Not many artists saw more success in 2015 than bay area artist, G-Eazy. He entered the year fresh off the release of his debut album, These Things Happen, which hit #1 on the iTunes hip-hop charts and stayed in the top 10 for over 50 weeks. He spent most of the year touring the world, performing at sold out shows and festivals. He has the video recaps to prove it. G-Eazy also spent a good portion of the year working on his 17-track sophomore album, When It’s Dark Out, which gave his fans a closer look into his life and struggles. The album debuted at #1 again and is still competing for the top spot along side artists like Drake, Logic, Kendrick, and Mac Miller. The album is a great piece of work, front to back, and is stacked with features including artists Big Sean, Chris Brown, Too $hort, Kehlani, E-40, and more. So let’s get into it.

G-Eazy starts When It’s Dark Out with a short one-minute intro that basically builds up anticipation to the first track. He makes a statement with “Random” saying “this sh*t aint random” in the hook meaning he planned on being successful. This track really sets the tone for the entire album as G talks about his success and how he is killing the game right now. “Me, Myself, & I” is next and it’s one of my favorite songs on the album. Bebe Rexha is on the hook and her voice is beautiful. She provides a nice break between G-Eazy’s honest verses. It sounds like has G has been trying to mask his pain with alcohol and women but sometimes just wants to be alone. G-Eazy and Big Sean get materialistic in “One of Them” talking about everything they want (that they didn’t have growing up). They talk about getting things I think most rappers also want; women, cars, awards, money, and more. Not really my favorite on the album but a good track nonetheless.

“Drifting” features Chris Brown & Tory Lanez, and G-Eazy couldn’t be more excited about this collaboration. He had mentioned, in a recent interview, how he thinks it’s crazy to have a track with someone you look up to. The song is about drifting away from a girl, while on tour, who lives back home. It must be really difficult to leave someone you care about for months at a time. Maybe that’s why they wrote a song about it? “Of All Things” is next and it is also one of my favorite songs on the album. It features fellow bay area artist Too $hort which gives the track a west coast vibe. One of my favorite lines from G-Eazy is when he mentions his haters saying he is lying about his success; “If I ain’t poppin’ then tell me who is buying the tickets?” “Order More” is the seventh track, features Starrah, and is about drinking at the club. This song didn’t really do it for me so I will move on.

G-Eazy brings out a new flow on “Calm Down” comparing himself to Eminem and Tupac. The short two-minute track is the perfect song to mark the halfway point of the album. This track reminds me of a continuation of “Random” because he is making a statement and laying down the facts. “Don’t Let Me GO” featuring Grace starts the second half of When It’s Dark Out with a darker side of G-Eazy. G talks about searching for love but only finding drugs and alcohol. It sounds like he has been going through some issues because he says, “love to escape because I hate being sober.” He talks about nights turning into days, partying in New York City, drinking the pain away, and other personal moments. This brings us to “You Got Me” which is another one of my favorites. This is one of the cockiest songs G-Eazy has ever made and I love it. The more I drink, the more I love this song. Although the lyrical content is quite basic, he tells a story about a night he was very fucked up and it’s entertaining. Check out the video here. “What If” featuring Gizzle brings up real world issues and makes G-Eazy wonder what the world would be like if certain events happened a different way.

G-Eazy talks to himself in “Sad Boy” telling Gerald to cheer up. He talks about the hard work and partying that came from his success in recent years and how it took a toll on him. He mentions the stress that comes along with touring like missing friends and family. Next up is “Some Kind of Drug” and it features upcoming artist Marc E. Bassy. This song is about a very special type of girl who G hooked up with. He says she is the best, comparing her to a drug. It sounds like he would do anything to see this girl again. She must be one-of-a-kind if she has G-Eazy trippin’ over her. “Think About You” featuring Quiñ sounds like a cleaner version of the song we just heard unless it’s about yet another girl. He talks about drunk texting a girl in the town he was currently in and to see if he can fix her perception of him. His one verse makes it hard to decipher if it was just a fling or something serious.

“Everything Will Be OK” features the incredibly talented bay area singer, Kehlani. G-Eazy contemplates what life would be like if he didn’t become a rapper. The theme of the song is in the title; if you don’t end up with the girl you fell in love with, everything will be ok. G-Eazy also mentions not talking to his brother in the second verse and how it has affected him. This is the second longest track on the album and I think that’s because he has a lot to say. I think this is one of his most honest songs on the album. “For This” features IAMNOBODI and G talks about how he always dreamed of making it big one day and it finally happened. He tells his story throughout the track saying he waited his whole life for this moment. He does want his fans know that he tells his story to inspire, not to brag. The last track, “Nothing To Me” features two of G-Eazy’s idols (Keyshia Cole and E-40) and it’s the perfect end to When It’s Dark Out.

Overall, I think When It’s Dark Out is the perfect follow up to These Things Happen. G-Eazy shows us that he is vulnerable as well as making a name for himself on a global scale. This album is a bit darker than his first but I like it. I really enjoy when artists get honest and show their fans their "real" side. He did a very good job picking out instrumentals and features for the album too. When It’s Dark Out also has a great mix of tracks; some are slow, honest, bangers, and classic Gerald. As a fan of him for over 2 years, I’m very happy for him and his success. He deserves it.

4.5/5