Interview: G-Eazy On Working With blackbear, How He Includes The 'Mamba Mentality’ In His Life & More

G Eazy started out as a record producer while being a student at University before getting his big break as an American Rapper who first debuted his first major-label album “These Things Happen”  in June 2014 which hit Number 3 on the US Billboard 200. His second studio album “When It's Dark Out” was released in late 2015 which brought the single “Me, Myself and I” which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard 100 along with “No Limit” hitting Number Four in 2017.

I had the opportunity to talk to G Eazy on the phone from my home in Blenheim and discuss his recent album “Everything's Strange Here”, his up and coming album “These Things Happen Too” along with some surprise features, his work ethic and even his favourite Halloween costumes.

Hey, what’s good!

Hey G Eazy, how are you?

I’m good man, how are you?

I’m good thank you, I just wanna say I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us today.

No worries man, thank you.

How’s life been treating you lately?

Uh (laughs), I don't know where to start man. These are crazy times in my country, you know just doing the best we can, waiting on these election results and with the pandemic crisis and racial injustice you know. Shit, these are wild times man.

It definitely is, I see you were recently involved with “Save our Stages”, how did you hear about that and get involved?

They reached out and I just love the mission of what they are standing for and you know I have been looking for ways I can help because that's what you do in the midst of crisis, you listen to each other and help, you give someone to listen to. I am being serious that’s what you do.

Exactly.

And you know that that hits home for me because of the fact I came up touring independently before I was even signed, you know losing money on tour and barely getting to the next city staying finding hotels and motels and you know playing these independent venues. For me to get to do something and give back to the people that helped me get to where I am it's just a no brainer.

I have mad respect for that, in New Zealand, we are actually back onto the Summer festival circuit with the way we have managed to get on top of Covid, and I see they have drive-in shows starting in the States, do you think that is something you will get involved in?

Yea man I hope so, I hope we can figure something out because I truly do miss the energy that comes from performing in front of real people, it's like in transit to my whole entire like identity and sense of self and you know like I've been touring for you know almost ten years now. I don’t know a life other than that and it's beyond just getting to travel and see people, it's that energy and rush I get from being on stage (Aidan: Yeah) and performing my music to people that love, you know love the music itself. It reminds you of your purpose.

Your recent single “Hate the Way” with Blackbear which I might add is a great track which really hits home, but what influenced this song for you and what do you want the listeners to take away from your up and coming project?

Man I mean that song is a deeply personal record, but I wanted it to be at the same time something that is applicable and relatable to any and everyone. You know I think we’re all missing different things in different ways, you know missing the life we use to live, missing our friends, missing our loved ones. So I really just wanted to frame it in a way that was both specific and vaguely universal in its own way too, so you know I'm extremely excited about this song man, you know Blackbear is one of my best friends in music, shouts out to bear. You know this album is my all, I put my all into this, 350 songs in the making (Aidan: Wow!) two years of work. I’m just so excited to finally get this out.

That’s massive, are you allowed to give us a clue on who else might feature on your upcoming album or is that private? (laughs)

Uhh (laughs) I got Lil Wayne on my album, I got Chris Brown on my album and Demi Lovato, I’m excited man. 

That’s massive!

Yeah

So you released your album (Everything's Strange Here) earlier this year as well, was that pre-planned or more creating something while being in lockdown?

That was, no that was just off the hip, that was like for me spending that much time in my house with nowhere to go and nothing to do you know I wanted to make the most of the time and creatively explore and experiment. You know something I don’t, you know get to do as much, you know to take my creative freedom and take that creative liberty and to like push it to the extreme and you know that was really for me, I just decided to share it with the world but for me, I was liberating.

Brilliant, How did you link with Mulatto for “Down”?

Man, I am a fan of Mulatto. I love what she’s doing and her whole movement, I love her music, I love her flow, I love her whole attitude. So you know I just reach out to people that I genuinely mess with, that I genuinely you know rock with. 

So 2020 seems like it has been the year of deluxe albums, can we expect to see you jumping on that wave?

Yeah, Yeah like I said I recorded 350 songs for this album man, So (laughs) there is no way I can only release one I gotta put out a deluxe afterwards.

That’s fair enough (laughs), So you’ve got a Kobe Bryant Jersey hanging in your studio and Kobe’s name tattooed on your arm. How do you use the ‘Mamba Mentality’ when it comes to everyday life and your career?

It's just always wanting to get better, looking at every situation like how can I improve, how could I work harder, how could I pay more attention to detail. You know Kobe was such a good competitor but you know before, before even the competition it's about the preparation and it’s about the attitude towards you know the process that goes into the work, that goes into the preparation that goes into the competition (Aidan: Yeah). You know it’s like, it's just about well proving in time man, that’s why Kobe was such a big hero to me.

I’ve got a final question for you, I recently saw all your Halloween costumes on Instagram, they are next level, they are very impressive.

Thank you.

What’s been your favourite costume?

Uhh , man I love, I love doing Batman just as a huge Batman fan as a kid, I was a Batman kid, not a Superman kid (laughs) 

Sweet as (laughs) That’s all from me I just want to say thanks heaps for talking with me. I really appreciate it.

That’s cool man, thank you guys so much. 

Take care.

Interviewed by: Aidan Treston