G-Eazy has been gaining steady momentum in the music industry. His 2012 album, Must Be Nice proved to many music critics that G-Eazy has what it takes to be on of the elite’s in this business. Not only has headlined his own tour and sold out various venues across the country, but the 24 year-old Bay area native is currently on the last stages of completing his biggest tour yet, America’s Most Wanted, which features major acts Lil Wayne, T.I., and 2 Chainz.
While in New York City, G-Eazy stopped by The Source offices to discuss tour life with Lil Wayne, his upcoming project which set to drop in Fall of this year and his hate for pigeons. Check out the interview below with the cool kid from Cali and make sure you stay up to date with the latest G-Eazy news HERE.
Tell me your experience so far on the America’s Most Wanted Tour?
The tour is real fun, it’s the next step. You know what I mean. It’s like an opportunity for me to gain a lot exposure, being out on the road with Lil Wayne, TI, and you know 2Chainz. But for me, I’m always thinking about it like, this tour is cool but wait until you see me in the fall, I’ll be on my own headlining my tour next time. I’m always thinking ahead, like what’s the next step. Rather than being too caught up in the moment, you know.
What’s been the craziest experience on this tour, that you can tell us about?
Craziest experiences. There’s many I cannot tell, many too explicit for T.V. Last night was wild, last night was wild. I might have to leave it at that. (laughs).
I was doing my research on you and 400 degrees actually played a big role in your career. Now your opening for a fellow Cash Money member Lil Wayne, which is very cool. Have you learned anything from Wayne, so far?
I’ve probably learned the most from Wayne out of anybody I’ve ever seen perform live. Dating back to when he first really started doing the big arena tours, like the “I Am Music” Tour. He is really, really, really good live! And that’s something you can’t take away from him, so it’s definitely kind of surreal to be involved in this level now, with somebody that I grew up listening to. Like you said, dating back to 400 Degreez he had one of the most memorable quotes on the album. All through the mixtape era of Wayne, through the commercial success of The Carter 3, he continues to be dope. He’s like the blueprint out, and he is a hell of a performer, so theres always little pieces of stuff you can pick up and learn from watching him perform.
I know you were influenced by the Cash Money movement, but being from the Bay area is there anybody else from the Bay that you look up to?
Absolutely man, I mean I grew up on Mac Dre, E-40, Keak da Sneak and everything that was going on in the Bay. Being from The Bay it has always made me proud of our own culture, our own slang, our fashion, and our own music. and all that.
And on this tour you’re actually recording for your album, the LP is dropping in the fall, right? Tell me a little about the project?
I’m really excited about this new music. I always get this feeling like whatever I’m making now is the craziest stuff I’ve made. And I always kind of cringe when I listen to my old stuff. I’m like “Don’t even play my old stuff, wait until you hear this new stuff.” Right now I’m just really focused man. I’m blessed to be here. It’s the product of a lot of hard work, but I’m like okay this spot is cool, but how dope would it be to flip this. You know what I mean. For me, its like, I’m just working everyday in the studio because being around the T.I.s, being around the Wayne’s, and the 2Chainzs, it just inspires you to want to work that much harder. That level of success is attainable, you have to think that way.
What are some of the features and producers actually on this album?
Producer wise, I’m doing half of it and my homie Christophe Anderson is basically doing the other half. He is the homie from New Orleans, whose real talented, and who I brought out with me on this Wayne tour to help engineer, mix and produce the records. Other than that, it’s really organic. I’m lucky enough to know a lot of talented friends in New Orleans—New Orleans is a great city man, there are a lot of great musicians there—and I just got friends I can call up and be like “Yo, I got this hook, and I think you would sound good on it singing it.” So as far as names go, your not going to see a lot of big names on it, it’s really organic. But that doesn’t take anything away from the music. I feel like I can get my homie to sing a hook, and he can sound just as good as if I called John Legend to do it.
Is there a date and an album name already?
Yeah, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say the album name yet. I’m trying to have the album out in the fall, so stay tuned for that. This next shit, I swear it’s going to be crazy.
What were five things you needed while you were recording this album?
Five things I needed while recording this album…. Whiskey, more whiskey, and then another cup of whiskey and black coffee. I go back and forth between my black coffee and my whiskey. And of course you need water.
So I know you are a fashionable dude too, is there a clothing line in the near future that we can expect from you?
My merch right now online is kind of an extension of that already. I’m really, really involved in all of my merch. You know the design and the whole approach to it. I try to keep a minimal approach with the design. Really clean with classic aesthetics, but I ultimately look forward to branching out my merch to a full fledged clothing line, and just build that G-Eazy brand into something more than just music.
The fact that you are here in New York, I read an interesting fact. You hate pigeons right?
I hate pigeons man![Laughs] My phobia of pigeons is weird.
How did that even begin?
I don’t even know where it started. Everyone thinks it’s because of birds, but I don’t even remember. When am in streets walking, I’m trying to duck every single pigeon that comes my way. I can’t f*ck with pigeons bro, I hate them. I want to live in New York very badly, but I don’t think I can take the pigeons.
What else can people expect from you and the LP? There’s a tour as well, right?
I plan on taking over the world after this, that’s my goal. I’m getting this record out, so expect a single soon. We shot this really big video right before the tour started and this is like a movie. So expect to see that really soon. I look forward to going back on tour this fall as a headliner, and then do another leg, probably hit Europe as well. The grind is never stopping.
Props to James Elliot
Roger Krastz @walldoe
