Eazy (song)

Last updated

These corpses of skinned animals had nothing of life left in them, not even the most tiny speck or hint of their former beauty, majesty and purpose. However, they were not inhabited by death in the way they had been by life. Once the life had gone, they were just bags of barely held together of [ sic ] flesh, bone and sinew. Nothing left, except their smell; they stank. They reeked. Every time, for years afterwards when I looked at the 10 by 8 transparencies, the stench came straight back to me as pungent as if each image was saturated with it. That, I concluded was death. [7]

Animal rights organization PETA commented on the cover, saying that it is "reminiscent of monkeys PETA has found" and that "when you remove the fur, you can't miss that there's a person in there, that they are fellow primates, and do not belong to us to abuse for any purpose". [9]

Music videos

The first music video for "Eazy" premiered via Instagram on March 2, 2022. The video is half claymation and half live action. It was heavily criticized upon release, as it depicts West kidnapping and burying alive Pete Davidson. [10] [11] Davidson is implied to be decapitated, as West holds a disembodied head throughout the live action segments. [12] In response to the controversy, West posted on Instagram that "Art is not a proxy for any ill or harm, Any suggestion otherwise about my art is false and mal intended." [13]

On March 9, a second music video with CGI-animated visuals was released, in which the skinned monkey from the "Eazy" cover art is depicted beating a 3D model of Davidson, whose face is blurred out. [14] [15]

Credits

Charts

"Eazy"
Kanye West and The Game - Eazy Cover Art.jpg
Single by The Game and Kanye West
from the album Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind and Donda 2 (Stem Player version)
ReleasedJanuary 15, 2022
RecordedJanuary 2022
Genre Progressive rap
Length3:54
Label 100 Entertainment
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Game singles chronology
"Welcome to LA (Remix)"
(2022)
"Eazy"
(2022)
"Stupid"
(2022)
Kanye West singles chronology
"Believe What I Say" / "Off the Grid"
(2021)
"Eazy"
(2022)
"City of Gods"
(2022)
Chart performance for "Eazy"
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [16] 35
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [17] 35
Iceland (Tónlistinn) [18] 11
Ireland (IRMA) [19] 20
Lithuania (AGATA) [20] 59
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [21] 35
South Africa (TOSAC) [22] 13
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [23] 86
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [24] 63
UK Singles (OCC) [25] 32
UK Indie (OCC) [26] 3
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [27] 13
US Billboard Hot 100 [28] 49
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [29] 13

References

  1. Martinez, Jose (January 13, 2022). "Kanye West Says He's Ready to Release New Track While on Call With DJ Premier". Complex. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. Moore, Sam (January 13, 2022). "Kanye West says he's planning to release a new song with Pusha T, The Game and DJ Premier". NME. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  3. Cowen, Trace William (January 15, 2022). "Kanye West and The Game Drop New Song "Eazy"". Complex. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  4. Minkser, Evan (January 15, 2022). "Kanye West and the Game Shared New Song "Eazy": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Darville, Jordan (January 14, 2022). "Kanye West shares Instagram post of skinned monkey, stoking new music speculation". The Fader. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  6. Peake, Amber (January 14, 2022). "Who is Nick Knight? Ye's skinned monkey pic linked to photographer". The Focus. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Knight, Nick (August 10, 2013). "DAY 2: WAR". SHOWstudio. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  8. Leung, Ambrose (January 15, 2022). "PETA Is Not Too Happy With Ye's Use of a Skinned Monkey for Upcoming Track". Hypebeast. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  9. Mamo, Heran (January 14, 2022). "PETA Slams Ye & The Game's Use of Skinned Monkey Photo to Promote Song: They 'Do Not Belong to Us to Abuse'". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  10. "Kanye West Kills and Buries Pete Davidson in 'Eazy' Video". Rap-Up. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  11. Kaufman, Gil (2022-03-03). "'Disturbing' Kanye West 'Eazy' Video With Claymation Burial of Pete Davidson Draws Harsh Backlash: 'This Is Beyond Bullying'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  12. Yasharoff, Hannah. "Ye defends disturbing 'Eazy' music video that shows him kidnapping, burying Pete Davidson alive". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  13. Snapes, Laura (March 7, 2022). "Kanye West addresses backlash over 'burial' of Pete Davidson". The Guardian.
  14. Mier, Tomás (2022-03-10). "Kanye West Still Isn't Tired of Attacking Pete Davidson in Animated 'Eazy' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  15. X (2022-03-10). "What backlash? Kanye West is back to beating up an animated Pete Davidson in new video". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  16. "The Game Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  17. "The Game Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  18. "Tónlistinn – Lög - Vika 3, 2022" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  19. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  20. "2022 3-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  21. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  22. "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 03-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  23. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 3". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  24. "The Game & Kanye West – Easy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  26. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  27. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  28. "The Game Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  29. "The Game Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2022.