British town with no hip hop links unveils memorial bench to NWA rapper Eazy-E

A memorial bench dedicated to Eazy-E ‘the Godfather of Gangsta Rap’ has been unveiled in a British seaside town – even though the rapper never visited.

Hip hop fanatic, Guy Stevens, first suggested a statue be erected as a joke in his East Sussex town, Newhaven, in a bid to honour the late star, who was one fifth of influential rap group NWA.

But it turns out he wasn’t the only fan in town and his global campaign raised more than £1,500 from donors who backed the memorial.

Guy admitted the statue idea had been a bit ‘tongue in cheek’ and instead asked if an engraved bench would be possible.

The council admitted they’d never heard of the famous rapper, from Compton, California, nor of the genre gangsta rap, while a ‘quick Google of his name revealed no obvious connection to Newhaven’.

Eazy-E, real name Eric Wright, was a drug dealer on the streets of Compton before being taken under the wing of famous producer Dr Dre, and quickly rose to fame in the late 80s.

Along with rapper Ice Cube and two others, the five formed NWA and released the album Straight Outta Compton in 1988, with the group’s story leading to a blockbuster hit, of the same name, in 2015.

Despite the lack of links with Newhaven town, the council couldn’t ignore the support the rapper’s memorial received and said they couldn’t see a reason why they wouldn’t allow it.

Mayor of Newhaven, Graham Amy, said: ‘Eazy-E appears to have led a rather colourful life – but if someone contacts us wanting to buy a memorial bench to their aunt, say, we don’t ask questions about her lifestyle.

‘And indeed, Eazy-E is greatly admired in some quarters – there are clearly two sides to his story.’

And so the ‘beautiful, high quality bench’ has been erected on Denton Island complete with a small plaque reading: ‘Rest in peace Eric “Eazy-E” Wright 1964-1995’.

Hip hop fan Guy said it was ‘hilarious’ the artist had been honoured almost 5,500 miles away from the rappers home, where only a handful of people knew his music in the sleepy town.

He said Eazy-E’s daughter ‘appreciated the gesture’ and was even planning to visit the bench but ‘didn’t realise it was in the UK’.

Elated his campaign had come to fruition, he told The Argus: ‘Get a gangsta rap concert going in the summer.

‘I want Eazy E and NWA blaring out of the speakers on Denton Island with a burger van and beer tent.’

Eazy-E died, aged 30, of AIDS in 1995 and is known for hits such as ‘Boyz-n-the-hood’, ‘F*** the Police’ and ‘Real Mutha******* Gs’.

In total the memorial cost £1,177 and the remaining money went to local HIV charities.

Guy is now hoping others pay tribute to fellow late hip hop legends.

He said: ‘I’d like to see more benches dedicated to 2Pac and Biggie in neighbouring towns or even here in Newhaven.

‘Or even rename Newhaven Newcompton.’

Meanwhile, the mayor is hoping for some more British music to grace the benches of the town.

Mayor Amy said: ‘I’d never heard of Gangsta Rap – the Beatles were more my thing. I’d love to see a bench with a plaque to John Lennon – Imagine all the people living life in peace.’