G-Eazy's 'Freak Show' Delivers Powerful Collaborations and Hit Tracks

G-Eazy’s 'Freak Show' Proves His Staying Power in Hip-HopPhoto bygeazy.com

G-Eazy just released his latest album, “Freak Show,” and after spending some time with it, I’ve come to a few conclusions: 1) G-Eazy is here to stay in hip-hop, 2) he may be the most underrated versatile artist of all time, and 3) he might just hold the crown for features, consistently bringing out the best in his collaborators. Let’s dive into the review of his latest album, “Freak Show.”

“Freak Show” opens with a cinematic intro (yes, an intro — when was the last time you heard an intro in hip-hop that wasn’t from a veteran artist?). The intro is reminiscent of Eminem’s “The Eminem Show,” essentially welcoming us to the album. G-Eazy then speaks to his core audience with tracks like “Showbiz” and the title track “Freak Show,” featuring French Montana.

G-Eazy knows how to make a hit, no doubt, but I expected the title track to be his most creative moment. This was an opportunity to blend hip-hop and rap to fully deliver the “freak show vibe.” Despite this, one thing I respect about G-Eazy is that he sticks to being a rapper.

Next, G-Eazy teams up with Coi Leray and Kaliii for “Femme Fatal.” Eazy knows how to appeal to his female audience, and on this track, he takes on the role of a dom ringmaster, allowing the women to entertain his audience. He works well with female rappers, letting them shine, much like he did with Cardi B back in 2018 on the “No Limit” remix. This record is solid and has the potential to be a fan favorite.

Eazy continues to excel in collaborations with Lancey Foux on “Say Less.” This track is a calm flex for G-Eazy, with both artists delivering impressive performances. One of the standout records on “Freak Show” is “In My Head,” featuring Annika Rose. G-Eazy is vulnerable and tells a real-life story here. It’s not just the rapping that’s good; the entire song has hit potential. It’s so well-crafted that it overshadows the following track, “Backseat.” Perhaps G-Eazy should have switched the placement of these two songs.

G-Eazy then hits us with a throwaway record, in my opinion, with “WTFDIK.” While I appreciate the chopped and screwed creativity, I could have done without this track so deep into the album. However, G-Eazy shines again with “South of France,” an inspirational record that tugs at the heartstrings. Eazy declares his confidence in his success and future, with a beautifully executed hook. This is definitely a hidden gem deep in the album.

The momentum continues with “One Day,” a masterclass in collaboration with Leon Bridges. G-Eazy knows how to utilize his features without wasting them. This track samples ODB’s “Hey Dirty” and does it justice. Eazy closes the album with “Love You Forever,” a smooth, harmonizing record dedicated to his mom. This track has strong replay value, and its placement towards the end of the album makes it easier to digest.

However, “Lady Killers” could have been left off. It’s Eazy’s version of a trilogy, but it doesn’t hit for me. The album rounds out with “Anxiety,” a great festival song. I can see 20,000 people with their hands up, waving as Eazy delivers this performance.

“Freak Show” is a great body of work, especially for G-Eazy’s core fans. He delivered. If I weren’t a fan and gave this album a listen, I’d believe Eazy works better as an inspirational artist like B.o.B or Kid Cudi. The title of the album doesn’t quite fit the body of work. G-Eazy isn’t living a freak show life; he’s living the life of someone who worked hard to accomplish his goals. However, this album does G-Eazy justice and features some of his best work yet.

Project Review Breakdown:

• Beats: 10/10
• Lyrics: 9/10
• Concepts: 7/10
• Rollout: 6/10 (Pending)
• Replay Value: 7/10

Total Average Score: 7.8/10

Stream G-Eazy Freak Show albumPhoto byapplemusic.com

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