G-Eazy Teams with Ty Dolla $ign's Label and EMPIRE for New Independent Era
G-Eazy has announced a joint partnership with Ty Dolla $ign's EZMNY Records and EMPIRE after a decade on RCA. He says the deal is about bringing his career home to the West Coast and prioritizing creativity. The rapper emphasized the importance of working with friends in the industry.
G-Eazy's move follows a decade and six studio albums released through RCA Records, marking a significant shift toward independent distribution. The partnership unites his Bad Habit imprint with EZMNY Records, co-founded by Ty Dolla $ign and Shawn Barron, alongside the San Francisco-based distributor EMPIRE. EMPIRE's COO noted that G-Eazy had already collaborated with and supported the label's artists for years, including taking them on tour, which made the formal partnership a natural extension of an existing relationship.
The announcement was accompanied by a celebration between G-Eazy and Ty Dolla $ign, though details of that event were cut off in the article. The rapper framed the deal as a return to his regional roots, repeatedly emphasizing the value of longtime friendships in an industry he described as lacking genuine connections.
This partnership may signal a broader trend of established artists leaving major labels for independent structures that offer greater creative control and profit sharing. It could inspire other mid-career musicians to reconsider their label relationships, particularly those seeking regional identity and collaborative freedom. Fans may benefit from more authentic output, while the industry could see increased competition between traditional majors and nimble independents. The deal also highlights how personal relationships increasingly drive business decisions in entertainment.