For an artist who raps so vividly about the toll that time and regret can take on a person, Freddie Gibbs is remarkably refreshed. Despite his nearly two decades in the game—over which he’s racked up the adoration of critics, unwavering respect from his peer, and a Grammy nomination—Gibbs is just now making his debut as a major-label solo artist. The project takes a firm stance on what the powers that be can and cannot take from him: $oul $old $eparately. As a whole, it weaves heartache and celebration, agitation and gratitude in a way that would be surprising for many artists, but feels inevitable in the rapper’s deft hands. As far back as 2009, when he shocked the rap world with his pair of breakthrough mixtapes, the gravel-voiced MC has been committed to rendering reality on wax. Given the unmissable charisma Gibbs has manifested for his entire career—and the acuity of the stories he tells in his music—it should be unsurprising that the rapper has also revealed himself as a force in the worlds of acting and film production. After making his debut at the Cannes Film Festival with the film Down with the King, which Gibbs produced and starred in, he says he’s angling to bring new, unexpected stories to the screen. Now, he’s keeping perspective on his life and career by centering what matters most: family. It makes perfect sense, too, that his greatest artistic statement yet is about holding tight to the things he holds dearest, which no one can strip away from him.
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Freddie Gibbs has become one of hip-hop’s most important, inimitable, and influential voices via his quotable wordplay, versatile songs, and unflinching honesty. Since 2004, the uncompromising Indiana-raised rapper has built a diehard global fan base and regularly attracted tastemaker adoration. His discography includes 20-plus mixtapes, eight EPs, four official solo albums, and four top-billed collaborative records. 2019's Bandana with Madlib was a new critical and commercial high watermark. After bowing at #21 on the Billboard Top 200, it closed 2019 on year-end lists by Vulture, Vibe, UPROXX, Stereogum, Noisey, SPIN, Complex, and more. GQ called it “one of the best albums of the year” and promised, "Freddie Gibbs will rap circles around anybody.” His momentum only accelerated six months later as The Alchemist-assisted Alfredo drew the same enthusiasm, hitting #4 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart. Freddie Gibbs has collaborated with everyone from Pusha T, Killer Mike, Anderson .Paak, and Yasiin Bey to Tyler, The Creator, Gucci Mane, A$AP Ferg, Jay Rock, and Young Thug, in addition to contributing music to blockbuster video game franchises such as Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, and NBA2K. Teaming up with Warner Records in 2020, he makes another power move on his terms and launches a bold new chapter.

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For an artist who raps so vividly about the toll that time and regret can take on a person, Freddie Gibbs is remarkably refreshed. Despite his nearly two decades in the game—over which he’s racked up the adoration of critics, unwavering respect from his peer, and a Grammy nomination—Gibbs is just now making his debut as a major-label solo artist. The project takes a firm stance on what the powers that be can and cannot take from him: $oul $old $eparately. As a whole, it weaves heartache and celebration, agitation and gratitude in a way that would be surprising for many artists, but feels inevitable in the rapper’s deft hands. As far back as 2009, when he shocked the rap world with his pair of breakthrough mixtapes, the gravel-voiced MC has been committed to rendering reality on wax. Given the unmissable charisma Gibbs has manifested for his entire career—and the acuity of the stories he tells in his music—it should be unsurprising that the rapper has also revealed himself as a force in the worlds of acting and film production. After making his debut at the Cannes Film Festival with the film Down with the King, which Gibbs produced and starred in, he says he’s angling to bring new, unexpected stories to the screen. Now, he’s keeping perspective on his life and career by centering what matters most: family. It makes perfect sense, too, that his greatest artistic statement yet is about holding tight to the things he holds dearest, which no one can strip away from him.

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