FREDDIE GIBBS

Now before anyone attempts to call me late on this one, I'd first like everyone to know......I was one of the first people up on (complimentary no homo) Freddie Gibbs. I discovered him myself a little over a year ago while skimming through mixtapes. One in particular caught my eye, borrowing a cover from THEEE most prominent female emcee period. That of course being Lauryn Hill and the album of course being 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.' Gibbs replaced L-boogie's face for that of his own and aptly renamed the title. 'Bold move!' Was my intial reaction. If you're gonna follow one of the greats like that then you best bring the heat.
Maybe it was bad of me to pick up this mixtape based on the cover (we all know the saying). But when your sifting through underground tapes that are all trying to bring something different and be original in their own right, they can often come off as corny looking real unprofessional and cheap. Half the time we only judge the appearance of those trying to make it in to our tape deck (cd/mp3, whatever). I can usually - not always - tell what a rapper's gonna rhyme about and what his overall sound is gonna be, just by looking at his portrait. Therefore when i came across this street wise looking kid I thought why not, i'll give it a spin.

A lot of young cats come in to the game with too much confidence, reminiscent of a young 50 cent entering the game with 'How to Rob,' a track that goes at just about everybody in the industry, even Em! But Freddie manages to pull off both confidence and credibility in way that's totally refreshing. Dropping straight fire over some familiar classic beats. No watered down shit, no Kanye West (post graduation) new-wave bullshit, no college frat crap, just pure uncut street poetry. His genuine, blunt approach to street realities may have been what the market was saturated with back in the 90's, but in 2010 it comes as a much needed change to many Hip Hop heads form all over.
Gibbs brings credibility that resonates that of those few actual gangsters that tried their hand at spitting but where ultimately gangsters not rappers. Yet he also manages to bring a wisdom and knowledge that adds an Ali Vegas/Nas type feel to his raps. Without forcing his rep like say a Juelz or Cam, Gibbs comes witty and smarter than your average hood cat, never over indulged in the streets as would come across ridiculous.

Peep his flow over this Stretch and Bobbito 95' Beat - Ghetto


Flamboyant Freestyle - featured on the Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs Mixtape


Find the latest drops at www.myspace.com/freddiegibbs

Feel free to let me know what you think.