30 Years Since Eazy-E’s Final Testament
Today, January 30th, marks exactly three decades since Ruthless Records released “Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton,” the second and final studio album by Eric Wright, better known as Eazy-E. Arriving ten months after his passing, the record remains one of the most significant, albeit controversial, artifacts of the West Coast era.
Since the project was unfinished at the time of Eazy’s death, DJ Yella stepped in as the primary architect to cobble together tracks from fragments and scraps left over from the abandoned “Temporary Insanity” sessions. The production leaned into a darker G-funk sound with horrorcore undertones, most evident on the intro “First Power” and the standout single “Just tah Let U Know”. While the album featured guests like MC Ren and Naughty by Nature, many heads at the time noted the absence of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, who were embroiled in royalty disputes with Ruthless management during that period.
A legendary piece of trivia surrounding this release involves two titanium briefcases stolen from the trunk of Eazy’s Mercedes while he was hospitalized, reportedly containing masters for over 40 unreleased tracks. Despite these setbacks, the album reached Gold status and solidified his “Godfather” status in gangsta rap. Today, as Compton honors his legacy with the official “Eazy Street,” this album stands as a raw, unapologetic reminder of the man who shifted the culture.
