Born and raised in Compton, a small yet violent city near Los Angeles, Wright had several legal troubles before founding Ruthless in 1987. After a short solo career with frequent collaboration with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, they joined, forming N.W.A, later that year.
N.W.A's debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, was released in 1988. Controversial upon release, it is now ranked among the greatest and most influential albums. The group released its third and final studio album, Niggaz4Life.
N.W.A began to split up after Jerry Heller became the band's manager. Dr. Dre recalls: "The split came when Jerry Heller got involved. He played the divide and conquer game. Instead of taking care of everybody, he picked one nigga to take care of and that was Eazy. And Eazy was like, 'I'm taken care of, so fuck it'." Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. sent Suge Knight to look into Eazy-E's financial situation as they began to grow suspicious of Eazy-E and Jerry Heller. Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. asked Eazy-E to release him from Ruthless, but Eazy-E refused. The impasse led to what reportedly transpired between Suge Knight and Eazy-E at the recording studio where Niggaz4life was recorded. After he refused to release Dr. Dre and The D.O.C., Suge Knight told Eazy-E that he had kidnapped Jerry Heller and was holding him prisoner in a van. This did not convince Eazy-E to release Dr. Dre and The D.O.C. from Ruthless, and Suge Knight threatened Eazy-E's family: Suge Knight gave Eazy-E a piece of paper that contained Eazy's mother's address, telling him, "I know where your mama stays." Eazy-E finally signed Dr. Dre and The D.O.C.'s releases, officially ending N.W.A.
The feud with Dr. Dre continued after a track on Dre's debut album The Chronic, "Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')", contained lyrics that insulted Eazy-E. Eazy responded with the EP, It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, featuring the tracks "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" and "It's On". The album, which was released on October 25, 1993, contains pictures of Dre wearing "lacy outfits and makeup" when he was a member of the Electro-hop World Class Wreckin' Cru.
During N.W.A's splintering Eazy-E resumed his solo career released two EPs. Yet he remained more significant behind the scenes, signing and nationally debuting the rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony from 1993 to 1994.
On February 24, 1995, Wright was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with a violent cough. He was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. He announced his illness in a public statement on March 16, 1995. During the week of March 20, having already made amends with Ice Cube, he drafted a final message to his fans. On March 26, 1995, Eazy-E died from AIDS-induced pneumonia, one month after his diagnosis. He was 30 years old (most reports at the time said he was 31 due to the falsification of his date of birth by one year). He was buried on April 7, 1995, at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. Over 3,000 people attended his funeral, including Jerry Heller and DJ Yella. He was buried in a gold casket, and was dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans, and his Compton hat. On January 30, 1996, ten months after Eazy-E's death, his final album, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton was released.
Easy had 11 children, one of which, Eric, would start his own rap career under the name Lil Eazy-E.
Eazy 1 2 3
Eazy-E Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once a nigga always a nigga now a public figure,
But i still serve a muthafucka if i have too cause
I slanging them thangs nigga.
I roll deep with the crew oh oh possy nigga's cutting
Dope murder shit wrote for the EAZ-E fool,
Fuck with the better ran, still a better man than the
Next man, and again. i can still put a crown?
Ya ass back the fuck on home,
Say the fuck up the charma crack you just ain't know
My definition of a bitch nigga,
Aww shit, get pistol with,
Need to sit down when he piss,
Cause i beat em treat em fuck em like 1 2 3,
The legend of gangsterrap is Eazy-E.
Still gangsta ruthless, leaving muthafucka's toothless.
I was? before i do this.
A nigga gone, i guess i see you at the crossroads,
A nigga with an attitude, my name from last month
I meet em treat em fuck em eazy 123
We meet em treat em fuck em eazy 123 (x2)
Thats where the streets hits the radio,
And give the love like he supposed to,
Y'all don't wanna death in the studio,
Another scandel for me i got?
?. Raised my 64 11 on the roll,
Bang, Los Angeles slang, like a double barrel,
E? in da game. Big? ya ass see smoke glower,
Now fucking with legends Eazy with a weapon,
Cash is trading killer cross-over,
Jump in the game, bitches?
? My name, violent reporter the streets out of order.
Projects corner and gangster?
?, I hit blocks of a double-shot,
Show my face on the block I give a fuck about a cop.
? Black attitude, nigga fuck you. Stomping niggas?
I meet em treat em fuck em eazy 123
We meet em treat em fuck em eazy 123 (x2)
Now what the fuck is with the 1 punk nigga,
2 punk niggas, end em up. And get the bitch ah,
Whats the fucking black?
Bustah, I was born a pimp,
A mac-daddy and a hustler.
You can take the nigga of the streets but you cant
Take the streets out the nigga.
Once a nigga still a nigga,
Fucking hos and not do me,
Fucking steadily, I fucked your bitch
(Ahh) cause she was? me.
Your bitch in heaven but?
? To me, she dropped the dough,
She find out I was Eazy. she licked the balls,
Suck the dick I came heavenly (ooh get me ready E, suck me steadily)
Why these niggas sip and?
?. drinking on bitch?. for the name easy niggas just
Play, now in my lowrider and this candy-paint.
Stay on spot for the glock.
Nigga think I aim, I am with a five full of five gangsta
Was? big, paper drill, on the quest for mills.
Now everybody say they are thugging,
But when the gun blast see niggas running, I leave no witnesses
But niggas always tryna hate and they be always talking shit
But when they sober they all hestitate cause they dont
Know who they fucking with
? Real gangsta shit and tell your ho get off my dick
Cause we gone finish of the legacy and keep the familys?
