Bred between Grand Rapids MI and Tampa FL, rapper and GMD$ label head Eazy Money presents the Rison Up-directed music video for “Party Till The Cops Come”, the Lolo-produced new single featuring Alabama rapper Jackie Chain. “Party Till The Cops Come” appears on Eazy and Jackie’s forthcoming collaborative EP Dazed And Confused. Committing to music after a three-year prison stint, Eazy Money has since seen his Time Is Money EP featuring Bizarre of D-12 (watch the “Untouchable” music video) hit #9 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart (read), has been interviewed on Vlad TV (watch), and has worked with Grammy-nominated producer Baby Paul. Eazy Money will appear alongside Lil Wyte, Jackie Chain and Jit on the August “Bottom Of The Bottle Tour”, and has confirmed Project Pat, Rappin 4 Tay, Kutt Calhoun, 8 Ball, Boldy James and Yukmouth for his upcoming solo album. “We just wanted to take the vibe of this project away from the normal trapping and hardcore style to something more feelgood,” Eazy says regarding Dazed And Confused.
What are some of the stereotypes you run into as a white rapper and how do you deal with them?
Wigger. I’m trying to be something I’m not, I’m stealing culture. Without even listening to my music people with judge just solely off my appearance, white privilege. I hear a bunch of stuff, but you have to have tough skin in this industry cause they’re gonna love you when you down and out and hate you when you’re on top. It just comes with the territory. The best revenge is success so I just keep striving for better.
You’re from Grand Rapids and lived in Tampa but now live in Los Angeles. How do the cities compare and contrast?
I’m actually from more than that. I was born on an army base. I grew up my teenage and young adult life in Tampa and Zephyrhills, FL. I was young and dumb and got into a lot of trouble as a youth. It was amazing but as far as the music culture I wasn't really into it professionally back then. When I got out of prison in Florida I moved up to Michigan to get a fresh start and because my mother was living up there. Grand Rapids is really where the music started for me on a professional level. It was an awesome city to start in and I had a lot of support but the economy of Michigan was horrible. There weren't tons of opportunities to pursue out there. After I felt like I hit a plateau and couldn't get any further, and also speaking with execs from Universal and other major companies, I decided Los Angeles was a better place to continue my efforts to progress my career. LA is the most beautiful place I think I have ever experienced. The weather is amazing. The opportunities are endless. It really is all I could ever ask for. All three places played an important role in my life to make me the person I am today.
What do you think was the key to getting your EP to #9 on Billboard’s Heatseeker chart?
I was promoting online heavily but knew it would take more than that. I’m a little older so I still believe in the grassroots ideology. I went to a record store in West Los Angeles called Midnight Records and we came up with a marketing/promotion strategy. I paid for a light box above the store to promote the album cover art, and we set up both presale packages as well as a release party. The store reports directly to Soundscan. With the efforts of my online promotion mixed in with the sold-out show for the release party/in store and the presages, we were able to obtain placement on the charts.
What’s an album you played as a youngster more than any growing up? How did it affect you?
As a youngin I was into a variety of music and a lot was from the radio because I didn't have the money to buy CDs, but I most certainly remember getting a bit older and playing a lot of Nas. Both Stillmatic and God’s Son were favorite albums of mine. I also had Freeway's Philadelphia Freeway in rotation too. Lil Wayne's Squad Up mixtape series was also heating up back then and I was getting into that.
What do you think is the one thing people misunderstand the most about you?
The one thing people misunderstand about me the most I would have to say is looks. People are so quick to judge a book by its cover. I’m white with long hair and tattoos and look like I could be in a metal band, but then I have permanent gold teeth in my mouth so it’s like I don't really look like anything else. Although there have been many comparisons to Riff Raff unfortunately and that’s another issue, but I guess in due time as my buzz continues to grow and the more successful I become I’m sure that all those issues will work themselves out.
