G-Eazy and Halsey join forces for “Him & I,” the fifth single issued in advance of his ‘The Beautiful & Damned.’

Ah, The Beautiful & Damned, the highly-anticipated third studio album by Bay Area rapper G-Eazy. After releasing four singles (as of publication time), he drops a fifth single, “Him & I,” enlisting Halsey. “Him & I” commences with the ‘alternative’ musician singing the chorus.

“Cross my heart, hope to die / To my lover, I’d never lie / He said ‘be true,’ I swear I’ll try / In the end, it’s him and I.”

Ultimately, her voice is pleasant, with a relatively light sound. Does she sound the least bit alternative to any extent? No, she sounds pop through and through, which fits the vibe of this particular record. Moving on to G-Eazy.

G-Eazy follows-up with the first verse, offering listeners a solid flow featuring agile rhymes.  This is the expectation for the rapper. The big message he delivers throughout his verses center around love and commitment. Don’t get it twisted though – G-Eazy isn’t all mushy and ‘lovey dovey.’ There’s still some salty language – f-bombs, use of the word bitch ‘endearingly’ – despite a somewhat ‘kinder, gentler’ persona.

“We turn up, mobbin’ ‘til the end of time / Only one who gets me, I’m a crazy f*cking Gemini… / My funeral will be lit if I – / Ever go down or get caught, if they identify / My bitch was the most solid, nothing to solidify…”

Supporting a sort of rough-and-tumble relationship, though committed, are the references to Bonnie and Clyde.  Hmm, is Starkweather and Fugate next?

Final Thoughts 

What’s the verdict on the collaborative “Him & I”? All in all, it’s enjoyable.  It runs a bit long at four-and-a-half-minutes, while the concept is interesting enough, but not game changing or ‘brand new.’ Still, this is rap made for pop radio and has great potential to be a success.

G-Eazy • The Beautiful & Damned • RCA • Release: 12.15.17

Photo Credit: RCA