Eazy-E Once Had Lunch With the President

One thing that came up in this whole Common “controversy” was that Eazy-E, of N.W.A. fame, once had a meal with the President. Many people remember this from Ice Cube’s diss track “No Vaseline” where he repeats the phrase “I never had dinner with the President,” presumably separating himself from Eazy-E’s now “establishment” credentials. However, there are two things that bother me.

One, it’s not in any way analgous to the Common deal. Eazy-E attended a fund raising event that President George H.W. Bush attended, but effectively was invited by accident. He wasn’t there to perform, the President had no idea he was coming, and they didn’t meet. It was a mail targeting issue more than any hypocrisy.

Two, not only is it embedded in popular culture that Eazy-E went to the White House, but that it was President Reagan. A great example of this is the song “Dreams” by Game:

The dream of Eric Wright, that’s what I’m givin’ you/Who walked through the White House without a business suit/Compton hat, jheri curl drippin’ on Ronald Reagans shoes

Again, Eazy-E didn’t meet the President, didn’t go to the White House, and it wasn’t even Reagan. Every time I hear that song, I want to demand a correction. I can deal with rap lyrics dealing with violence, drugs, misogyny, or an inflated sense of self-worth, but I will not stand for historical inaccuracies. I like to keep it real, if you will.