G-Eazy & Carnage, Step Brothers (EP) | Album Review 💿

Bay Area rapper, G-Eazy, and DJ Carnage are cocky and confident on their four-song EP, ‘Step Brothers.’ Step Brothers encompasses money and sex.

G-Eazy blew up in 2015, period.  His sophomore album, When It’s Dark Out, earned him a platinum album. Now, G-Eazy pairs up with longtime friend Carnage for a four-song EP, Step Brothers.  Depth isn’t the M.O. ladies and gentlemen, but flexing and “not giving a what” is the M.O. All in all, the result is an enjoyable affair.

“Guala”

The crème de la crème of Step Brothers is opener ✓ “Guala.” “Guala” is fire from the start, thanks to the use of an unlikely sample – Gnossienne No. 1 composed by Erik Satie. Add a hard, anchoring beat, and cocky and confident rhymes from G-Eazy and guest Thirty Rack, and “Guala” is a killer banger. G-Eazy flexes hard, whether he’s “killing these beats” or more brashly asserts, “I put my dick on her forehead / Less conversation and more head.” As for Thirty Rack, he’s no better:

“Forty hoes on my dick, huh
Fifty hoes on my dick, whoa
Sixty hoes on my d*ck, whoa
God damn, a n*gga rich, bing.” 

“Gimme Gimme”

The second-best honors of Step Brothers go to ✓ “Gimme Gimme,” where G-Eazy raps solo.  Like “Guala,” Eazy offers an infectious hook.  It’s nothing groundbreaking or transcendent but sets up the song as another potential hit.

“Yeah, gimme, gimme, gimme money
Spendin’, spendin’, spendin’ money
People say they want my spot?
But you’ll never get it from me.”

Beyond his self-assured hook, generally, G-Eazy offers more of the same in regards to his rhymes.  He’s in full-on, celebratory, turn-up mode. Throughout, he also references sex, something we’ve become accustomed to hearing from the MC early on.  Much like the famous “‘Cause I’m f*cking your girlfriend / And there’s nothing you can do about it” from “I Mean It,” he reprises the role.

“Yeah, I’m on point like an ice pick
On lock like a vice grip
And your girl is on my tip
You never see the day that I slip.”

“Buddha” 

“Buddha” keeps Step Brothers rolling, assisted by SmokePurpp. Confidence continues to be in excess as G-Eazy flexes once more.

“The game is nothing I’m new to
Money too long for a ruler
I swim in it like Barracuda...
Stay gold and shout out my jeweler
I’m grateful I’m praying to Buddha.”

While the sexcapades of the rapper are often eye-roll worthy given his blatant objectification and overconfidence, he nails it at the end of the first verse.

“She calls me when she wants me to dick her
So fine that she made me cum quicker
Don’t argue, don’t stress, we don’t bicker
And this world is changing, I’m quicker...”

At least Eazy can rhyme.  As for SmokePurpp, he’s equally obsessed with sex, and boasts, “Fucking a bitch with my belt on (woo).”

“Down for Me” 

Arguably, “Down for Me” is the weakest song from Step Brothers.  That said, the joint, featuring 24hrs, is respectable, even if it’s not a dynamic closing statement.  To his credit, G-Eazy isn’t as brash, which makes this a contrast to the biting trio of cuts preceding it.  Still, don’t call “She wants Netflix and chill and to light weed” an assertion of profundity.

Final Thoughts

All in all, G-Eazy and Carnage assemble an enjoyable EP.  The best material comes at the top, but there’s nothing that’s the least bit awful.  Is Eazy too obsessed with himself and his jewels? Yes, but rap is a cocky and confident sport, and the Bay Area rapper has solidified his spot in the game without question.  Flex on G, flex on.

✓  Gems: “Guala” & “Gimme Gimme”

G-Eazy & Carnage • Step Brothers – EP • RCA • Release: 3.31.17

Photo Credit: RCA