Caption: Eazy E performing live (source: Los Angeles Times). "I truly learned from my mistake," he said in court. Controversy followed N.W.A. Eazy E was born on September 7, 1964. Dre had dissed Ice Cube in his solo music over the years, but in that moment, the two old friends were united in grief. He responds, "You mean a 211?" Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, 'Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre' - The AllMusic Review. As early as 1994, Eazy had begun to experience the symptoms of an apparent bout of asthma. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Eazy E - Etsy Sadly, just a few weeks later, on March 26, 1995, the disease claimed his life. Please respect his family's grief and privacy at this time," Dre's publicist, Lori Earl,stated (via the Los Angeles Times). Tomica Wright, Daijah's mother, has a net worth of $10 million as of 2021. Since they couldnt hear it on the radio, they bought the album, which accounts for at least part of its success. Carter, who was a longtime friend of Cubes, later met Knight in the parking lot of a local burger restaurant. While Coolio was soon granted bail, Ivey wassentenced to between 3.5 and 10 years in prisonthat September. One of the last dates on Ice Cube and N.W.A.s tour was in Detroit. It was his final project before his unexpected death in 1995. Thanks for your help! At the time, HIV/AIDS was popularly (and falsely)believed to be a problem unique to the LGBT community, but Eazy's doctor suggested that he likely contracted the virus through heterosexual contact. Klein claimed Eazy had been heavily sedated and "forced to sign" his marriage certificate. He is then asked if he has ever been in an armed robbery. [20], AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier praised the album, awarding the album four out of five stars. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Their infamy only grew further after the FBI issued the group's distributor a warning letter after the release of "F*** tha Police.". Sadly, Eazy-E passed on soon after. Caption: Eazy E with his wife and child (source: Facebook). The original cassette & LP excluded "Ruthless Villain". He continued producing and recording as well as working with artists in the Rap Gangster genre. as members, enjoyed a rise to fame that was nothing short of meteoric. The song Boyz-n-the-Hood launched the career of Eazy-E and paved the way for the original lineup of N.W.A to release their debut single, Panic Zone. They followed it up with an album that gathered the songs theyd released so far, along with songs by associated groups. In this video SCOTTONTAPE & I visit the first home that EAZY E purchased in the city of Norwalk, CA. Heller had paid him approximately $32,000 for his work on Straight Outta Compton and Eazy-Es solo album. Eazy-E 5 on the Billboard 200. It was a different time in rap music, and it wasnt uncommon for rappers to perform songs by other people. The following verses tell of Eazy's exploits as a thief and thug. had just completed a tour of huge venues for their platinum-selling album Straight Outta Compton. In 1992 he released EP, 5150 Home 4 tha Sick. He was there for one year, getting a diploma in architectural drafting and design. Did we mention that Ice Cube was still just 16 years old when he landed this deal? White. According to his memoir, Heller fronted $250,000 of his own money to begin the label, and would go on to sink another million over the next few years. By 1990, Compton's murder rate was a ridiculously high 91 homicides per 100,000 residents. Spin Alternative Record Guide (1995) gave the album a seven out of ten rating, referring to it as "comparatively forgotten" compared to Straight Outta Compton, while noting it was a more funny, with "scraps of dialogue and mock interviews, more thoroughly cinematic" while that the albums attempts to promote Eazy-E as a major gangster was "nonsense"[24], Music journalist Robert Christgau gave the album a C+, criticizing the thin beats and lyrics like "I might be a woman beater but I'm not a pussy eater"[25] Soren Baker from the Los Angeles Times called it a "landmark albums brimming with violence, profanity, sexually explicit content and antigovernment themes," and said that it established Eazy as a "major player in the rap industry"[14] Daniel Kreps of the Los Angeles Times called it a "solo masterpiece," and said that it was evidence that Eazy was one of the best rappers ever. Even though he is no longer with us, his legacy in the genre is groundbreaking and will be talked about for generations. "[4][5] Jerry Heller wrote that Eazy raps more up front on the album than he does on Straight Outta Compton, and insists that the album's lyrics contain more sexual humor than gangsta vibe. Eazy-E,Music Canvas Poster Wall Art,Home docor,Frameless 4.5 out wasnt just