A memorial bench in Newhaven for American rapper Eazy-E has been vandalized

Eazy-E, real name Eric Wright, was often referred to as the "Godfather of Gangsta Rap". He died in 1995 aged 31, and was the founding member of Californian rap group N.W.A.

The bench was first installed in 2019 after Newhaven resident Guy Stevens joked that he wanted a memorial bench for his hip-hop hero Eazy-E. He was able to fundraise enough money for it, despite the rapper having no connection to the town.

It takes the form of a galvanised black steel bench, adjacent to the bandstand on Denton Island. It is unclear as yet whether there will be a replacement, as it was a privately funded project given permission from Newhaven Town Council.

The Council, which admitted it had “no idea” who Eazy-E was at the time of it’s installation, gave him the go-ahead for the bench if he could raise the funds.

The devoted fan launched a global campaign and raised £1,549. Mr Stevens won support from people as far afield as America, Sweden and Portugal.

The rapper’s bench, carrying a plaque which reads ‘Rest in peace Eric Eazy-E Wright 1964-1995’, cost £1,177 with the remainder of the money raised donated to local HIV charities, the Beacon Trust and the Terrence Higgins Trust.

Wright was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1995. He announced his illness in a public statement on March 16 and on March 26, he died from AIDS-induced pneumonia, one month after his diagnosis.Born and raised in Compton, California, Wright founded Ruthless in 1987. After a short solo career and frequent collaboration with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, they joined, forming N.W.A, later that year.

N.W.A's debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, was released in 1988. Controversial upon release, it is now ranked among the greatest and most influential albums ever. The group released its second and final studio album in 1991, and soon after disbanded.

They were among the earliest and most significant popularisers of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential groups in the history of hip hop music.