Hip-Hop Wired: How does the “From the Bay to the Universe” tour differs from past tours?
G-Eazy: The tours get bigger each time we go out. But what makes this different is that the whole bill is from the Bay Area. From Kool John to Kehlani to Jay Ant to me, fans get to see different sides and styles of Bay Area music.
HHW: The Bay Area houses an array of artists. How did you decide who’d accompany you on the road?
G-Eazy: Well, Kehlani is an incredible talent, she has a buzz and I believe in her. And I met her a few times, we clicked. Outside of music, she’s cool people.
Kool John just put out a crazy project (Shmop City) that was really well responded to. Jay Ant is a really good friend of mine and like a mentor. Since we did that record “Far Alone,” it makes sense to have him on the road to perform every night.
HHW: Does the story told in the “Downtown Love” video have any personal truth?
G-Eazy: The director had the idea based off an old Louis Vuitton commercial. An idea of passing by this one room continuously while telling a story — going from light to dark. From a place of happiness, partying and going out, and love and sex to a dark place of fighting and spiraling out of control.
The song is about a lot of girls. When I make a song about a girl like that, it isn’t necessarily a story about one. It’s usually a bunch of stories combined in one based off people I’ve seen and met.
HHW: How did it feel to record a track is Too $hort?
G-Eazy: That sh*t was crazy, man. I was starstruck being in the room with him. The first time I met him was that day in his studio when we recorded. I was naturally nervous because I grew up idolizing him.
The first thing he said to me was “Wassup! I damn near want you on my album.” At that point, I’m shook. This is a superstar.
We went to the studio and everyone is playing beats, and finally, I was like f*ck being nervous. This is an opportunity [to collaborate] that I’ve waiting for some time. I rapped my idea for the chorus. Then $hort and I wrote “Show The World.”
HHW: Did Too $hort give you any gems during the convo?
G-Eazy: No, not really, we just talked about women.
