Take Johnny Cash mixed with Kanye West, throw it over the beat of a 1960s pop song, and you have the musical stylings of rapper G-Eazy.
G-Eazy, whose real name is Gerald Earl Gillum, is scheduled to perform at 10 p.m. Friday at Skully’s Music-Diner, with the doors opening at 9:30 p.m.
A native of Oakland, Calif., Gillum graduated from Loyola University New Orleans in 2011 where he majored in music industry studies.
Gillum said it was an easy decision to pursue music as a career.
“The idea of doing something creative and doing something I love is worth working hard,” Gillum said. “I can’t really imagine doing anything else for a career.”
In 2010, Gillum was the opening act for rapper Drake at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles. He has also opened for Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.
Gillum’s speciality is mixing the sounds of different generations to show audiences that music from the past can be married with modern rap music.
“The sounds are more similar than people think. The rhythms, melodies and flow are actually really similar,” Gillum said. “I’m really interested in the idea of mixing together two different styles and showing people that it can make a great sound.”
Some Ohio State students said Gillum’s different rap style is a nice change from mainstream rap songs played on the radio.
“I’m not big on white rappers, but he’s good and I love that he uses old songs on his tracks,” said Michael Hardie, a fourth-year in strategic communication. “I know rappers have done it before, but I still think this is unique in its own right.”
Gillum’s upcoming visit to Columbus has generated buzz at Skully’s, said John Vishak, production manager and house talent booker for Skully’s.
“Ticket sales are doing well. We expect a near-capacity crowd and people should expect a party,” Vishak said.
Skully’s has a 600-person capacity, a manager said.
Gillum is slated to perform with Hoodie Allen (real name Steven Markowitz), with whom he joined forces for their “Excellent Adventure Tour” after they were nominated for the Best Music on Campus Award at the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards.
“Hoodie is a good friend of mine,” Gillum said. “It’s always fun to be on the road with your friends. We both were nominated for the Woodie and after that we kept in touch and eventually decided on the tour.”
Skully’s is scheduled to be the first stop on the “Excellent Adventure Tour,” and Gillum said he’s excited to start the tour in Columbus.
“I’m looking forward to coming to play at Columbus,” Gillum said. “The whole thing is going to be exciting and I can’t wait to get the tour kicked off.”
The show is for ages 18 and up and tickets are priced at $17 in advance or $20 at the door.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction
Correction: Sept. 6, 2012
An earlier version of this story stated that G-Eazy‘s style was similar to a blend of Johnny Cash and Kayne West. It
is Kanye West.
