Remembering Eazy-E: A Personal reflection 30 Years Later.

Eazy E and The Poetess at a music conference in 1992.

Wow… It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since the untimely passing of Eric “Eazy-E” Wright. The Godfather of Gangsta Rap. A straight-up pioneer. A rebel with a mission—and a big heart that not enough people talk about. I remember meeting Eazy around 1991 or 1992. Back then, rumors flew left and right about him—some folks even said he was a devil worshipper. (Yes, that rumor.) I was skeptical at first, especially since he had a crush on my roommate and DJ, DJ E-Que. He’d ask if he could come kick it at our place, but I was like, mmm... not sure about that.

But as time went on, I got to know him. And let me tell you, if Eazy was a devil worshipper, he was the kindest, most generous one I’ve ever met. This man did more for his community than most people ever knew. He would rent buses and take kids from Compton—many of whom had never left their block because of the gang culture—to places like Disneyland and Universal Studios. He didn’t do it for press. He did it because he cared.

One thing about Eazy—he had a hard time saying "no." That’s probably why Ruthless Records had what felt like 100 artists signed at one point. He may not always come through, but he wasn’t gonna flat-out shut you down either. He believed in giving people a shot. When I was working on what would’ve been my second album (post-Interscope), I was planning to go the independent route. Eazy stepped in and connected me with the legendary Tony G, and I recorded at G-Spot Studios in El Monte, CA. I only laid down a couple tracks before pivoting to my radio career, but still—he looked out.

The Ruthless Radio Crew L-R: Keisha Milan, DJ Yella, Tony G, Julio G, Jesse Collins and Eazy E at 92.3 The Beat

Funny enough, Eazy ended up joining me in the radio world not long after. In July 1994, he came to 92.3 The Beat—where I had already been on air for about a year—and launched his own show, Ruthless Radio. That lineup? Iconic. It featured legendary KDAY Mixmasters Tony G, Julio G, a young Jesse Collins (who’s now producing every major award show on TV), Keisha Milan, and DJ Yella. The show aired Saturday nights from 6–9 PM and was followed by The World Famous Wake Up Show with Sway and King Tech.

Those were the golden days of radio—and I’m beyond grateful I got to witness it up close and personal.

The vibe of Ruthless Radio was pure hip hop. It was raw, real, and unapologetically street. Tony G and Julio G would throw down classic mixes, Yella would bless the set, and Eazy? He kept it entertaining. In addition to the usual station giveaways, he’d throw in his own prizes—video games, sneakers, whatever he felt like blessing folks with. That was just his spirit.

Eazy E at my house, October 1994. 5 months before he passed away.

Despite the controversy and people’s opinions,

Eazy was sharp, business-minded, fearless, and always two steps ahead. He wasn’t just some gangsta rapper. He was a visionary who helped put West Coast hip hop on the map and turned Compton into a cultural landmark.

In early 1995, we found out Eazy had been hospitalized for what we thought was bronchitis. I remember thinking I should visit, but figured I’d catch him when he got back to the station. But it wasn’t bronchitis. It was AIDS. The announcement shook our entire industry. Magic Johnson had already made headlines, but this felt different. It hit close. Eazy was one of us—young, brilliant, at his prime. The day the news broke, my coworker Theo went on air and started playing sad tribute songs like “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” by Boyz II Men. I charged into the studio like, Why are you playing all this sad shit? The man is still alive! Play HIS music! When I think back on it, I probably shouldn’t have done that, but back then I was a little firecracker! LOL! He was pissed—threatened to get me fired, actually. Funny enough, I outlasted Theo at The Beat. By the way, where is Theo? A question I am often asked when people know I worked with him at The Beat. 

To this day, I often wonder… what would hip hop look like if Eazy-E were still here? What would he be doing? What artists would he have helped break? What moves would he have made? He was always that dude—one step ahead, unafraid, and always giving people chances when others wouldn’t.

Rest in Power, Eazy. Thirty years later, you’re still missed, still respected, and still ruthless in all the best ways.