When It's Dark Out [Clean] G-Eazy Artist

Sex, drugs, and rock & roll. And rap. On {|G-Eazy|}'s second LP, {|When It's Dark Out|}, the self-made {|Young Gerald|} oozes confidence on a nocturnal journey of hedonistic rhymes set to the wooziest of productions. He spits about what he knows: gratification, how to attain it, and the energy expended in the process. Yet despite the pitfalls and pain that he raps about here, the lures of pleasure and fame remain mighty. {|G-Eazy|} covers familiar ground, spinning similar tales of drugs, partying, and fornicating over 17 addictive tracks without the decadence ever growing stale, like wandering through different, enticing corners of a dark club. By weaving such tales of danger and pleasure, {|G-Eazy|} delivers a bevy of vicarious escapes to his listeners. He manages to differentiate himself from easy race comparisons -- while also acknowledging his conflicting privilege -- rapping about being the coldest white rapper in the game since the one with the bleached hair and asking what if the game didn't care I was white? He's not corny like {|Macklemore|}, not scary like {|Eminem|} (circa 2000), not as earnest and afflicted as newcomer {|Witt Lowry|}. He's another breed: a rapper and a rock star. Throughout, {|G-Eazy|} is supported by an army of guests ranging from singers {|Bebe Rexha|} (on the hit Me, Myself & I) and {|Keyshia Cole|} (Nothing to Me) to hip-hop stars {|Big Sean|} (One of Them) and {|Chris Brown|} (Drifting). Old-school icons {|Too $hort|} (Of All Things) and {|E-40|} (Nothing to Me) even make appearances to offer a bit of street cred. Occasionally, {|G-Eazy|} takes pause, offering moments of introspection and reflection. On For This, he provides a lyrical reminder of how far he's come, and how he did it by himself, while on What If, he reminds listeners I worked for years and studied the game. It's an assured nod to the past, when rising to the top came with a lot of discipline and grassroots support. Beneath the debauchery and boasting, {|G-Eazy|} sounds grateful to see his hard work pay off. Just don't stop his party. [{|When It's Dark Out|} was also released in a clean version.] ~ Neil Z. Yeung