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G-Eazy talks about collaboration with Britney Spears

Rapper G-Eazy has been shaking up the music industry with a string of catchy hits. 

The Bay Area-born rapper and producer began making songs nearly eight years ago as a college student. These days, he’s busy working with some of the biggest names in music, most recently with pop icon Britney Spears on the song “Make Me.”

He spoke to CBS News about his journey and what it was like working with Spears on her comeback single. 

You have been around for quite some time now, but this past year has really been a breakout year for you. What has it been like, experiencing it from your perspective?

Oh man. It’s really been a strange year. Everything is different and everything is the same at the same time. I mean I am still with the same people I started out with. I am still doing the same thing I’ve done every single day, you know, for the past five to 10 years, it’s just working for the first time. There are a lot of people today who are following my music and care about it, so I feel blessed. 

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G-Eazy performs on stage at the Bud Light Party Convention at PlayStation Theater on August 27, 2016 in New York City.  Brad Barket, Getty Images for Bud Light

The industry has changed so much since you were starting out. What do you think about where it is at today?

It’s an interesting time because I feel like the power is in the hands of the fans. It’s on the people to dictate what is relevant and what is moving. It’s not the powers that be, it’s not about the labels, the companies or the radio stations, it’s just about the human beings that the music is about in the first place. 

You worked with Britney Spears on her huge comeback single, can you tell us how it came about?

Yeah. I mean, we were on tour in Australia and at first I thought it was a scam. But I was totally humbled and honored that they would even reach out and ask me to do a feature on her single. I was really excited at the same time and you just have to rise to the occasion. When we were in Australia we asked around to find out where we could get a studio and I cut it on the spot and I tried to write it as a conversation between me and her. What she did with the record felt really good. 

There was a lot of talk surrounding your song with YG about Donald Trump. How did that come about and did you expect the sort of reaction it got?

I thought everybody unanimously hated this man. I don’t know anyone who was like go Trump I was surprised. When I was reading the comments online -- people were mad at me and I was confused. When YG put it out, I said thank you for making that song and that some things really needed to be said. And he told me he was doing a remix and I was like, “Say no more.” It was me voicing my opinion on it. I actually like performing it. 

What made you want to be a part of the Bud Light Party Convention?

We’ve done a few things with Bud Light and one thing I appreciate as a person and a fan of music is that they always bring people together. Being in a position to bring people together like we do is a beautiful thing. 

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