Artist: Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Album: Alfredo

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Background

Freddie Gibbs is a veteran hip-hop artist signed to Warner Records known for his sharp flow, versatility and charisma. Born in Gary, Indiana, he found himself in the streets early, selling marijuana at a young age and progressively adding cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs to his catalog. In high school, he was an all-conference wide receiver and safety, and earned himself an athletic scholarship to play football at Ball State University. However, using what little information I could find on the topic, it seems after a year he was expelled, as Gibbs says he “didn’t go to class and shit,” and he focused on pursuing a rap career after this.

Gibbs released over a dozen mixtapes between 2004 and 2012, leading up to the release of his debut album, ESGN. Gibbs really broke out in the hip-hop scene in 2014 following the release of his critically acclaimed collaboration with legendary producer Madlib, Pinata. The record is now considered one of the best hip-hop records of the 2010s. Since then, he has dropped a handful of well received albums, including Shadow of a Doubt in 2015 and Bandana, the sequel to Pinata, with Madlib in 2019.

The Alchemist has been a staple of the hip-hop community for around 15 years, first coming onto the scene in the early ‘90s as one half of the rap duo The Whooliganz. His production work became noticed as he worked with Dilated Peoples and Mobb Deep later into the decade. He has worked with a laundry list of high profile artists such as Nas, Eminem, The LOX, Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt and ScHoolboy Q. In 2018, The Alchemist teamed up with Gibbs and Curren$y to release the highly anticipated Fetti, which marked Gibbs’ first collaboration with The Alchemist on his own music (he had appeared on a small number of Alchemist-produced songs as a feature before this).

Review

Alfredo opens up with 1985, an intro track that is appropriately backed by a very triumphant sounding electric guitar riff – reflecting his position in the game hot off the release of Bandana – and classic Gibbs content; guns and cocaine. This track transitions into God is Perfect, quickly switching from his victorious braggadocio into one of the stickiest (and one of the only, for that matter) hooks on the record.

Track 3, Scottie Beam, was released at a critical moment in 2020, considering the subject matter. The song, which features a very powerful verse from Gibbs centered on the topic of police brutality, was released just days after the murder of George Floyd and the beginning of the intense period of protesting and activism that followed. The phrase “The revolution is the genocide, your execution will be televised” is repeated in variation on the track, referring to the number of police brutality cases going viral in media with no end in sight. Gibbs’ verse is one of the most memorable of the project.

He pulled me over, I asked him “Yo, what’s the problem, sir?

I swerved to duck the potholes, man, I had no option, sir

Just let me go, cause my license, insurance proper, sir

I’d hate to be on the run for smokin’ a officer”

This quote, while not particularly complicated, showcases Gibbs’ charisma and presence on vocals, very casually threatening to off an officer that has racially profiled him. Rick Ross also appears on the song, and although it doesn’t really go along with Gibbs’ verse, it is still another solid Rick Ross feature. At the end of his verse, he has a particularly chilling quote about the deaths of Kobe and Gigi Bryant, wondering if he’s next.

Look at Me is a very atmospheric song where Gibbs drops a quick verse and hook, telling the listener to “look at me, motherfucker.” He flexes his cars and women in a power move over a very light beat. A signature Alchemist skit then flips us from a very calm song into the darkest track on the album, Frank Lucas. An appropriately named track, Gibbs and Griselda’s Benny the Butcher, two of today’s best coke rappers, both drop very strong verses over a very grimy beat that sticks out among the many lavish and luxurious beats it is surrounded by. However, strong transitions from The Alchemist make this switch up fit like a glove, and it doesn’t sound out of place.

On Something to Rap About, Freddie Gibbs links up with Tyler, The Creator in one of his very few guest verses since the release of his critically acclaimed and Grammy Nominated-album IGOR. The song has Gibbs and Tyler rap about their recent accomplishments in different lights. The song almost feels like it has a light side and a dark side to it that flips in the middle, as The Alchemist subtly but masterfully ups the pitch of the track’s sample just as Tyler’s verse is beginning. Gibbs talks about the finer things that crime and crack helped pay the way for, while Tyler brags about fashion and vacationing while addressing his haters.

I just got a thumbs up and niggas go like “Good job”

You better find a shoe store and get your sole, get it quick, slip it on

And I’ll be in Mykonos, lemonade, sippin’ slow

Jumpin’ in the water off that boat I haven’t bought yet

Tyler follows up his shots towards those that waste their time hating on his success by also calling out the yes men in his life, telling them to find a soul in a double entendre and tying it off by bringing it back to the boat he mentions in the beginning of the track. This song leads into Baby $hit, which, despite the name, is a track dedicated to his success with women, while clarifying that he doesn’t have time to wife a bitch because he’s cleaning up his son’s shit.