I meet em treat em fuck em eazy 123
We meet em treat em fuck em eazy 123 (x2)
In "Eazy 1 2 3," Eazy-E raps about his life as a street corner drug dealer turned public figure, still willing to serve if necessary. He boasts about rolling deep with his crew, cutting dope, and writing murder lyrics. Eazy defines a "bitch nigga" as someone who gets pistol-whipped and can't even stand up to piss. He exclaims that he'll beat, treat, and f**k bitches like it's as easy as counting 1 2 3. Eazy also flaunts his status as a legend in gangsta rap and his ruthless gangster persona.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I meet em treat em f**k em eazy 123" twice, emphasizing how effortlessly Eazy can take control of women. He raps about his love for the streets and his disdain for the police, asserting that he doesn't give a f**k about them. Eazy's rhyme style is raw and unapologetic, capturing the essence of hardcore West Coast hip-hop.
Line by Line Meaning
A typichal street Corner ass nigga
Eazy-E identifies as the archetype of a street hustler
Once a nigga always a nigga now a public figure,
Eazy-E may have become famous, but he still identifies with his roots
But i still serve a muthafucka if i have too cause
Eazy-E is willing to resort to violence if necessary to protect his drug-dealing operation
I slanging them thangs nigga.
Eazy-E is a drug dealer
I roll deep with the crew oh oh possy nigga's cutting
Eazy-E runs with a large crew of people who also deal drugs
Dope murder shit wrote for the EAZ-E fool,
Eazy-E writes songs about violent drug-related topics
Fuck with the better ran, still a better man than the
Eazy-E is a better drug dealer than his rivals
Next man, and again. i can still put a crown?
Eazy-E sees himself as superior and worthy of recognition
? To your dome. pow nigga pow nigga know the bone, jippie ja jee
Eazy-E is bragging about his ability to kill someone with a gun
Ya ass back the fuck on home,
Eazy-E is warning someone to leave the area
Say the fuck up the charma crack you just ain't know
Eazy-E is cursing someone out and telling them to shut up
My definition of a bitch nigga,
Eazy-E believes in a particular definition of a weak man
Aww shit, get pistol with,
Eazy-E will threaten someone with a gun
Need to sit down when he piss,
Eazy-E thinks weak men are not even man enough to stand while urinating
Cause i beat em treat em fuck em like 1 2 3,
Eazy-E is violent towards weak men
The legend of gangsterrap is Eazy-E.
Eazy-E sees himself as a legend of the gangster rap genre
Still gangsta ruthless, leaving muthafucka's toothless.
Eazy-E is still a gangster who harms others
I was? before i do this.
Eazy-E was always a violent, ruthless person
A nigga gone, i guess i see you at the crossroads,
Eazy-E is referring to his own death and that of others
A nigga with an attitude, my name from last month
Eazy-E is known for his bad attitude and has quickly gained fame
Now what the fuck is with the 1 punk nigga,
Eazy-E is critical of men he sees as weak
2 punk niggas, end em up. And get the bitch ah,
Eazy-E wants to kill weak men and take their women
Whats the fucking black?
Eazy-E seems to be using a racial slur
Bustah, I was born a pimp,
Eazy-E sees himself as a natural born pimp
A mac-daddy and a hustler.
Eazy-E is a pimp and also a drug dealer
You can take the nigga of the streets but you cant
Eazy-E believes that once someone is a gangster, they will always be a gangster
Take the streets out the nigga.
The streets are a part of Eazy-E's identity
Fucking hos and not do me,
Eazy-E has sex with women and does not care what they think of him
Fucking steadily, I fucked your bitch
Eazy-E had sex with someone else's girlfriend
(Ahh) cause she was? me.
Eazy-E attributes his success with women to his personal charm
Your bitch in heaven but?
Eazy-E is still having sex with someone who has passed away
? To me, she dropped the dough,
The woman gave Eazy-E money
She find out I was Eazy. she licked the balls,
The woman performed oral sex on Eazy-E because she found out he was famous
Suck the dick I came heavenly (ooh get me ready E, suck me steadily)
Eazy-E is having sex and enjoying himself
Why these niggas sip and?
Eazy-E is questioning why other men drink
?. drinking on bitch?.
Eazy-E believes that drinking makes men weak
for the name easy niggas just
People use Eazy-E's name for their own gain
Play, now in my lowrider and this candy-paint.
Eazy-E enjoys driving a fancy lowrider car
Stay on spot for the glock.
Eazy-E is always prepared with his gun
Nigga think I aim, I am with a five full of five gangsta
Eazy-E is a skilled shooter with his gun
Was? big, paper drill, on the quest for mills.
Eazy-E is focused on making money
Now everybody say they are thugging,
Eazy-E thinks that everyone is pretending to be tough
But when the gun blast see niggas running, I leave no witnesses
Eazy-E is not afraid to use his gun to kill people who cross him
But niggas always tryna hate and they be always talking shit
Eazy-E's rivals always talk negatively about him
But when they sober they all hestitate cause they dont
Eazy-E's rivals are not brave enough to confront him when they are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Know who they fucking with
Eazy-E believes that his rivals do not understand the consequences of messing with him
? Real gangsta shit and tell your ho get off my dick
Eazy-E wants people to recognize that he is a true gangster and for women to stop pursuing him
Cause we gone finish of the legacy and keep the familys?
Eazy-E wants to continue his legacy and provide for his family
I meet em treat em fuck em eazy 123
Eazy-E has a simple approach to sex and relationships
We meet em treat em fuck em eazy 123 (x2)
Eazy-E's crew shares his approach to sex and relationships
Writer(s): Andre Branch, Cordozar Broadus, Danny "butch" Means, David Weldon, Duane Earle, Keiwan Spillman, Kevin "d.j. Battlecat" Gilliam, Tracey Davis
Contributed by Grayson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.