Editing Eazy-E (section)

==Early life and Ruthless Records investment==
Eric Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright on September 7, 1964, in [[Compton, California]], a Los Angeles suburb once noted for high crime rates and gang culture.<ref>Hochman, Steve (March 28, 1995). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-28-me-47828-story.html "Rap Star, Record Company Founder Eazy-E Dies of AIDS"]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref><ref>[http://www.rapnews.net/0-202-261116-00.html "Hip-Hop News: Remembering Eric 'Eazy-E' Wright"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516094643/http://www.rapnews.net/0-202-261116-00.html |date=May 16, 2013 }}. Rap News Network. March 26, 2006</ref> His father was a postal worker and his mother was a grade-school administrator.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Harris|first=Carter|title=Eazy Living|journal=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=June–July 1995|volume=3|issue=5|page=62}}</ref> Wright dropped out of high school in the tenth grade,<ref name="dallas"/> but later received a [[General Educational Development|general equivalency diploma]] (GED).<ref name="Put Gangsta Rap on Charts">Pareles, Jon (March 28, 1995). [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60617FA345A0C7B8EDDAA0894DD494D81 "Eazy-E, 31, Performer Who Put Gangster Rap on the Charts"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>

{{Quote box | bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
 |quote = No one survived on the streets without a protective mask. No one survived naked. You had to have a role. You had to be "thug," "playa," "athlete," "gangsta," or "dope man." Otherwise, there was only one role left to you: "victim."
 |source = Jerry Heller on Eazy-E<ref name="Ruthless"/>
 |width = 30%
 |align = left
}}

Wright supported himself mainly by selling drugs, and introduced his cousin to the illicit occupation.<ref name="dallas">{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/2002-09-12/music/straight-outta-left-field/|title=Straight Outta Left Field|date=September 12, 2002|work=[[Dallas Observer]]|access-date=January 6, 2010|archive-date=October 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015115439/http://www.dallasobserver.com/2002-09-12/music/straight-outta-left-field/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wright's music manager [[Jerry Heller]] recalls seeing Wright selling [[marijuana]], but not [[cocaine]]. Heller would claim that Wright's "dope dealer" label was part of his "self-forged armor".<ref name="Ruthless"/> Wright was also labeled as a "thug". Heller explains: "The hood where he grew up was a dangerous place. He was a small guy. 'Thug' was a role that was widely understood on the street; it gave you a certain level of protection in the sense that people hesitated to fuck with you. Likewise, 'dope dealer' was a role that accorded you certain privileges and respect."<ref name="Ruthless">{{cite book|last=Heller|first=Jerry|title=Ruthless: A Memoir|year=2007|publisher=Gallery|isbn=978-1-4169-1794-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ruthlessmemoir00hell/page/65 65–77]|url=https://archive.org/details/ruthlessmemoir00hell/page/65}}</ref>

In 1986, at age 22, Wright had allegedly earned as much as US$250,000 from dealing drugs. However, after his cousin was shot and killed, he decided that he could make a better living in the Los Angeles hip hop scene, which was growing rapidly in popularity.<ref name="Chang">{{cite web|url=http://swindlemagazine.com/issue02/eazy-e/|title=The Last Days of Eazy E|last=Chang|first=Jeff|work=[[Swindle (magazine)|Swindle]]|date=April 24, 2004|access-date=December 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025012955/http://swindlemagazine.com/issue02/eazy-e/|archive-date=October 25, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> He started recording songs during the mid-1980s in his parents' garage, thus starting Ruthless Records.<ref name="Put Gangsta Rap on Charts"/><ref name="allrapnews.com">{{Cite web|title=Happy 56th Birthday To N.W.A./Ruthless Records Founder Eazy-E! (RIP) – All Rap News|date=September 7, 2020 |url=https://allrapnews.com/2020/09/07/happy-56th-birthday-to-n-w-a-ruthless-records-founder-eazy-e-rip/|access-date=September 8, 2020|language=en-US}}</ref>

The original idea for Ruthless Records came when Wright asked Heller to go into business with him. Wright suggested a half-ownership company, but it was later decided that Wright would get eighty percent of the company's income and Heller would only get twenty percent. According to Heller, he told Wright, "Every dollar comes into Ruthless, I take twenty cents. That's industry standard for a manager of my caliber. I take twenty, you take eighty percent. I am responsible for my expenses and you're responsible for yours. You own the company. I work for you."<ref name="Ruthless"/> Along with Heller, Wright invested much of his money into [[Ruthless Records]].<ref>Hunt, Dennis (October 22, 1989). [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66580588.html?dids=66580588:66580588&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+22%2C+1989&author=DENNIS+HUNT&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Dr.+Dre+Joins+an+Illustrious+Pack+In+the+last+year%2C+producer+has+hit+with+albums+for+N.W.A%2C+Eazy-E%2C+J.+J.+Fad+and+the+D.O.C.&pqatl=google "Dr. Dre Joins an Illustrious Pack In the last year, producer has hit with albums for N.W.A, Eazy-E, J. J. Fad and the D.O.C."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104135059/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66580588.html?dids=66580588:66580588&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+22%2C+1989&author=DENNIS+HUNT&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Dr.+Dre+Joins+an+Illustrious+Pack+In+the+last+year%2C+producer+has+hit+with+albums+for+N.W.A%2C+Eazy-E%2C+J.+J.+Fad+and+the+D.O.C.&pqatl=google |date=November 4, 2012 }}. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref> Heller claims that he invested the first $250,000 and would eventually put up to $1,000,000 into the company.<ref name="Ruthless"/>