a career change for Ice Cubefor better and often for worse, it wound up changing his whole life. He lived in fear of what could befall him after he stepped off of the busbut these experiences werent all bad. Not much is known of Eazy-E's time as a drug dealer. Thankfully, Christopher said that his own children inspired him to get sober. One of his daughters E.B. Born Eric Lynn Wright in 1964, his story began on the streets of Compton and ended in 1995 in a medical center in downtown Los Angeles. On top of the lack of proper financial compensation, Ice Cube uncovered a cold betrayal in his contract with Ruthless Records: it didnt even officially name him as a member of the group. Moving on to his family members, he was born to his father Richard Wright, and his mother Kathie Wright. The two founding members of the notorious Crips street gang had met at Washington, and the school was still plagued by danger and brutality even years later. Easy E and N.W.A. If you met him, you knew him, you remembered him. The cornerback was previously dismissed from Washington University's football program for disciplinary reasonsin 2015. Ice Cube hadnt forgotten the freshman year rap battle he entered at his previous high school. [11][12] In 1989, it had sold over 650,000 copies,[13] and by early 1995, Eazy-Duz-It had sold 2.5 million copies. By April 1995, a battle had begun over the ownership of Eazy's estate, including Ruthless Records, estimated to be worth up to $30 million. Eazy-E Essentials Soon after, the chilling details emerged. Their contracts prohibited them from playing it, but Ice Cube and N.W.A. So how did Eazy-E do it? The Compton native helped popularize gangsta rap, and son Eric Wright, Jr. (aka Lil Eazy-E) who was 11 at the time ofEazy-E's deathand raised by his grandparents in his dad's childhood home later followed in the legendary rapper's footsteps. Ice Cube burst onto the scene with hard-hitting gangsta rap before he moved on to serious politically-tinged lyrics and prestige films in the 1990s. Eazy-Duz-It (1990) and Efil4zaggin in 1991. Artists he worked with included the rap artists Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. and the Posse. It featured Dr. Dres productions and also music by N.W.A, Eazy-E, Rappinstine, and the Fila Fresh Crew. [9] On May 20, 1989, it peaked at #41 on the Billboard 200, and since 1989, was in various places on the chart for over 90 weeks. Celebrity children may do what they want with their silver spoons, and there's a fair chance they will enjoy at least some success, if not surpass their birth-givers. (Hoez with Attitude), and, eventually, the lucrative Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Eazy-E and Tomica Woods Wright owned a modest 3 Bed/2 Baths on 1374 sqft Norwalk home that was purchased in 1988 for $175,000 and I believe was gifted to Eric's sister, Patricia. The FBI demoted Ahlerich for the fiasco, but the damage was done. Eazy announced his plight to the public shortly thereafter, winning admiration for his straightforward attitude. In 2020, however, Hale claimed in since-deleted Instagram posts that his dismissal was the result of coaches advising him to see a therapist to work through trauma, and then allegedly using his mental health struggle against him. Months before the release of his eighth studio album "High Off Life" in 2020, Future found himself ringing up his attorneys after his oldest son, Jakobi Wilburn, got into some serious legal trouble that could have led to a 20-year sentence behind bars, as reported byBossip. It conceives the "ghetto landscape as a generalized abstract construct [and] also introduces a localized nuance that conveys a certain proximity, effectively capturing a narrowed sense of place through which young thugs and their potential crime victims move in tandem," as put by cultural historian Murray Forman. Knight had showed up unexpectedly on set, and security promptly ejected him. In fact, a month after his death at the age of 41, sons Naijiel Hale and Lil' Nate revealed that they were set to record an album with Snoop Dogg, aka their father's life-long collaborator and friend. He married Tomica Wright in 1995 and the couple two children. Eazy N.W.A. While Knights lawyer argued that hed hit the men in self-defence, a judge later sentenced him to 28 years in prison. found out that the FBI letter wasnt actually an official missive. The narrative song features two intertwined stories, one of which culminates in a shootout at a courthouse. Following N.W.A's breakup, E's street credibility took a major beating, though his recordings continued to sell well when they appeared; unfortunately, he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1995, and died not long after. with a friend who went by the name of Sir Jinx. While mostof Run's kids have seemingly enjoyed a life of luxury