The Outsider

Released in March 2011, The Outsider samples a wide range of artists, particularly but not limited to those prevalent around the time of the mixtape’s release.

G’s image and music is very much infused with that of the 1950’s and 1960’s – the era of the Greasers. Dark slicked-back hair, leather jackets and jeans was the popular fashion – a very similar style to Gerald’s present-day one.

The mixtape title is a possible reference to S. E. Hinton’s 1967 coming-of-age novel “The Outsiders”, which was adapted into a film of the same name under Francis Ford Coppola’s direction. The story follows the life of Ponyboy Curtis, a young, socioeconomically disadvantaged Greaser boy living in Oklahoma. The events of the text draw some parallels to G’s own life, for example, growing up poor and trouble with the authorities:

Making more than my parents did
That ain’t saying much but it’s still a mindfuck
From “Must Be Nice”.

I was in juvie, never giving fucks, acting unruly
Being away from making music, I understood it then truly
From “Running”.

In addition, the album artwork displays Gerald with a hairstyle quite common to Greaser culture. It may be an imitation of Banksy’s graffiti style, which Gerald has nodded towards in multiple songs, most notably “Runaround Sue” from his Endless Summer mixtape:

Put her on the streets like a Banksy

The mixtape features songs largely concerning weed smoking and various love intrests, but also Gerald’s musical grind among other topics.