You just released your first studio album under a major label with These Things Happen in July of last year. How’s that feel?

G-Eazy: Well it depends on your definition of studio album, but yeah, I’d say that These Things Happen was my debut studio album. I think anybody who aspires to make music has a dream to put an album in stores, you know? It’s like a surreal experience. The day it came out I was in New York and I went to that Best Buy (the one in Times Square) to go actually buy my album. That’s like a dream for real.

Do you like working under a major vs the independent route?

G-Eazy: When I was negotiating my deal, I explained to [RCA] that the thing that mattered the most to me was creative control and that’s what I got. I like to make my music how I like to make it, when I like to make it, and I have my process, my routine and my own idea of what I want my music to sound like. I don’t like being told that kind of stuff and they’ve been really supportive of that.

What was your favorite song to record off of These Things Happen?

G-Eazy: Probably the “Intro.” It’s just hard, straight rapping. I don’t know what it was, like 60 or 80 bars or whatever. It was like the State of the Union address of my album. I’ve always been a fan of lyricism and that’s what this was.

Do you have any studio rituals or things that have to be a certain way when you go to record?

G-Eazy: Nah, I mean I like my water, my coffee and my whiskey and there’s certain times I like to be left alone. I don’t mind recording in front of a bunch of people or whatever, but when I’m writing, I write best when I’m left alone in a room and I’m free to just pace around and do my thing.