When It's Dark Out Explained

When It's Dark Out
Type:studio
Artist:G-Eazy
Cover:G-Eazy When Its Dark Out.jpg
Recorded:2014–2015
Length:61:05
Prev Title:These Things Happen
Prev Year:2014
Next Title:The Beautiful & Damned
Next Year:2017

When It's Dark Out is the fourth studio album by American rapper G-Eazy. It was released on December 4, 2015, by RCA Records.[1] The album features guest appearances from Big Sean, Chris Brown, Tory Lanez, Too $hort, Yo Gotti, Lil Wayne, Kehlani, Rick Ross, E-40 and Keyshia Cole. The production was provided by OZ, DJ Spinz, Boi-1da and Southside.

The album was supported by four singles: "Me, Myself & I", "Order More", "Drifting" and "Some Kind of Drug".

When It's Dark Out debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200. It also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album sold 135,000 copies in the first week in the United States.[2]

Recording and production

Recording sessions took place during 2014 to 2015, including executive production work by G-Eazy himself, along with his frequent collaborator Christoph Andersson and record producer Southside. The additional production from the album was provided by OZ and Michael Keenan, among others. G-Eazy spoke about expressing his feelings towards his fans about the sounds and how excited he was with the album. When It’s Dark Out was constructed to sound like it could accompany a horror movie as its soundtrack. During recording and production, G-Eazy stated he was influenced by both Wes Craven and Tim Burton, which is why it features many piano loops and “foggy synths” throughout the entire album.[3]

Promotion

The album's first promotional single, "You Got Me", was released on August 17, 2015.[4] The song was produced by Southside and Christoph Andersson.

The album's second promotional single, "Random", was released on October 29, 2015.[5] The song was produced by OZ. The song peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Platinum in 2021.

The album's third promotional single, "Sad Boy", was released on November 26, 2015. The song was written and produced by Henry Daher.

Singles

The album's lead single, "Me, Myself & I", was released on October 14, 2015. The song features as a duet track between G-Eazy and American singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha, with production by Michael Keenan. The song peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it as G-Eazy's first top 10 hit and his second highest charting single to date behind "No Limit" featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B which peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also became Rexha's third Billboard Hot 100 single in her career as a featured artist.

"Order More" was first released as the album's promotional single on November 13, 2015. The song features a guest appearance from American singer Starrah, with production by DJ Spinz. The official remix was released after, which features guest appearances from American rappers Lil Wayne and Yo Gotti.

"Drifting" was released on April 17, 2016, to rhythmic radio as the album's third single. The song features guest appearances from American recording artists Chris Brown and Tory Lanez, with production by Cashmere Cat, Mssingno and Happy Perez. The song peaked at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Some Kind of Drug" was released on November 16, 2016, as the album's fourth single.[6] [7] The song features a guest appearance from Marc E. Bassy, while the production was handled by Rice 'N Peas, with additional production by Christoph Andersson and G-Eazy. It has since peaked at number 97 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

When It's Dark Out was met with generally positive reviews by critics upon its release. Billboard gave it 3.5 stars out of 5, and noted that "a few blatant crossover-R&B attempts feel faceless, but they're largely outliers on an album that gives this former greaser novelty three dimensions". Neil Yeung of AllMusic believed that the 17 tracks were "addictive without it ever growing stale" and commended G-Eazy for how he "executes flawlessly with the shrewdness befitting of his Loyola University music industry studies degree."

Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork Media thought When It's Dark Out is an improvement from These Things Happen (2014), and that the production and guest appearances seem "like a conscious effort on G-Eazy's part to flesh out his sound into something more dynamic and less one-note." Ben Thompson from The Guardian stated that the album "could’ve hit a home run if it hadn’t worked so hard to cover all the bases", criticising the second half of the record.[8]

Commercial performance

When It's Dark Out debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200. It also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album sold 135,000 copies in the first week in the United States.[9] As of January 2016, the album debuted at number six on the UK's Top 40 R&B, making it his most successful release in the United Kingdom and the United States. On July 7, 2016, the album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Track listing

Notes

Sample credits

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2016)Position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[11] 16
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[12] 33
US Billboard 200[13] 12
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] 6
Chart (2017)Position
US Billboard 200[15] 120
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] 88

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010–2019)Position
US Billboard 200[17] 192
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] 50

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lindsey Sullivan . G-Eazy Announces 'When It's Dark Out' Album, Premieres First Single 'Me, Myself & I' . Billboard . 2015-10-15 . 2015-12-01.
  2. News: G-Eazy Rules Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. 2018-08-13.
  3. Web site: G-Eazy’s "When It’s Dark Out" Album is Inspired By Tim Burton & Wes Craven - DJBooth. Djbooth.net. 23 December 2017.
  4. Web site: You Got Me - Single by G-Eazy on Apple Music - iTunes. iTunes. October 1, 2016.
  5. Web site: When It's Dark Out : Release details. Instagram . 2015-12-01.
  6. Web site: G-Eazy feat. Marc E. Bassy- Some Kind Of Drug Video. HotNewHipHop. November 16, 2016. November 16, 2016.
  7. Web site: "Some Kind of Drug (feat. Marc E. Bassy) [Earwulf Remix] - Single" by G-Eazy on iTunes]. 18 November 2016. Itunes.apple.com. 23 December 2017.
  8. Web site: G-Eazy: When It’s Dark Out review – almost a crossover home run . Ben . Thompson . The Guardian . December 6, 2015 . December 10, 2015.
  9. News: G-Eazy Rules Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. December 16, 2015 . Amaya . Mendizabal . Billboard .
  10. Web site: Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes - SNEP (Week 30, 2016). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. fr. August 2, 2016.
  11. Web site: Top Canadian Albums - Year-End 2016. Billboard.
  12. Web site: Album Top-100 2016 . Hitlisten.NU . da . December 31, 2016.
  13. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016. Billboard. December 9, 2016.
  14. Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2016. Billboard. June 28, 2020.
  15. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017. Billboard. June 28, 2020.
  16. Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017. Billboard. June 28, 2020.
  17. Web site: Decade-End Charts: Billboard 200. Billboard. November 23, 2019.
  18. Web site: Decade-End Charts: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. December 1, 2020.