Gerald Earl Gillum, better known as G-Eazy (born May 24, 1989), is a rapper and record producer from Oakland, California.
The self-proclaimed "James Dean of Hip-Hop", G-Eazy started his career around the turn of the 2010s and rose into the public consciousness over the years through several project releases and tour appearances. Around this time, his music was distinguished by its laid-back approach to several types of rap, mixing the West Coast sound with Southern styles (he did live in New Orleans for a time). He's been listed among the modern artists that are bringing the once-dead West Coast rap scene back to life, and he could even be considered the most successful white rapper to hail from California.
G-Eazy released his major-label debut albumnote These Things Happen in 2014, which produced the single "I Mean It"; the album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, and "I Mean It" reached #98 on the Billboard Hot 100. His next album, 2015's When It's Dark Out, gave him his first Top 10 hit with "Me, Myself & I" (a duet with Bebe Rexha), which peaked at #7 on the Hot 100.
You can expect to hear about alcohol, weed, and partying a lot in his music. However, compared to other rappers, he portrays the lifestyle in a bit more of a "real sense. While he does glorify those topics a lot, he also admits that they can be a double-edged sword, and that the lifestyle surrounding them is dangerous. This makes his approach to his subject matter something of a deconstruction.
Not to be confused with Jeezy or Eazy-E.
Discography:
- These Things Happen (2014)
- When It's Dark Out (2015)
- The Beautiful & Damned (2017)
- Everything's Strange Here (2020)
- These Things Happen Too (2022)
- Fresh (2008)
- Nose Goes (with Swiss Chris) (2011)
- Must Be Twice (with Christoph Andersson) (2013)
- These Things Also Happened (with Christoph Andersson) (2014)
- Step Brothers (with Carnage) (2017)
- Nothing Wrong (2017)
- The Vault (2018)
- B-Sides (2019)
- Scary Nights (2019)
- The Tipping Point (2008)
- Sikkis on the Planet (2009)
- Quarantine (2009)
- Big (2010)
- The Outsider (2011)
- The Endless Summer (2011)
- The Epidemic (2008)
- Must Be Nice (2012)
Tropes
- Alliterative Name: His real name is Gerald Gillum.
- A Wild Rapper Appears!: He does this in Grace's "You Don't Own Me", Bebe Rexha's "FFF", Tinashe's "So Much Better and Britney Spears' "Make Me".
- Cluster F-Bomb: He is a rapper after all, so this features in most of his songs.
- Deconstruction: Some songs portray the Sex, Drugs, and Hip-Hop life in a more 'real' sense. "Me, Myself & I" for example portrays his lifestyle as dangerous, because his heavy drinking has led to a muddy liver. However, it feels too good to pass up.
- Break-Up Song: Some of the songs from his album Everything's Strange Here are about his break-up with Halsey. Notably "All The Things You're Searching For", which is a duet with his girlfriend at the time Ashley Benson, where he spends half of the song dissing his ex and how and the other boasting about his new girlfriend and how she's the best sex he ever had.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": His rap name comes from his school name "GE", because he thought "Gerald" was a dumb name. He's admitted that "G-Eazy" is kind of a stupid name too, but it's too late for him to change it now.
- Genre Mashup: To an extent. He mixes West Coast hip-hop with southern influences, as a result to being a part of both scenes in the Bay Area and New Orleans.
- Groupie Brigade: Many of his female fans will be willing to sleep with him if given the chance. "Lotta That" brags about it in the chorus.
- "I Want" Song: "One Of Them" epitomizes this trope. It's a song about him not being satisfied with what he already has and longing for more materialistic needs.
- Lonely at the Top: "Me, Myself & I" is about enjoying the life at the top, while knowing you cannot truly count on anyone but yourself.
- Mr. Fanservice: He has a massive female fanbase, and it has little to do with his music.
- Myspeld Rökband: The "Eazy" part of his name is an intentional misspelling of "Easy".
- New Sound Album: Everything's Strange Here consists almost entirely of singing, and includes covers of songs by 80s pop band The Korgis and David Bowie.
- Non-Appearing Title: "Sad Boy", "The Beautiful & Damned".
- Ode to Intoxication: Many songs describe his love for alcohol and drugs. "Lotta That", is a standout example.
- One Head Taller: He's 6'5".
- Pretty Boy: One of the quintessential examples in hip-hop and rap, as his
popularity among females is to be believed. (See Groupie Brigade and Mr. Fanservice above and Tall, Dark, and Handsome below). - Pretty Fly for a White Guy: He admits he was like this in his early years, and some of his lyrics give this impression (though that may be intentional).
- Rags to Riches: Like most rappers, he's risen from relative poverty into fame and fortune. This is the subject of several songs, such as "One of Them"."See, normal people, I am not one of them."
"Sorry, sorry. See, normal people, I am not one of them." - Really Gets Around: "I Mean It" has him boast about how he can get any girls he wants, even ones that are already married."I'm fucking your girlfriend, and there's nothing you can do about it."
- Retraux: He's known for his "greaser" look reminiscent of The '50s. His vintage style has given him a lot of respect with fans.
- Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: His lifestyle, by his own admission. He admits it's not without massive drawbacks, which has been the subject of his music.
- Sharp-Dressed Man: He's very well dressed compared to other rappers. This is modeled after the business world, where professionals wear expensive suits in black colors.
- Subverted Rhyme Every Occasion: In "Him & I", when talking about how his girlfriend would castrate him if she caught him cheating, but it cuts just as he's about to say "dick off" cuts with Halsey giggling.Silk on her body, pull it down and watch it slip off
Ever catch me cheating, she would try to cut my— - Straight Man and Wise Guy: "West Coast", where he plays the straight man to Blueface's wise guy.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song:
- "Lets Get Lost" is a ballad, performed as a duet with Devon Baldwin.
- "Me, Myself & I" is much cleaner when compared to his other songs.
- "Sad Boy" portrays the more introspective and less materialistic side of Gerald.
- His 2020 album Everything's Strange Here is much softer than his previous work, with minimal rapping, although the lyrics are even more personal.
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome: 6'5"? Check. Slicked back black hair? Check. Mr. Fanservice with a Groupie Brigade everywhere he goes? Check.
- Token White: He's one of the only white rappers from California who's gained any attention.
