many artists including Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Biggie Smalls and many

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