Eric Lynn Wright (7 September 1964 – 26 March 1995), also known as Eazy-E, was an American rapper from Compton, California. He dropped out of high school in his sophomore year and sold drugs before joining Ruthless Records and becoming a rapper. He became a member of the infamous rap group N.W.A., and the group became incredibly controversial after releasing its 1988 album Straight Outta Compton. The group disbanded in 1991 after Eazy-E released Dr. Dre from his contract, and he died in Los Angeles in March 1995 after a brief battle with AIDS.
Eazy-E was a notable Republican Party supporter in the hip-hop industry. In March 1991, he went to a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by President George H.W. Bush, whom he supported for his performance in the Gulf War.