*More than 20 years after Eazy-E’s death — his widow and son are battling over who controls Ruthless Records — a company the rapper founded in 1986 as a platform for his group, N.W.A.
Eazy-E’s son, Lil Eazy-E, says his late father was “debilitated” and “under the heavy influence of medication” when his widow had him sign a will that transferred all his property, including Ruthless Records, over to her.
As reported by The Blast, Lil Eazy-E (Eric Wright Jr.) and his stepmom, Tomica Woods-Wright, are currently in the middle of dueling lawsuits over the rights to Ruthless Records. Woods-Wright sued Wright over his use of the of the company name and N.W.A. and Wright filed a suit of his own in response.
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Back in August, Woods-Wright filed a federal trademark infringement suit against her stepson, alleging that he and his business partner set up a website — ruthlessrecordsinc.com — claiming to be doing business as Ruthless Records. The site promotes concerts and offers Ruthless Records t-shirts for sale.
“Our old-school outlook mixed with cutting edge technology makes Ruthless Records Inc. a leader in the music business,” the website claims. “Eazy-E’s first-born son and longtime friend are carrying on the legacy that started it all.” The site also claims that Ruthless Records Inc. was “founded by legendary gangsta rap artist Eazy-E.”
In newly filed court documents, Lil Eazy claims Woods-Wright married Eazy in “a death-bed marriage” on March 14, 1995 (Eazy died less than two weeks later). He says the marriage license was filed “confidentially” and did not include Eazy-E’s handwritten signature.
Wright claims on the same day “of the purported marriage,” Eazy-E, while in “a debilitated state” and “under heavy medication” was presented with “a last will and testament and a purported declaration of trust” drafted by an attorney under the direction of Woods-Wright that created The Wright Trust and transferred all of the rapper’s property, including his interest in Ruthless Records to, Woods-Wright.
He claims his father “did not knowingly or with capacity” sign the last will and testament or the trust.
The case is ongoing.
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