while mostly staying out of trouble, his oldest son, actor and reality TV star Joseph "Jojo" Simmons Jr., had a brush with the lawin 2009 after he allegedly purchased marijuana in New York City and prepared to smoke a joint in his car, per MTV News. and the Posse, was released in 1987 and largely ignored; after a few tweaks of the lineup and the rough-edged subject matter, 1988's Straight Outta Compton made N.W.A into superstars. Of course, Ice Cube featured his old foe Jerry Heller in the filmafter all, Cube had left N.W.A. Eventually, a judge dismissed the case, but there was more in store for Ice Cube. In February 1995, Eazy experienced major respiratory problems and was diagnosed with AIDS. E! and together with DJ Yella, MC Ren and D.O.C. In 1992, Eazy-E released his debut EP, 5150: Home 4 Tha Sick. It was his first solo project following the breakup of N.W.A. The business itself, however, would be entirely Wright's. Kirk first publicly opened up about his eldest child during a 2021 chat with "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" co-star Safaree Samuels, during which he alsorevealed that Christopherhad struggled with addiction and wasn't acting like himself. Critics criticized the fact that Cube mentioned Hellers Jewish background, but regardless, the song put an end to the feudbut the connection between Ice Cube and N.W.A. More recently, in 2015, Eazy-E was the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Straight Outta Compton, which charted the rise of N.W.A. As Cube and N.W.A. They made a terrible impression on nightclub owners, to say the least. [18] In August 2015, a couple weeks after the release of the N.W.A. Enhancing his body measurements, he stood tall at a height of 5 feet 2 inches or 1.59 meters and weighed around 65 kg. Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, Recording Industry Association of America, "100 Greatest Artists of All Time: Dr. Dre", "Music Review: Eazy E - Eazy Duz It (Uncut Snoop Dogg Approved Edition/Remastered)", "Eazy-E, 31, Performer Who Put Gangster Rap on the Charts", "N.W.A Takes over Charts, Gets First Top 40 Hit on Hot 100", "Eazy-Duz-It - Eazy-E | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic", "Eazy-E:: Eazy-Duz-It:: Priority Records", "Robert Christgau: Album:Eazy-E: Easy-Duz-It", "N.W.A. But in 2006, shortly after launching his own music career, Lil Eazy-E (pictured)was arrested for alleged possession of a concealed weapon in his hometown after cops pulled him over due to a traffic violation, the LosAngeles Timesreports. The pair have had four kids together, and for a Hollywood marriage, its seen remarkably little troublebut that doesnt mean that Ice Cube hasnt seen his fair share of heartbreak and loss. reunited in 1999 recorded a tribute to Wright entitled Chin Check. He worried that if the guards knew about the song, he would be in grave danger. And thanks for your support. "" denotes that it was a standard release. WebEric "Eazy-E" Wright was born September 7, 1964, in Compton, California, a rough part of the Los Angeles metro area. The doctors there, to his surprise, diagnosed him with AIDS. He had a half-sister named Beverly Jean Brown who was ten years his senior. But unfortunately, not every famous kid has been able to take life by the reins. The piece is laden with the aural mainstays of gangsta rap, including gunshots, and references to several drugs. Rapper Eazy-E Reportedly Had 11 Children with 8 Different Women - See 4 of the Gorgeous Moms By Busayo Ogunjimi Sep 18, 2021 06:30 P.M. Rap legend, Eazy-E passed away in 1995, leaving behind a handful of kids who remain to carry on his legacy. He was born and brought up in a super rich-class Catholic Christian family from Compton, His father was a postal worker and his mother was employed by a local grade school. The eventual happy ending he might have found through his music was never to be. is only one of many rap groups that credit their existence to Eazy's life and career. ), implored his young fans "to learn about what's real when it comes to AIDS," and insisted that he had nobody to blame except himself for his contraction of the disease. Despite the fancy name, it had a disturbing reputation. While the musician has had multiple brusheswith the lawover the years, so has his son, Luther Rodrick Campbell. All Rights Reserved. [2] And I'm holding dearly to that promise for my son as well as myself," he wrote. N.W.A. Which leads to the questionwho did they think he was? Eazy-E Biography Children, Family & the cause of his Death His father's widow, Tomica Woods-Wright, sued him over trademark rights to Ruthless Records in 2017. Eazy Easy-E produced a documentary about her fathers death, A Ruthless Scandal. Moving on, he met Tomica Woods in a LA nightclub in 1991. They called him a coward and accused him of ripping off their sound. The