Eazy-E

Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment.

Relativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and... progressive rock. As it grew and became associated with Sony Music Entertainment, it became more known for its popular metal and hip-hop releases. Although it was reportedly established in 1985, there is evidence that the brand actually began c. 1982 as an in-house IRD label. In the 1980s, Relativity was mostly focused on rock music, including heavy metal. Releases in this genre were split among Relativity and its sister label Combat Records, which folded back into the main Relativity label in 1990. Artists signed during this period include Death, Exodus, Megadeth, Napalm Death, Impelliteri, Corrosion of Conformity, Circle Jerks, Murphy's Law, Jet Red, Joe Satriani, Shotgun Messiah, Scatterbrain, Scott Henderson, Sick of it All, Steve Vai, Stuart Hamm, Tigertailz, Dark Angel, Lucy's Fur Coat and Forbidden. In 1990, new management took over the label and it began to sign more hip-hop acts.
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Ruthless Records is a record label, founded by Gangsta rapper Eazy-E and N.W.A. manager Jerry Heller, in Eazy's hometown of Compton, California in 1987. The label is widely credited with helping to pioneer the gangsta rap genre of West Coast hip hop. Ruthless Records was formed as a vehicle for... releases by N.W.A., as well as member and founder Eric "Eazy-E" Wright; its first successful single was Eazy's "Boyz-n-the-Hood", followed by N.W.A.'s "Dopeman" and "8-Ball", introductory to the group's N.W.A. and the Posse, a compilation album released under the group's name, albeit not on Ruthless. It also put out singles by underground California acts such as Frost and J.J. Fad, but the label's first full-length release was N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton, which was eventually certified multi-platinum. Immediately following this was the release of Eazy's solo debut, Eazy-Duz-It. As the five members went on tour in support of their project, some began to voice their displeasure with the financial situation at Ruthless Records. According to group member MC Ren, it was common opinion that Heller was the one receiving their due: The label also experienced outside pressure due to the group.
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