KarenCivil.com

Point blank, Freddie Gibbs is that dude. There’s really no other way to describe the guy. It’s a certain honesty and authenticity with his music that hasn’t been seen in years. He’s 200% street, but mixed with a lyrical prowess and storytelling ability that separates him from the rest of the field.

“I’m just tryin’ to create some fresh shit.”

That’s what he told me recently in regards to the movement he’s created and will continue to build for himself. Fresh may go down as an understatement, however. Finding a place on XXL’s Freshman list was a great look, but finding out he’s got an entire EP coming out with Alchemist may have been the best Gibbs-related news all year. It’s not rocket science that Alc is a wizard behind the boards, especially when working extensively with one artist (see Prodigy). Fred’s new school tales combined with the mad scientist’s sickest mental creations means The Devil’s Palace may be the one time going to hell is a good thing.

“It’s just a no-brainer,” Gibbs said of linking up with Al. “We’ve worked together before and he’s one of my favorite producers. I just wanna show people what I could do to his beats for a whole project and keep them entertained. We definitely selling that one.”

And I’ll definitely be buying that one. About the song though. If you’ve been around Hip-Hop for some time, you’ll recognize the beat. Milkbone originated it, but Big L and Jay-Z made it famous. It takes confidence to hop over a beat like this knowing how high the bar has already been set. I’m not into the ranking things seeing as how I have years of knowledge of the L/Jay version and only a day with Gibbs’s. I will tell you this though – listen to the lyrics and you’ll see why so much praise is being lofted his way. It’s not hard to tell the difference between when a person is rapping other people’s lives as opposed to stuff they’ve actually been through. “The Ghetto” is a testament to the latter. When I was living in Chicago, I’d drive through Gary, but never actually stay. Good thing too, it’s nothing nice over there and in just about three and and a half minutes, Freddie will tell you why.

DL: Freddie Gibbs – “The Ghetto” (will be on Str8 Killa No Filla)