movie, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, focuses on the race riots held in Detroit in 1967 and stars John Boyega in the lead role. [7], "Boyz n the Hood" was written by Ice Cube, with some contribution by Eazy-E. Born to teenage parents, his rollercoaster life eventually soared towards greatness in the entertainment industry and beyond, but we imaginenothing could have prepared him for the tragic loss his family experience in August 2008, when the music mogul's son, Andre Young Jr., was found unresponsive by his mother, Jenita Porter, in their Los Angeles home. Just remember: It's your real time and your real life.". Backed into a corner, he felt forced to make a heartbreaking decision. Additional posthumous compilations followed. [30], The following personnel can be verified by both Allmusic and the album's notes.[33][34]. Eazy-E Ice Cube began high school at George Washington Preparatory School in L.A. eazy e childhood house address - fhtourism.com biopic film, Straight Outta Compton, the album re-entered the chart at #32 on the Billboard 200, out-peaking its original peak position in 1989 when it charted at #41 on the Billboard 200. Most of the charges were eventually dropped, however, and Jojo was sentenced to just one day of community service after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. Per The Wrap, Lil Eazy-E countersued, and the suits were eventually settled. This message reminisced about Eazy's career (and N.W.A. Eazy-E's estate and family have been embroiled in a slew of troubles ever since his death, but even their squabbling can't touch the unassailable legacy of the "Godfather of Gangsta Rap.". He might say, 'Yo, I'm going to come down there and chill with you, Pops,' but he'll never really come," Kirk told Samuels. Incredibly, the Stereo Crew were an immediate success and Epic Records signed them. During the 1970s, Compton was afflicted by gang warfare (specifically between the Crips and Bloods), a burgeoning drug trade, and a police force whose approach to violent crime was draconian to say the least. As he explained, all the other members were from Compton, and it was just easier to fall in line with them. Easy-E was a Republican who supported George Bush in the early 1990s. WebGerald Elliot Heller (October 6, 1940 September 2, 2016) was an American music manager and businessman. [6], The album's title track and lead single "Eazy-Duz-It", written by MC Ren, opens with a woman acclaiming Eazy-E's style. Ice Cube always had complete confidence in Dr. Dres production, and had asked him to help him make his first solo albumbut, of course, N.W.A. Three singles were released from the album, each charting in the US. His real birth name is Eric Lynn Wright. Just because Ice Cube left N.W.A. WebCruising on the street on my 64. The line from the song of the same name will always be a big part of West Coast hip hop culture. By this, he holds American citizenship. He is often referred to as the \"godfather of gangsta rap\" After dropping out of school in 10th grade, Wright became a drug dealer, not only to provide himself with a lucrative source of income, but also to survive on the chaotic streets of Compton. "It made me look at life way differently and just made me way more focused on things.". When their composition "Boyz-N-the Hood" was rejected by Ruthless signee HBO, Cube, Dre, and E formed the first version of N.W.A to record it themselves. WebShort in stature but long on influence, Eazy-E boasts a catalog that extends well past signature contributions to his first group, N.W.A. They married shortly before his death in 1995. However, radio plays were the least of N.W.A.s worries. He was born Eric Lynn Wright on September 7 th, 1964, in Compton, California, to Kathie and Richard Wright. The numerous controversies that ensued would soon earn them the name, the worlds most dangerous group.. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. [7], Eazy-Duz-It was released on November 23, 1988. "God didn't promise us a life of no pain or even tragic death, but He did promise He would never leave us or forsake us. Wright was of African-American descent and he was born in Compton, California, and boy did he let the world know this. Sadly, his triumph was short-lived. Eric Wright died on March 26, 1995, only a month after his diagnosis. Later that day, cameras showed Knight running over Carter and another man. It was Singleton who gave Ice Cube his first role in a film, in 1991s Boyz in the Hoodbut thats not all he did. A life of fame and extravagance sounds like a lot of fun, and it presumably comes with a lifetime subscription of certain benefits perhaps the greatest one would be the apparent liberty to steer the wheel of life in whatever direction you want. Eazy E burst onto the hip hop scene with their raw and shocking lyrics that didnt hold back their opinions. