Details the rivalry between Dr. Dre and Eazy E after their departure from NWA

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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.
.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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 youth
could 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.

10. Works Cited