People only just learning how legendary rapper Eazy-E got his unique stage name

Rap legend Eazy-E is widely regarded as the Godfather of Gangsta Rap, yet some fans are only now discovering the origins of his iconic stage name.

Born Eric Lynn Wright, Eazy-E grew up in Compton, California, where he initially made a living selling cannabis on the streets before dropping out of school in the 10th grade, later earning his general equivalency diploma (GED).

His music career took off with a brief solo stint, followed by the formation of NWA in 1987 alongside Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube, with DJ Yella and MC Ren joining later that year. Despite controversy surrounding their lyrics, NWA is hailed as one of the most influential hip-hop groups, ranking 83 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Their groundbreaking album Straight Outta Compton earned a five-star rating from Rolling Stone and became the first rap album inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016. However, after three decades of enjoying Eazy-E's music, some fans still wonder how he came up with his rap moniker, with one Quora user asking: "How did Eric Lynn Wright choose the name Eazy-E?" Various sources suggest Eazy-E's moniker stemmed from his childhood nickname, 'Eazy-Eric', a nod to his relaxed attitude and approach.

A social media user commented: "Although nobody really knows the true origins of the name 'Eazy-E', it has been speculated that this was a nickname given to him due to his demeanour, both in person and in business. Eric's 'easy' demeanour implies this was directly related to his personality."

They added that the "E" in his nickname is a direct reference to his first name, Eric. Some say Eazy-E was originally called "Eazy-Eric" on the streets, which was later shortened, while others believe his street nickname was "Casual", reflecting his style and behaviour.

Another individual remarked: "Eazy-E was probably the most successful of any NWA member even though he presented himself as just an equal member of the group, he actually started 'Ruthless Records' with his own money and helped broker the deal with Priority Records."

They continued: "He later branched out and discovered new groups for his label like 'Bone Thugs and Harmony' and was in the process of getting NWA back together under their own terms. Eazy-E was destined for greatness. I truly believe Eazy-E would still be huge in the record/entertainment business today had he not passed."

Eazy-E was taken to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on February 24, 1995, where he was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. He made a public announcement about his condition on March 16, suspecting he contracted the infection from a sexual partner. In the week commencing March 20, he penned a message to his fans before succumbing to AIDS-induced pneumonia on March 26.