10 Essential Freddie Gibbs Tracks

Hailing from Gary, Indiana, Freddie Gibbs moved to Los Angeles in 2006 after he signed to Interscope Records. Things didn't work out with Interscope and Gibbs inked a deal with Young Jeezy's CTE label. Things didn't work out there either, but with the help of Madlib, Freddie Gibbs was on the tip of everyone's tongue last year, and founded his own imprint, ESGN.

The collaborative album between Gibbs and Madlib was called Piñata, a classic hip-hop record that sees the unlikely duo pairing up for 17 near-perfect tracks. The album received critical acclaim along with the praise of fans, prompting us to take a look back at Gibbs output and pick 10 essential tracks to vibe out to.

In addition to Madlib, Freddie Gibbs has collaborated with the likes of Young Thug, A$AP Ferg, The Game, Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$, Curren$y, Flume, Statik Selektah and many more. Quite the varied list for an MC, yeah?

Whether you're a fan already or not, skim through these and let us know what you think in the comments section.

When Freddie Gibbs and Madlib teamed up for last year's Piñata, hip-hop fans rejoiced. It wasn't the most likely of pairings, but the result was absolute dynamite, landing the LP on year-end lists around the blogosphere.  

"Deeper" was one of the softer spots on the album, and hears Gibbs talk about having a girl skip out on him while his in the pen. It's a spectacular track that sees a different side of Freddie. 

Crackheads, bad chicks and gangster rap. Not everything is "Deeper" on Piñata, and "Thuggin'" is one of the hardest rap songs in recent memory that doesn't rely on a trap beat.

Madlib flipped the sample mad famous by Styles P, making a totally unique track based off one we all already love. The duo enlists Danny Brown in their ode to Mary Jane. 

This airy cut from Spitta's Covert Coups project features some of the best bars from both of these MCs. Gibbs goes hard and fast on this one with some great lines:

"Reporting live from the devil's palace
Breakfast, had two titties, two blunts and a turkey bacon sandwich"

"Got two zones of soft and some Hen'
I had go pay the correct correctional officer to walk 'em in
Bail money on deck come at my neck
Bless that boy cause that same place him test is where he slept
I issue eternal rest, sign up and be a subscriber
The price of life got so high that I must make sure I stay higher"

"Leave faces with alterations, the closed casket console
Tryna make a million dollars, fuck a million downloads
But if that equal the same, snatch it up and give me my change
I made a lane up in this game so niggas goin’ remember the name"

In December of 2012 Freddie Gibbs left Young Jeezy's CTE label, but the two did their fair share of work together before the split. One of those tracks, "Do It For You," has hip-hop production, clean visuals and solid rhymes from the two rappers.

The opening track from Gibbs' Baby Face Killa project served up a trap beat with the deep-voiced Gibbs blazin' his guns right out the gate. He switches up flows as the song goes on, demonstrating his ability and versatility in a way most gangster rappers can't. 

If you can't hop on a track with a member of the Wu, can we really even take you seriously as an MC?

Gangsa Gibbs and Method Man linked up for a soundtrack cut for RZA's Man With The Iron Fists.

Not everyone understands Young Thug, but this unlikely trio linked up for a bangin' track on "Old English."

Let's loop it back around to the Piñata project, and more specifically this remix that features three NY MCs spitting some bars about basketball. Each rapper takes their stab at Madlib's soulful beat resulting in an essential Freddie Gibbs track.

Taking the title from Master P's classic track, "Bout It Bout It" is the auto-tune laced single from Gibbs and Kirko Bangz. This one still goes.