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. When Ice Cube was in ninth grade, a friend in typewriting class told him to write some lyrics and participate in a rap battle. Eazy-Duz-It is the debut studio album by American rapper Eazy-E. Doctors had diagnosed him with HIV/AIDS. The 6,700-square-foot, 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom, Calabasas, Calif., manse was auctioned off for more than $2.2 million last spring. When Eazy-E, whose real name was Eric Lynn Wright, passed away on March 26, 1995, at age 31 from AIDS, the home was passed on to his wife. Unsurprisingly, critics said that the show reinforced stereotypes, and it only ended up airing for one season. N.W.A. The war over Eazy's legacy would continue up until 2017 and beyond. The following article includes mentions of addiction and accidental drug overdoses. It was a confounding and horrifying incidentand sadly, for Ice Cube, it wasnt over yet. With a distinct, high-pitched rap style and no-nonsense lyrics, the Compton-born Godfather of Gangsta Rap was an undeniable, if unconventional, star. There are many parallels between the lyrics of that part of the song and the story of the 1970 Marin County Courthouse Shootout. This is followed by a bass line provided by Dr. Dre. [10] On February 15, 1989, the album was certified Gold (500,000 sales) by the Recording Industry Association of America, and on June 1, 1989, it was certified Platinum (1,000,000 sales). like a shadow. Were always looking for your input! The 25th anniversary (2013) contains two bonus tracks which are 12" remixes of "We Want Eazy" and "Still Talkin.'". Eazy went on to reveal that he had recently married his girlfriend, Tomica, calling her a "kind and wonderful mother." Young, Jackson, and Wright under the names Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E recorded "Boyz-n-the-Hood" in 1986 and soon began collaborating together under the name N.W.A. The result was the 1995 film Friday, which was a huge hit that launched its own franchise. Only six years after Eazy-E had started it, N.W.A. He returned to L.A., ready to change the world with N.W.A.but now, he had a potential career in architecture as a backup plan. It stayed on the chart for over 15 weeks. Eric Wright's spirit has also lived on in his seven children, including his daughter, E.B. Moving on, he was a follower of Christianity and was born The FBI actually sent a letter to N.W.A.s record company denouncing the group, saying that they encouraged attacks against and disrespect for the law enforcement officer. Immediately, Ruthless Records prepared for an FBI raidbut then something even stranger happened. The record he had been working on, Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, was released posthumously (in unfinished form) later in the year. Per the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Hale ultimately pleaded guilty to a distribution of dangerous drugs felony charge in 2018 and was sentenced to four years' probation, 100 hours of community service, and paid a $2,500 fine. Considering Cubes later success in the music industry, the battle didnt exactly go as planned. In the spring of 1989, MTV banned the video for Straight Outta Compton. For many, it would be a badge of honor, but the group was utterly devastated. On many dates through the tour, including Detroit, they had to agree not to play FTPa clause that they actually followed, until one fateful night. Eazy-E's life was brief and eventful. Ice Cube was just 12 years old at the time, and he called the horrific incident a wake-up call. The loss startled him out of his childhood and introduced him to a world of brutality and heartbreak. While it opened up a whole new world to him, it also ushered in a new era of negative attention and controversy. The Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am has named Eazy as his inspiration and mentor, and Dr. Dre and Ice Cube would never have gotten as big as they did without Eazy's influence. N.W.A. N.W.A released an EP called 100 Miles and Runnin in 1990, which was another hit. Their debut album, Straight Outta Compton, was too violent and full of rage to be played on the radio, but it managed to become the first gangsta rap album to reach platinum anyway, a nearly impossible feat in that era. biopic Straight Outta Compton was released in theaters. Knowing the end was near, he made amends with the people he'd fallen away from over the years including Dr. Dre and Ice Cube and issued a final statement addressed to his fans. In an interview with Yahoo! In early 1995, Eazy entered the hospital with respiratory difficulties, believing he had developed asthma. After Ice Cube's bitter departure from N.W.A toward the end of 1989 (precipitated in part by Heller's business tactics), Eazy-E took over his not inconsiderable share of the rapping and songwriting duties, becoming the group's dominant voice on 1991's Niggaz4life. