Gerald Gillum, known by his stage name as G-Eazy, recently released his sophomore studio album, “When It’s Dark Out”, December 4, 2015. The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 list. “When It’s Dark Out” finds G-Eazy struggling with accepting his newfound fame, reflecting on his past and contemplating his legacy for the future.
G-Eazy opens the album with a haunting introduction. By reciting the second verse of Dylan Thomas’ poem, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” he creates an aura of struggle and death. The slowed down and twisted instrumental builds tension before breaking into the actual album.
“Random” was easily the most anticipated song of the album, and G-Eazy does not disappoint. This song is a highlight of the album and a strong opener. He reminds us that his sudden rise to fame was not in fact random, but a combination of his youth, good looks and work ethic. The verses show G-Eazy bragging on the wealth and fame he has earned in such a short time and looking forward to what he has yet to accomplish. Confidence oozes off the track and it is an amazing song to get hype to when you need a little extra motivation.
According to G-Eazy, the following track, “Me, Myself, and I,” is written from the perspective of his non-famous counterpart, Gerald Gillum. He criticizes the lifestyle of fame and lust he has been living and wishes to return to his life before the fame. Bebe Rexha is featured and provides beautiful vocals for the chorus. Overall this song has much appreciated insight into the more human and introspective side of G-Eazy.
The following four songs have very strong instrumentals, but are cluttered with weak features and experimental sounds from G-Eazy himself. Big Sean provides a forgettable verse on the otherwise enjoyable track, “One of Them.” G-Eazy attacks the track viciously only to be followed by a lackadaisical effort from Big Sean. On “Drifting” G-Eazy talks about how touring and drugs have separated him from a girl that he loves. Chris Brown and Tory Lanez are featured on the track and provide decent vocals, however, their styles do not seem to mesh well with G-Eazy’s.
On “Calm Down” G-Eazy is once again bragging about his lavish party lifestyle, however, the beat is fantastic and ready to be danced to. G-Eazy also provides some clever pop culture references. This track has grown on me and has come to be one of my favorites on the album.
“Don’t Let Me Go” is my personal favorite song throughout the entire album. It is, quite possibly, my favorite G-Eazy song of all time. A haunting and somewhat intoxicating hum opens the track, eventually breaking into a Grace feature that has a similar message to “Intro.” Throughout the verses G-Eazy uses a static effect that amplifies the dark mood. He sees his lustful tendencies that created a spiraling relationship as a product of the time he spends in clubs and at parties when it is dark outside. However, G-Eazy has become cold and heartless over time, so he gives in to the temptations associated with fame and wealth.
“Sad Boy” is rapped from the perspective of an outsider looking in on G-Eazy’s life. To an outsider the acquisition of fame and wealth would lead to happiness, but G-Eazy points out multiple downsides on previous tracks such as “Me, Myself, and I” and “Don’t Let Me Go.” The instrumental features a piano sample and is simple, yet impactful. It creates the image of G-Eazy walking past people who wish to be in his position but fail to notice the rain cloud over his head.
“Some Kind of Drug” features Marc E. Bassy. who provides sensual vocals for the chorus. G-Eazy tries to explain how he feels when he is with a specific girl, but he can only think of one way to describe it. He relates the times he spends with her to a high from drugs. The track is lustful, sensual and extremely emotional. The beat is subtle and sets the stage for the lyrics to be the main focus of this song.
Because of the raw emotion G-Eazy provides on “Everything Will Be OK,” this track is the highlight of the album. He looks back on his past and how fame has affected his family relationships. On the third verse of the song G-Eazy opens up about a situation that he rarely speaks about involving his mother’s girlfriend passing away. The emotion displayed on this track and the chorus from Kehlani, that repeatedly reminds people that everything will be okay, creates an unforgettable track.
The album closes with “For This” and “Nothing to Me.” “For This” shows that, despite all the doubts, G-Eazy has reached his goals. He talks about how long he has waited for this level of gratification and how he can help those around him with his newfound wealth. “Nothing to Me” feels like an encore at a concert. G-Eazy features fellow Bay Area artists Keyshia Cole and E-40 to provide an inspirational track. While “For This” discusses how far G-Eazy has come, “Nothing to Me” discusses his plans to reach a legendary status further in his career. He wants to reach immeasurable heights. This track makes the listener feel like anything is possible.
In general G-Eazy’s sophomore album, “When It’s Dark Out,” is overall an enjoyable album. Despite a few tracks and features that are bland, the memorable tracks pull the album together. G-Eazy is still experimenting with his sound, and it is obvious on certain tracks that he is still an undeveloped artist. However, G-Eazy shows great potential to create emotional and interesting songs from contradicting viewpoints.
