"Eternal E: Gangsta Memorial Edition" compiles the singles and album cuts from the late Eazy E (Eric Wright), founder and leader of pioneering west coast hip-hop band N.W.A. 17 cuts deep with a bonus DVD, there's a lot to consider here. The drawbacks to this release depend on one's threshold for rehashing old hits: Priority/Capitol/EMI holds the catalog rights to Eazy's pre-1993 Ruthless Records material, and this is technically the third release of this compilation (the first in 1995, re-released in 2003). Wright died in 1995 from complications of AIDS, initially leaving behind one solo album, two N.W.A. studio albums, and several EPs to his legacy.

No less than seven songs from his debut album "Eazy Duz It" are included here, starting off with the Ice Cube-penned "Boyz N the Hood (remix)". A slow-rolling, synthesizer-punctuated funk ride, Eazy's high-pitched deadpan rap delivers several anecdotes about ghetto misadventure. Continuing variations on a theme, "8 Ball" canonizes Olde English brand malt liquor and "Nobody Move" is a bank-heist narrative. "We Want Eazy" and "Radio" are not gangster in theme, but make the most of shouting out his home base of Compton, California. Dr. Dre's production techniques made a name for himself here, incorporating more live instrument-based riff interpolations rather than straight samples.

"I'd Rather F*** You", based on Funkadelic's "I'd Rather Be with You", was pioneering in the sense that it is essentially the first full-blown dirty love song by a rap band. Sure, other rappers cursed in songs, but here was Eazy (and the backup singers, including future Death Row siren Jewell) belting out "I'd rather f**k with you..." without a hint of irony. It's as close to balladry as Eazy and the group ever came (no pun intended). "Automobile" covers a more obscure George Clinton piece, extolling back-seat naughtiness to a country-piano riff. In addition to the Priority-era Eazy cuts, "Eternal" includes a pair of songs from the EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187'um Killa. Closing out the CD is "A Lil' Eazier Said" by Eazy's eldest son, rapper Lil'E--it's nice nod, but unessential.

The bonus DVD, the most substantive addition to this release, contains all of the Eazy E and N.W.A. music video clips, most of which are the uncensored versions. In addition, it includes three short PSA's from the Kaiser Family Foundation about HIV awareness. In this, the sobering reality of Eazy's early passing hits home.

The pros of this compilation are somewhat self-explanatory- all of the hits, plus music videos. What about the cons? Again, it depends on one's threshold--the post-Dr. Dre songs suffer somewhat in quality by comparison, though Bobcat and others keep the synthesizer-heavy funk style intact (the sole standout is the Naughty By Nature contribution "Only If You Want It"). Also, it would be careless not to point out the sexism in much of the material. Eazy and N.W.A. took misogyny to colossal heights; and while the group dynamited the floodgates for self-expression, they also arguably short-circuited the trend of gender parity in rap that one-time Eazy protégé's J.J. Fad helped to arouse. In fairness, Eazy does slip in a line criticizing Dre's embarrassing assault on a female TV host, and lady rapper Sylk joins the party on "Ole School S***". But as an aggregate collection of work, it's hard to completely dismiss all the bi*ch-baiting as just `guy talk'. Especially in light of Eazy's STD-related demise, several songs now have a discomforting irony to them. If one isn't particularly interested in any of the N.W.A./Eazy studio albums, this is a can't miss.

EAZY-E IS A LEGEND OF RAP.

HE IS THE ONE WHO STARTED THIS RAP GAME;ALONG WITH DOCTOR~DRE & ICE~CUBE.

WITHOUT EAZY-E WHO KNOWS WHERE RAP WOULD BE TODAY.

THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO N.W.A.! AND WITHOUT THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO DOCTOR DRE OR ICE~CUBE OR EVEN

BONE~THUGS~AND HARMONY WHO HE DISCOVERED.

HE IS THE ONE WHO MADE PEOPLE WANT TO GO OUT AND GET THE 15 INCH SUBS FOR THERE CAR'S.AND MAKE THE BASS GO BOOM!!!.

HE MADE PEOPLE WANT TO GO OUT AND BUY EVERYTHING "RAIDERS" AND THE L.A. KINGS /SILVER&BLACK/ WAS THE TREND BECAUSE OF HIM.

HE WAS THE ONE WHO GOT THE GUTS TO SAY F.U. TO THE PIGS TO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!!!

HE GOT THE VIDEO'S PLAYED ON MTV! SOMETHING THAT WAS RARE AT THE TIME. BECAUSE THEY WERE PLAYING "NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK" & ROCK GROUPS LIKE "POISON" AT THE TIME.AND N.W.A CHANGED THE TREND OF VIDEOS FOREVER!

PEOPLE LIKE NAS,50 CENT,JA~RULE,JAY~Z,AND EVEN PUFFY/DIDDY LEARNED FROM EAZY-E HE WAS THE TREND~SETTER FOR THOSE WHO CAME OUT IN THE MID 90'S.

THESE SONG'S ARE CLASSIC AND WILL BE UNTIL THE SUN BURN'S OUT

PEOPLE SAY RUN-DMC,L.L.COOL J,WERE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE RAP WHAT IT IS TODAY.AND I LOVE THEM TOO!BUT EAZY-E AND N.W.A. TOOK IT ONE STEP FURTHER.

THEY SAID WHAT WAS ON THERE MIND AND DIDN'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY THOUGHT EXCEPT FOR THE FAN'S

AND THAT IS WHAT RAP IS ALL ABOUT.TELL IT HOW IT SHOULD BE TOLD!!

[EAZY-E / R.I.P]: YOU ARE GONE BUT YOUR MUSIC WILL BE FOREVER!!!

{TONY~TONI~TON`E}:/MELBOURNE,FLORIDA/

Eazy E was a man of wisdom a man of hope he created a new way to express ones opinion gangster rap.A music still made and listened to even today.The following tracks are of his greatist work,(so please cherish them).While listening close your eyes and imagine what could have been if he were still with us

R.I.P