The track Babies & Fools finds Gibbs linking up with Griselda once again in a very personal collaboration with Conway the Machine. The two rappers lay down a trio of verses each over a very laid back sample of Christian group Andrus, Blackwood & Company’s All of Me, following a theme of imperfection despite everything they’ve accomplished and who they are. Gibbs and Conway come off as very honest on this song, both reflecting on their come up and successes, saying they gave their all for the streets, the hood, and, of course, mama, but making it known they aren’t perfect. Conway, in particular, shares his shortcomings as a father in his second verse.

My baby mama cut me off, she had enough of my shit

I’ll CashApp stacks every now and then like that’s enough

She like “At least FaceTime, your babies don’t see your ass enough”

Plus, my older son is failin’ math, that shit ain’t addin’ up

His next verse after this goes right back to his street cred, reminding the listener what he has done for his crew and what he’d do for them if an enemy ever crossed the line, staying true to the song’s message.

The album closes out with Skinny Suge and All Glass. Skinny Suge gives us one last drop of a vulnerable Freddie Gibbs before the end of the tape. The instrumental is very somber and stripped back, with a heavy bass and light snare keeping tempo over ambience and an ominous guitar sample. Gibbs takes the time to look back on the losses he’s taken on the come up, revisiting his label troubles early in his career and the dark side of the drug game. Some of the most striking lyrics of the project are on this track, particularly when Gibbs touches on his uncle’s passing.

Man, my uncle died off a overdose

And the fucked up part about that is I know I supplied the nigga that sold it

Put a pistol to my head, I was way too scared, drunk off emotions

I’m drinkin’ and takin’ these drugs cause I can’t numb the pain with smokin’

The song ends with a prayer to Allah, with Gibbs asking his Lord to protect him from the things out of his control while he lives by the street code. All Glass is the album’s finale, ending the album with a fearful, murder-full reminder that Gibbs is a powerful man who is not to be messed with.

Final Thoughts

I don’t believe this is anything close to a hot take, but this album is definitely in contention for the best album of 2020 in my eyes. It seems at times that Gibbs can work with any producer if he tries, but it still feels like this was an artist and producer combo destined for eachother. I’m more partial to Bandana over this project, but I still think this is a top of the line album that should not be missed. The features are all on point as well, especially Tyler and Conway, and I think this is an essential album for the “Old-school revival” currently happening.

Since I’ve already included lyrics as a part of my review, I’ll consider this a personal section and list some highlights for me as well as my favorite tracks.

Favorite Songs

1. Babies & Fools

2. Something to Rap About

3. Frank Lucas

4. God is Perfect

5. Scottie Beam

Favorite Lyrics

Geekers beamin’ up to Scotty in my crack lobby, I can smell the caine burnin’

Gangland, if you put a hit on Freddie Kane, it’ll be a gang murder

1985 Michael Jordan, bitch, I travel with a cocaine circus

Flow God level like when Hov speak, I make a song weep, I got the game hurtin’

Freddie Gibbs on 1985

Scammin’ niggas maxin’ out, ratchet bitches actin’ out

God made me sell crack so I’d have somethin’ to rap about

Lobster lollipops and crustaceans, ho, what you mad about?

I fucked her twice in Vegas, that pussy wasn’t shit to brag about

Freddie Gibbs on Something to Rap About

Right back in the trap, these niggas bringin’ out the old me

I’m tryna live to 93 to see the old me

Freddie Gibbs on Something to Rap About

I cut some niggas off on some hater shit niggas said to me

R.I.P. tees cause these motherfuckers is dead to me

Nail is in the coffin, murder, murder

I’m sick of y’all niggas, and I ain’t coughin’, I know me

Y’all often anxious, lost in y’all thoughts and I don’t relate

So keep that energy away from me

Don’t blame me cause you ain’t got it figured out, you ain’t got the bigger house

The jig is up, you jealous, dawg, my afro long, I’ll pick it out

Tyler, The Creator on Something to Rap About

Get that white and I beat it up like I’m Mike

Jumper broke, man, a nigga can’t be like Mike

Freddie Gibbs on Baby $hit

Cougar pussy, I fuck a rich nigga wife

Doja Cat let me hit from the byke-byke

Freddie Gibbs on Baby $hit

Dumb high, Marty McFly, put down the crack, bet on myself

Like I went back to the future with a rap almanac

Freddie Gibbs on Skinny Suge

Discussion Questions

• Do you prefer Freddie Gibbs over this style of production or over modern trap beats, such as on the album Freddie?

• Do you think this album deserves to win the Grammy Award for Rap Album of the Year?

• Where does this album rank among The Alchemist’s other 2020 collaborations (LULU with Conway the Machine & The Prince of Tea in China with Boldy James)?

• How does this album compare to Bandana?

• With producer collaboration projects seemingly becoming more common as of late, what other producers would you like to see Freddie Gibbs work with? On the flip side, what artists do you think The Alchemist should look to make a project with?