Straight Outta Compton‘s success has opened doors for everyone involved with the film – both on the screen and off. Now that the public has a renewed interest in Eazy-E, the later rapper’s children are also in the spotlight, and his oldest son Eric Wright Jr. recently spoke out about his dad in an interview with The Recollectors.
Marisa Mendez: Twitter || Instagram
On finding out his father was HIV-postive:
“Finally my grandmother told me that my dad had the same thing as Magic Johnson. I was 10 at the time and didn’t understand what that was. So when they said Magic couldn’t play ball because of some illness—he’s not supposed to get his sweat or his blood on anyone, and that people felt like, “Oh he’s sick with something people don’t want to be close to”—I understood it was something like that.”
His initial thoughts/reaction:
“But Magic Johnson was (and is) still very much alive. So it was like, “Oh ok, it’s not that bad, he’s an athlete, they just don’t want to touch him and be around him. But this is my Daddy; I’m not scared to touch my Daddy.” You don’t understand that it’s a fatal disease.”
He also spoke on the aftermath of his father’s passing, his thoughts on Straight Outta Compton and more. Check it out in full here.
I remember like it was yesterday me along with my other class mates during that time paid close attention to n.w.a at that time . Me and my friend Hawaii talked about Eazy E all the time . Her dad was from Compton. We sat and watched as Eazy E was brave enough to Open up the world his illness. Just like he shared his talent of lyrics and music and messages about what was taking place of police brutality. When Eazy E wrote that letter and his attorney read it on t.v. I remember being glued to the t.v. My words were damn nor Eazy E. I was shocked. I was anxious for him to put more music out.Eazy taught us alot about life’s lessons. May he forever Rest in Heaven. Much respected but never forgotten. Much Luv from Texas.