Early last year, Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs returned with his third solo studio album, You Only Live 2wice, following a lengthy legal trial. The focused, concise release was his shortest full-length, written from behind bars in Austria. The accomplished record came not long after he was acquitted of all charges, and it came across as something of a celebratory release. Now, he's back with another project, the bare bones Freddie.
Focusing almost entirely on his own talents outside of two tracks, one featuring 03 Greedo, Freddie is an excellent reminder of what Gibbs is capable of. It's straight-to-the-point rap music, emphasizing his immersive and vivid storytelling with impeccable flows. It's a great surprise, especially considering how quiet he's been ever since the release of You Only Live 2wice.
To coincide with the surprise release of the mixtape, Gibbs also shared a tongue-in-cheek infomercial. It's clear he's having a lot of fun in the the little sketch, which he dropped hours before the tape.
In 2016, Gibbs was acquitted of a sexual assault charge. Arrested in France as a suspect in a rape that allegedly took place in Austria, Gibbs has made it clear the allegations surrounding him were unsubstantiated.
