The local council said they have "no idea" who the rapper is

A man who campaigned to get a statue of Eazy-E erected in the small Sussex town of Newhaven has been granted permission to have a bench in his honour.

Guy Stevens made headlines last week when he asked the local council to remember the NWA rapper, who died in 1995, saying it will “add to the town.”

“Just do it,” he told Newhaven Town Council, according to The Argus. “Get a statue or a plaque up. Why not? You just wasted money on a bandstand on Denton island no one cares about so why not an Eazy-E memorial?”

Stevens said a memorial to the rapper would be “unique”, “eccentric”, and would “stand out”, adding it would “bring some interest” to Newhaven. He also claimed that because Eazy-E died from complications from AIDS it could “raise awareness of things like sexual health.”

“He needs to be remembered in some way in our town,” he said. “We have nothing going for us and no notable landmarks other than a fort. And Eazy-E is a legend.”

The rapper has no links to Newhaven and, and the council said they have “no idea who Eazy-E is.”

Deputy mayor Graham Amy added: “I’ve lived all of my life in Newhaven and I’ve never heard of him, not a clue. I’m 72 years old and more of a Beatles fan than anything. If I had my way I would have statues to them around the town.” Stevens responded by saying The Beatles “suck”.

Now after media attention and an online poll swayed in his favour, The Argus report that a bench in tribute to Eazy-E has been permitted. The council has also recommended that a “local Eazy-E tribute act” come and perform on the bench to Christen it once erected.

“It’s a great day not just for myself but for the future of Newhaven,” said Mr Stevens. I might push for someone to fly over from America for the ceremony.”

Responding to the council not being fans of the rapper’s music, Mr Stevens replied: “They clearly haven’t listened to his song “Sippin on a 40”. But I am grateful they’ve allowed the tribute anyway.”

The bench is allowed, provided that Mr Stevens can find £2,000 to pay for it. He has since set up a GoFundMe page for fans to contribute.

“Any funds left over will be given to local Aids charities in the area so this is all for a good cause. Eazy-E is global. This is bigger than Newhaven. He and 2pac are probably the greatest rappers of all time, along with Kurupt who’s still alive.”

Responding to critics who claim that the bench is “a waste of money”, Stevens argued: “It’s better than nothing which is pretty much all Newhaven has.

“If people are upset about a bench then they don’t have much going on in their lives. It’s a bit of fun that has brought interest to the town. If they want to do something similar then they should.”

In other statue news, the world’s first statue of David Bowie was unveiled last year in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Bowie is reported to have first performed as his Ziggy Stardust persona and debuted two albums at gigs at the town’s Friars music venue in the early 1970s.