He was a founding member of N.W.A, which was very influential to the rap scene:
>They were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures 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
>Rolling Stone ranked N.W.A at number 83 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
I take it he's a well known? I've never heard of him.