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Eazy-E's Tragic Real-Life Story - Grunge After years of collaboration, Cube found himself up against Jerry Heller, who had helped Eazy-E start Ruthless. disbanded in 1992. Jerry Heller was over, and Eazy, Dre, and Cube each began to focus on their solo careers. Whether as a member of N.W.A, a solo act, or a label head, Eazy-E was one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap. Moving on, he was a follower of Christianity and officer involved in the Rodney King beating; later in the year, he paid $2,500 to attend a Republican fundraiser, which his detractors saw as a further betrayal of his roots. Easy-E left high school without graduating. Born Kevin Michael McKeehan, Grammy-winning Christian rapper TobyMac's world came crashing down when his firstborn son, Truett McKeehan, died due to an accidental drug overdosein October 2019. Eazy-E was sleeping while all this went on, and Ice Cube left the hospital without seeing him. Jerry Heller, a friend of his, came up with the notion of starting a business at this time. Even Heller himself, who eventually came to doubt the extent to which Wright slung dope, had trouble getting anything out of him. At the time, the L.A. hip-hop scene was just beginning to take off. He was best known for his management of West Coast rap and gangsta rap pioneers N.W.A and Eazy-E.He rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s representing Journey, Marvin Gaye, Van Morrison, War, Eric Burdon, Crosby Stills & Nash, Ike & Tina Eazy-E First Started HERE / His HOME / LIFE & DEATH OF ERIC I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. Eazy then interrupts saying "Bitch shut the fuck up, get the fuck outta here." Its not a sly reference to anythingit was actually his older brother who inadvertently inspired it. There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. In 1995, four years after No Vaseline, Eazy-E reached out to Ice Cube to deliver some heartbreaking news. Ice Cube and the rest of N.W.A. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. Richard, his father, was a postal worker, and Kathie, his mother, was a school administrator. The remastered version contains tracks from the extended play (EP), 5150: Home 4 tha Sick (1992). You had to be 'thug,' 'playa,' 'athlete,' 'gangsta,' or 'dope man.' A Guy of the Times Eazy-Es childhood was much like the childhood of anyone who grew up in the same area at the same time. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Eazy-E Norwalk House | First Purchased Home From Ruthless With no contacts in the music world, no high school diploma, and no discernible prospects, an uphill battle was inevitable. Dre also submitted to house arrest after assaulting a record producer and a police officer. Making the more violent parts of the film brought him back to a milieu he hadnt seen for decadesand before he knew it, he was at the center of a truly disturbing incident. Eric currently works as a rapper and president of Rich & Ruthless Records. Unfortunately, his son, Grtis Ivey, found himself in more serious trouble in November 2011, when he and an accomplice were arrested for trying to loot a Las Vegas apartment and threatening the tenant with a gun, according to TMZ. He confessed that his life became about preventing anything bad from happening to hima pretty serious viewpoint and lifestyle for a 12-year-old kid. According to his son Lil Eazy-E, he had an estimated net worth of $50 million US dollars before death. Net Worth: $8 Million. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. That unfortunately wasn't the first time he was arrested. Of quarantining with his children during the COVID-19 pandemic, the proud dad told Clive Davis ahead of the 2021 Grammys (viaPeople),"For me, my life got better because I was running myself into the ground and I wasn't taking enough time for my family and for myself. As the middle-class demographic fled the area in the wake of the 1965 Watts riots, crime began to seep in. It was a real shots fired momentbut there had been one last, heartbreaking attempt to prevent the growing feud. So, where did his stage name come from? Christopher's mother told Kirk about his issues with substance abuse. On top of that, Chuck D introduced Ice Cube to the contentious religious movement Nation of Islam, led by the notorious Minister Louis Farrakhan. He knew what he had to do, and he knew that it wouldnt be pretty. Soon after, Wright met and begun to work with two other local musicians: Andre Young and O'Shea Jackson. While Ice Cubes film career has seen both its fair share of critical hits and total flops (hello, Anaconda), nothing quite compares to the utterly bizarre premise of his 2005 reality show Black.