Jimmy Ness has judged several semi-professional Twerk competitions. Gangsta Gibbs is on a roll. The ex-train robber once dropped from Interscope has since carved a niche for those who prefer gritty street tales over label-endorsed lollipop guild rap. The Baby Face Killa has recorded an album, three EPs and at least a dozen collaborations within […]

This is a song called “Kush Cloud” by Freddie Gibbs, Krayzie Bone, and Spaceghost Purrp. There are allusions to “Mo Murda,” “Look Into My Eyes,” and “Thug Luv.” If you’ll excuse me I’m going to get high at 10:21 in the morning,  load this on my iPod, and play this 666 times throughout the remainder […]

A few weeks ago on Twitter, someone asked me if they thought that Gangsta Gibbs was underrated. I didn’t know how to answer the question. In this minor vortex of the Internet, it goes without saying that Freddie Gibbs is one of the best doing it right now and well on his way to being […]

You read that title right. Rejoice. The first single from The Man With the Iron Fists soundtrack. Last week, I interviewed the RZA about the film and asked him about the difficulties inherent in fusing together his audio and visual aesthetics into a coherent narrative that made sense on the big-screen. He responded: “It’s a […]

Down in Houston, Deen is bout it, bout it. Freddie Gibbs and Kirko Bangz? Interesting and unexpected. But there was something about this combo that initially gave me pause. It’s like — to quote the most quotable rapper ever — “mixing vodka and milk.” *  After all, Freddie Gibbs is an unabashed gangsta rapper (versatile […]

This is all Deen knows. Well, that and Tort laws. New day, new Gibbs. What? You thought this song was here for any other reason? It’s pretty solid with or without Freddie aka “Mr. Mush-A-Loud-Mouf-Ho-Out-The-Apartment” Gibbs, but the Gangsta is the star attraction on this smooth cut. This time he runs the gamut from his […]

The greatest rappers sound great over any beat. Freddie Gibbs could rap well over a spam voice recording trying to enlist you into a class action lawsuit for asbestos. Though Smokey Gibbs, the Dog, may be the uncredited star of the video. See Also: MobbDeen: Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Shame EP

Evan Nabavian is a pioneer in trap-step. We make all manner of excuses, some more valid than others, for rappers without technical skill. French Montana’s ear for melody, Waka’s energy, and Jeezy’s Trapability® are all counterweights to the argument that a rapper, or to use a more lofty title, an MC, is one whose motherfucking […]

Deen has no shame. The latest salvo from Gibbs & Madlib ensures their batting average stays at a thousand. I’m far from surprised, but you know what they say about the best laid plans and all. Madlib provides the soulful soundscape (are we still required to reference RZA, ‘The Blueprint’, Kanye, Just Blaze and Bink […]

One of the first times in which Gibbs pays any mind to contemporary rap trends, while sounding at home over a minimal menacing West Coast riff a la DJ Mustard. As Gotty pointed out, with a clean edit, this could conceivably be a radio hit. Of course, that would require payment to “radio promoters” and […]