“If it was easy, everyone would do it.” Truer words have perhaps never been spoken, regardless of which life facet in question; a testament to the dedication toward one’s craft that is essential to achieving greatness. Oakland, CA’s Gerald Gillum, better known by onlookers around the world as G-Eazy, has singlehandedly taken the hip-hop scene by storm as one of today’s most in-demand artists. From consistently releasing chart-topping records to crossing continents and selling out shows, the rapper, age 28, seemingly has the world in the palm of his hands with no intention of putting it down.
G-Eazy took the stage on a brisk evening in March at none other than Midtown Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall for the final stop of his The Beautiful & Damned routing through North America. Admittedly nervous for what would await him, the Eazy soon shook any worry to exist within his being, vowing to never become anxious before performing in New York City again. The night’s set, strategically divided into three “acts”, saw the rapper maneuvering through smash hits and deeper cuts alike found on albums When It’s Dark Out, The Beautiful & Damned, and more. Special guest appearances by rapper Ty Dolla $ign, pop star and girlfriend Halsey, and others were tasteful additions that enhanced the show’s impact without taking away from its main purpose.
A self-proclaimed legend in his own right, G-Eazy easily grabs hold of whoever happens to be in his presence. Young women dressed to the nines cry out with an implied hope of being noticed by him, while gentlemen nod with a sense of approval, moving their mouths in unison with his cynically cutting lyrics. “When I told her I’m the devil, I was smiling,” G-Eazy asserts on The Beautiful & Damned’s “Leviathan”, assuming his role with a sly confidence.
Never interrupting flow, Eazy aptly took a few opportunities throughout the show to express his gratefulness for all who continue to support him. Stories of past trips to New York surfaced as he reminisced about days he was unable to fill a comparably tiny Studio at Webster Hall. However, tonight was different. Tonight, his name echoed through an at-capacity, electrified Radio City. While the present is a sweet spot for G-Eazy to spend some time in, there’s still plenty of hard work to be done, confirmed by his confident promise to soon fill the world-famous Madison Square Garden just down the road.
After all, if it was easy, everyone would do it.
