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One of the most popular moments of the hip-hop year is the annual release of the polarizing XXL Freshman List. One of the biggest debate topics in all of music, the list is supposed to represent the biggest and most impressive up and coming artists in rap music. The newcomers record freestyle verses and group cyphers, which has become the highlight of the process, especially in the social media era. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the publication’s list, which was headlined by star talents such as Da Baby, Megan The Stallion and YBN Cordae, all of which have been heralded as potential superstars who could help shape hip-hop headed into the next decade. But in speaking of a speaking of a decade, there is a member of the inaugural 2009 XXL Freshmen class who may very well be laying claim to being at the head of the class as far as best rappers in hip-hop are concerned.
Freddie Gibbs, the Gary, Indiana product, has grown into one or hip-hop’s most popular and respected MC’s over the course of a few years. His social media and internet prescence has made him one of the most entertaining people to watch in general, and at times it can often make people forget just how good he is at rhyming. He has a catalog that rivals many of his contemporaries and is considered one of the underground legends from his success in the mixtape era. His Baby Face Killa project is a gem from the datpiff.com era. Cold Day in Hell is a very early glimpse into the mind of a young Freddie and how thoughtful he is in terms of beat selection and how he mixes it with his dark rhymes and unique voice. That sound transitioned into solid albums such as the Empire label releases Shadow of a Doubt and You Only Live 2wice, which dropped in 2015 and 2017 respectively. Gibbs would become a mainstream favorite in 2018 with his two of his most heavily anticipated and promoted projects to date. The first release, a 10 track and 25 minute LP titled Freddie, displayed the cocaine rap extraordinarie at his most intense and straightforward as he rapped over an array of trap beats. The album featured an amazing rollout, with Gibbs paying homage to the late R&B/Soul legend Teddy Pendergrass. His second album within the same year would be the ultimate dream for a true underground hip-hip fan, as he would team up with the legendary MC Curren$y and super producer The Alchemist for the collaborative album Fetti. The reception and success from those projects elevated Freddie Gibbs into top tier conversation, which many fans would tell you was a long time coming.
But for all the acclaim and overdue accolades being laid at the 37 year old rapper’s feet, there was one project that has always been the standard by which all of his projects are judged. In 2014, Gibbs would team up with legendary producer Madlib for one of the most unique and distinctive collaborative albums of this generation in Piñata. The duo, known as MadGibbs, had previously released two short EPs together, but nothing could compare to the 17 track journey into the mind of a the conscious drug dealing hustler. With Madlib’s unique ear for jazz and soul samples, he was able to find music that perfectly matched the street storytelling that Freddie Gibbs has made his calling card. The album featured rap legends such as Raekwon and Scarface as well as relative newcomers Action Bronson, Ab-Soul and Danny Brown. For the past 5 years, it’s been heralded as one of the best rap projects of the decade, and a classic album to top it off. In the years since Piñata, fans have begged the MadGibbs duo to release a sequel to the album. While continuing to do their own work, the two always remained open to a follow up project and began teasing music eventually. This year, the long wait would end, and fans of the duo and hip-hop in general would be given all they could ask for.
On June 28, 2019, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib would release their highly anticipated sophomore album in the form of a 15 track LP titled Bandana. And if Piñata was the official introduction of Gibbs to mainstream hip-hop audiences, Bandana is declaration that there is a new artist to consider in every “Top 5 Rapper today” conversation. From the beginning of the project, there isn’t a breath, line or song wasted as Freddie applies pressure to the rap game.
“I want it all n*gga, all of it” resonates the opening track Freestyle S**t begins and he calmly tells the story of his come up over Madlib’s smooth horns and bass sample. It’s a tone setter, as Gibbs sounds so confident in his lyrics that it almost comes off as arrogant, and maybe rightfully so. That calm tone goes away quick on the following track Half Manne Half Cocaine, where he flexes his lifestyle and street connections over a beat that switches along with his tone. It’s almost two tracks in one, and will have the listener already in awe just 6 minutes into the album. For most of the album, Freddie raps exceptionally on his own. His lyricism doesn’t waiver regardless of the subject matter or approach. He demands his respect for the legacy he’s built and the hardships he survived on Situations. He reflects on the mistakes he’s made and how he’s grown from those decisions on the emotionally driven and introspective Practice. Cataracts rehashes old exploits and explains the thinking about the rationale behind crime. Flat Tummy Tea takes a popular trend a flips it into a racially chafed track speaking on his perception on race today and how an image like his plays a role in that perception. He also claims the title of top 5 rapper alive. In a clear album standout, the soulful Crime Pays is a recap of some real life situations involving current and former friends, and takes aim at long time rival Jeezy, marking a highlight moment of the album.
Though the features on the album are few and far between, they stand as some of the best moments of the album. Education is an appropriate title, as hip-hop icons Yasiin Bey (also known as Mos Def) and Black Thought teach their peers about what real lyricism is, both dropping gems about freedom and how it applies to them. Freddie joins in with his signature drug dealer chic lyrics, letting everyone know that he’s never too far removed from the life he once lived. Once again Madlib stands on his own, with a sample flip that is tailor made for hip-hop royalty, and the trio do it justice. The album single, Giannis, is simply Freddie Gibbs at his best, displaying his ease in making drug innuendo and versatility in rapping over any type of production as he trades verses about the dealer’s lifestyle with hip-hop/R&B superstar Anderson .Paak in one of the best moments of the album. The quintessential MadGibbs track can be found in perhaps the most unique tracks one will ever hear about drug dealing. In a drug rap fan’s dream pairing, Freddie matches verses with the king of coke bars in Pusha-T for the street conscious Palmolive. As the two recap their infamous dealer exploits, they make references to the political climate, comparing the current campaign in the United States to the notorious days of the crack epidemic during the term of President Ronald Regan. The track is powerful because it displays the mindset of men who were heavily involved in the lifestyle that claimed many victims on every side; a lifestyle not based on winning, but on a survival. A Killer Mike chorus serves as a warning to the black man involved in that lifestyle as there aren’t many happy endings in that path.
Freddie Gibbs has found himself in a position that many artists never get to experience. Although it’s a subjective topic, being considered a top artist in hip-hop music comes with an elevated level of respect that can establish the difference between good and great. He no longer can claim the underground lane, as this amazing with Madlib has shifted many hip-hop conversations to just how many rappers are actually better than Freddie Gibbs. With an album of the year candidate in Bandana under his belt, he doesn’t have many names ahead of him, and the gap is closing quickly. Well done, Gangsta Gibbs.
Top 5 Songs:
1. Freestyle Sh**t
2. Cataracts
3. Half Manne Half Cocaine
4. Crime Pays
5. Flat Tummy Tea