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Eazy-Duz-It is the debut studio album by American rapper Eazy-E. It was released on November 22, 1988, by Ruthless Records and Priority Records. The album charted on two different charts and went 2× Platinum in the United States despite very little promotion by radio and television. Three singles were released from the album, each charting in the US. The remastered version contains tracks from the extended play (EP), (1992). The 25th anniversary (2013) contains two bonus tracks which are 12" remixes of "We Want Eazy" and "Still Talkin.'"
Eazy-Duz-It is the only full-length solo album Eazy-E released in his lifetime; for the remaining seven years of his life, he would continue recording with N.W.A until their break up in 1991, release two solo EPs and continue running his label Ruthless. His second and last solo album, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton (1996), was not released until 10 months after his death in March of 1995.
The album's record producer, almost solely done by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, was praised by several critics. Jason Birchmeier from AllMusic gave a considerable amount of attention to the album's production, saying that "Dr. Dre and Yella meld together P-Funk, Def Jam-style hip hop, and the leftover electro sounds of mid-1980s Los Angeles, creating a dense, funky, and thoroughly unique style of their own." Birchmeier would also write that some songs—"Eazy Duz It", "We Want Eazy", "Eazy-er Said Than Dunn", and "Radio"—are all heavily produced and have "layers upon layers of samples and beats competing with Eazy-E's rhymes for attention." Rapper and producer Kanye West also touted Dr. Dre's production on the album.Kanye West. "100 Greatest Artists of All Time: Dr. Dre". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
The album's title track and lead single "Eazy-Duz-It", written by MC Ren, opens with a woman acclaiming Eazy-E's style. Eazy then interrupts saying "Bitch shut the fuck up, get the fuck outta here." This is followed by a bass line provided by Dr. Dre. Soon, Eazy begins to rap about himself and things that he does. The song declares that Eazy is a "hardcore villain" who collects money from his Prostitution, and feels great when his "pockets are fat." The chorus, repeated three times, states that he "is a gangsta having fun". The piece is laden with the aural mainstays of gangsta rap, including gunshots, and references to several drugs.
"Boyz n the Hood" was written by Ice Cube, with some contribution by Eazy-E. It was originally released in 1986, two years prior and this album features a remix. The song is about growing up in Compton, California, and describes the gangster lifestyle. It conceives the "ghetto landscape as a generalized abstract construct… and also introduces a localized nuance that conveys a certain proximity, effectively capturing a narrowed sense of place through which young thugs and their potential crime victims move in tandem," as put by cultural historian Murray Forman.
"No More ?'s" is similar to "Boyz n the Hood" in its theme. The piece begins with an interview between Eazy and a female journalist, who asks about his childhood. Eazy explains (in verse) that he was ruthless, in a gang, "specialized in gankin," (loosely, to steal from) and had no respect for rules. He is then asked if he has ever been in an armed robbery. He responds, "You mean a 211?" The following verses tell of Eazy's exploits as a thief and thug.
AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier noted that "the album plays like a humorous, self-centered twist on Straight Outta Compton with Eazy-E, the most charismatic member of N.W.A, front and center while his associates are busy behind the scenes, producing the beats and writing the songs." He compared it to N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton, which Eazy also performs on, saying that Straight Outta Compton is "more revolutionary," but claimed Eazy-Duz-It to be Straight Outta Comptons "great companion" and to have showcased N.W.A's style.Birchmeier, Jason. "Eazy-Duz-It - Eazy-E". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-01-16. The Spin Alternative Record Guide (1995) gave the album a seven out of ten rating, referring to it as "comparatively forgotten" compared to Straight Outta Compton, while noting it was a more funny, with "scraps of dialogue and mock interviews, more thoroughly cinematic" while that the albums attempts to promote Eazy-E as a major gangster was "nonsense".
Soren Baker from the Los Angeles Times called it a "landmark albums brimming with violence, profanity, sexually explicit content and antigovernment themes," and said that it established Eazy as a "major player in the rap industry".Baker, Soren (2005-03-27). "He Made It Look Too Eazy". Los Angeles Times. Daniel Kreps of the Los Angeles Times called it a "solo masterpiece," and said that it was evidence that Eazy was one of the best rappers ever.Kreps, Daniel (2010-03-26). "Flashback: Remembering Eazy-E" . Los Angeles Times. Dan Snierson of Entertainment Weekly described the album as "an obscenity-littered depiction of violent, hollowed-out life in Compton."Snierson, Dan (1995-12-29). "Bowing Out | News | EW.com". Entertainment Weekly.
Shan Fowler from PopMatters said that it received "underground success."Fowler, Shan. "N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton - PopMatters Music Review". PopMatters. Retrieved 2011-01-31. Glen Boyd reviewed the album for Blogcritics, noting that it "paved the way for all of the groundbreaking music which came later." Boyd also said that songs like "Boyz-n-the-Hood" and "Radio" would establish "the street buzz that N.W.A would later ride to platinum selling success as the first true West Coast rap superstars."Boyd, Glen (2010-03-20). "Music Review: Eazy E - Eazy Duz It (Uncut Snoop Dogg Approved Edition/Remastered)". Seattle Post-Intelligencer Jon Wiederhorn from MTV wrote that it "demonstrated Eazy's knack for provocative lyrics," and also said that it paved the way to Straight Outta Compton.Wiederhorn, Jon. (2002-07-31). "N.W.A Classics To Be Reissued With Bonus Tracks". MTV.
In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the album 153rd on their list of "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time".
| US Billboard 200 | 41 |
| US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 12 |
| US Billboard 200 | 45 |
| US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 14 |
| US Billboard 200 | 32 |
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