G-Eazy and the do-it-yourself road to the charts

Long before "Me, Myself & I" was on every radio station, G-Eazy was a student in New Orleans making his own beats and putting his music out online. His road to the charts was built almost entirely by himself, and it still works as a guide for independent artists today.

Make it yourself

G-Eazy, born Gerald Earl Gillum in Oakland in 1989, produced much of his own early music. Owning the beats meant he could release as often as he wanted, without waiting for anyone, and it gave his songs a sound that was clearly his.

The lesson is simple: the fewer people you depend on, the faster you can move.

Release often, tour constantly

Through the early 2010s he put out mixtapes and independent albums and played anywhere that would book him, including support slots on bigger tours. Every show was a chance to win fans one by one. By the time a major label signed him, he already had an audience that bought tickets.

His first major-label album, These Things Happen, entered the US chart at number three in 2014. That did not happen by luck; it was years of groundwork paying off.

Build a look people remember

Slicked-back hair, black clothes, black-and-white photos and videos: G-Eazy's image is as consistent as his music. Whatever you think of the style, you recognise it in a second, which is exactly the point. A clear visual identity makes every photo, cover and poster work harder.

Collaborate up

His biggest hits came from working with other artists: Bebe Rexha on "Me, Myself & I", Halsey on "Him & I", A$AP Rocky and Cardi B on "No Limit". Each collaboration introduced him to someone else's fans. For a growing artist, the right feature can do more than a year of solo releases.

Still on the road

More than a decade later he is still touring hard. His Freak Show tour reached Vienna's Gasometer in January 2025, and I photographed the show; the G-Eazy gallery has the pictures.

For more stories behind the music, see the rest of the blog.