- Eazy-E is a rap legend
- He died many years ago
- Find out how the famous music star died
It's been over 25 years since the music world lost Eazy-E. The legendary and controversial rapper died young at the age of 30 back in 1995. What caused the untimely death of the "Boyz-n-the-Hood" rapper and member of N.W.A.?
How did Eazy-E die?
Eazy-E, whose real name was Eric Wright, was a successful solo rapper who also formed the iconic Compton group N.W.A. with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. However, the "Straight Outta Compton" band broke up in the early '90s, and Eazy's health suddenly took a sharp downturn not long after.
In early 1995, the rapper was admitted to Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles after feeling ill for some time with a cough. But while there it was determined he had AIDS. He announced that news to his fans on March 16, 1995, per the UPI.
Shockingly, less than two weeks later, Eazy-E was dead. He died from AIDS-induced pneumonia on March 25, 1995, at the age of 30.
Also Interesting:
Eazy-E death controversy — and Suge Knight?
Eazy-E's death can get controversial when it comes to the question of how he got AIDS. It's generally believed that the rapper contracted the disease from a sexual partner.
However, there are also conspiracy theories that suggest notorious enforcer Suge Knight allegedly may have been involved in forcibly injecting Eazy with the virus.
The theories seem rather unlikely, as the rapper's own statement before his death came because he wanted to warn "young fans" of the seriousness AIDS.
Nonetheless, Eazy's daughter is another who believes her father's death wasn't so simple. She once even attempted (unsuccessfully) to crowdfund an investigative film about the tragedy, which she called "fishy."
No official sources otherwise refute Eazy-E's cause of death. The gangsta rap legend's legacy was revisited in the successful 2015 N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, and the 25th anniversary of his death also passed in 2020.
