Eazy, whose real name Eric Wright, was a native of the California city and propelled West Coast rap into the spotlight as a member of NWA. A block of Auto Drive will be named after him.

The most popular ambassador of the shoe was perhaps Eazy-E, whose Cortezes were integral to his gangster rap image. Rapper Eazy-E poses for a portrait wearing Nike Cortezes in April 1989 in Union ...