G-Eazy, “These Things Happen Too.”

Everyone has regrets, and G-Eazy holds his share. His fourth LP, These Things Happen Too, finds G-Eazy having to grapple with the fallout of his failed relationships, the toll that drug abuse has taken on him artistically and personally, as well as the self-doubt that he’s been white-knuckling.

A common criticism lobbed at G-Eazy is his tendency to rap only about drugs, girls and wealth, which isn’t uncommon of rappers and rock stars across the board. Regardless, while he’s making clear efforts to reflect on this album—which references 2014’s These Things Happen—the Bay Area artist doesn’t do himself too many favors in shedding the playboy/womanizer persona. There are many songs on the 19-track album that fit this criticism.

The title track opens the album with playful rising and descending synths accompanied by a soft piano before transitioning into a harder, bass-and-snare joint. G-Eazy weighs how his success as an artist has affected his relationships and even goes on to address his relationship with ex Halsey, who called him out publicly for frequently cheating on her. He doesn’t deny the claims or even try to argue, but offers a shrug and concedes he can’t blame her for how she feels. While honest, it still feels kind of sleazy in its addressing of the issue. He doesn’t win any relationship points here.

Lil Wayne croons with Auto-Tuned vocals over horns on “When You’re Gone,” as the two reflect on their status as rap icons. Its followed by “Instructions” with YG, where both MCs boast about how often they get around. “Wanna Be Myself” examines G-Eazy’s feelings of emptiness and how he’s masked them with drugs, concerts and luxuries. The muffled piano underscores the weight of it all on his soul, particularly on the second verse, where he reflects on the passing of friend Mac Miller.

G-Eazy continues to build on personal themes with “I, Me, Myself,” where he talks about his rise in the Bay and his connection with his younger brother. “Now, Later, Next” delivers the requisite hyphy track, with ShooterGang Kody on the hook and E-40 belting out ad-libs throughout. We then get a playful homage to “Going The Distance,” the classic by Sacramento band CAKE. G-Eazy borrows the hook  on this bass-heavy track with skittering snares.

“Breakdown,” with Demi Lovato, really packs a punch. G-Eazy reflects on the toxic relationship between artists and the audience, particularly with how listeners seem to feed on the public breakdowns of musicians and often make those breakdowns worse. Both artists making headlines for what’s, frankly, their personal business yet has led to mass scrutinization.

“Wicked Game” may not sit right with fans of Chris Isaak’s ’80s classic, as G-Eazy covers the song’s first two verses with thumping, reverberated bass. It sounds like something Imagine Dragons would probably do. “No More” features Ty Dolla $ign on the chorus. A light acoustic guitar melody plays on as G-Eazy airs out grievances about an ex-girlfriend who he found disingenuous. He follows it up with “Running Wild (Tumblr Girls 2)” where he reveals how drawn he is to turbulent relationships that are destined to fail.

These Things Happen Too concludes strongly with its final two tracks. “Time,” featuring Matthew Shultz, sees G-Eazy writing a letter to deceased loved ones, informing them on what has transpired in the last few years since he last saw them. The first verse is dedicated to his mother’s girlfriend’ who passed away when G-Eazy was 12. The second verse addressed to Mac Miller. It’s a deeply touching cut. Closer “Gerald” serves as an examination of how G-Eazy is perceived by those around him. It opens with a verse regarding his friends and family seeing him as the hometown hero who made it; the second from the perspective of fans who may not understand his inner struggles, and lastly the perception of his colleagues, who see him as a paycheck.

While These Things Happen Too delivers plenty of songs that perpetuate the “player” criticisms lobbed at G-Eazy (like “Origami,” “Solar Eclipse” and “Bad Bad News!”) there’s plenty of substance to be found as well. The deeper self-examination and honesty of tracks like “Time,” “Gerald” and “Breakdown” highlight the rapper’s artistic strengths.

Follow editor Tim Hoffman at Twitter.com/hipsterp0tamus.