Eazy-E - Eazy-Duz-It (CD)

All Music Guide

Eazy-E's solo debut, Eazy-Duz-It, isn't far removed from his work with N.W.A., essentially functioning as a compliment to the group's groundbreaking Straight Outta Compton album from the same year. Like Straight Outta Compton, Eazy-Duz-It features Dr. Dre's then-trendsetting production work, and it also features appearances by Eazy's other groupmates in N.W.A.: Ice Cube and MC Ren. So, taking this into consideration, Eazy-Duz-It plays very much like a spin-off sequel to Straight Outta Compton; however, like most spin-off sequels, this one seems a bit hasty -- thrown together quickly to capitalize on the success of its predecessor. Above all, the songwriting seems disappointingly unlabored. The topics aren't nearly as gripping as those found on Straight Outta Compton. For instance, you won't find anything here as outspoken as "Fuck the Police," as riotous as "Straight Outta Compton," as epochal as "Gangsta Gangsta," as heedful as "Dopeman," or as feel-good as "Express Yourself." Rather,... you'll find Eazy-E taking a predictable traditional hip-hop stance -- he's mostly either egotistical (on the two album highlights, "We Want Eazy" and "Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn") or thuggish (most of the remaining album). Granted, it's easy to attack Eazy as an MC, particularly because his rapping isn't any more impressive than his songs, but doing so diverts you from what's most important here. All songwriting and rapping aside, what elevates Eazy-Duz-It above and beyond almost every other West Coast rap album of this formative era are Dre's trademark production and Eazy's gangsta posturing. These two qualities alone make this album fascinatingly influential -- the seed from which a myriad gangstas sprouted during the early-'90s West Coast rap explosion. Following Eazy-Duz-It, Eazy would return as a better rapper with more to say, but he would never again seem as iconic as he does here. - Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide Read more Less