Freddie Gibbs is legitimately one of the best rappers around right now. Wait, who? That's right, Freddie Gibbs: one of the most underrated artists in hip-hop. Gibbs hasn't seen much in the way of mainstream success, nor is he recognized in the underground the way someone like Talib Kweli is - yet he consistently puts out projects better than 95 percent of the hip-hop out there. So why have the vast majority of people never heard of him? How does a rapper with one of the best flows in the game and massive street appeal not cross into the mainstream?
First things first: Gibbs isn't for everyone. If you're not looking for head-nodding beats, crushing bass and that thug mentality, "Gangsta" Gibbs will probably not hold much appeal for you. That being said, for anyone who can appreciate hard raps, Gibbs serves up the kind of music that will make you want to tear down walls and smash things with a baseball bat. In short, his music is the polar opposite of Drake's songs.
Hailing from Gary, Indiana (25 miles outside of Chicago), Gibbs captures the essence of hood life in every aspect of his music. Take the jam "Eastside Moonwalker" off of his latest project, "ESGN." The beat layers banging percussive drums and an ill piano sample with syrup-soaked synth work that drives the song's progression. Gibbs then proceeds to rap the hip-hop equivalent of a "Scarface" (1983) story, rhyming, "Steady praying that the yayo keep clocking / keep a strap cuz the jackboys keep robbing." But what really separates this song - and the rest of Gibbs' work - from the hundreds of other street rappers is his flow. He finds intricacies within a beat better than anyone else. The result is a smooth and diverse rhythm that never falters. The man can murder a beat in single-time, but when he fast-raps in double or even triple-time he proves that he deserves a spot among rap's elite. It's like mixing Big Pun with 50 Cent and Twista. I can say with confidence that Gibbs lays claim to the title of best flow in the game.
Aside from his rhyming, one of Gibbs' greatest traits is his consistency. With an impressively large catalog (13 projects since 2009), one would expect a degree of creative burnout. But, with few exceptions, every Gibbs album or tape is outstanding. There are easily six or seven projects that I could talk about in this column, but with space (and attention) limits as they are, I'm forced to focus on just one. "ESGN," as I mentioned earlier, is Gibbs' most recent album and is also one of his best. The album features plenty of trademark Gibbs bangers, from "Lay it Down" and "D.O.A." to "9Mm." "ESGN" represents a marked step forward in production, which allows Gibbs to do even more with rhymes and flows. However, it's the songs that break from this formula that best exemplify Gibbs' growth as an emcee. "Color Purple" and "Lose Control (Ft. BJ the Chicago Kid)" are slower, R&B influenced tracks that showcase the full depth and diversity of Gibbs' talent. If "ESGN" has you fiending for more Gibbs, I recommend looking back through his catalog, specifically at the albums "Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik" (2009) and "Baby Face Killa" (2012).
By now, I think we should all understand that talent doesn't always correlate with success. And yet it still baffles me how few people have heard of Freddie Gibbs. He's a mainstream sound with underground appeal. His music can be played at a party, while driving or while just letting off some stress. So if you are reading this, and happen to be looking for some new tunes, do me a favor and give Gibbs a listen.
Ryan Buell is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. He can be reached at Ryan.Buell@tufts.edu.
