Freddie Gibbs – Baby Face Killa (Mixtape Review)

    One of today’s largely recognizable Rap vocalists with a scruffy delivery catered to please the streets is Freddie Gibbs, equally a counterpart and an anomaly amongst Hip Hop’s prevailing scene. His uncompromising aggression makes for a tough as nails presence that has risked increasing irrelevance within the mainstream, thus he has maintained professional independence despite close ties to major label entities. Fresh on the heels of a recent collaborative EP with Stones Throw impresario Madlib, Baby Face Killa is the latest full length release from the always anticipated Gangsta Gibbs.

    Aided by an all star cast of newer and well established emcees, Baby Face Killa gives Freddie Gibbs a platform for a potentially wider reach than he has achieved to date. Having suffered a series of standard industry tribulations prior to breaking through, those obstacles strengthened his determination towards gaining respect, a facet put to good use with this project. Between the effortless rapid-fire Midwest flow on the intro “BFK” and “Still Livin'” which takes a page from the trap style of his benefactor Young Jeezy (who makes appearances on the lewd “Go For It” and “Seventeen,” a retrospective look at their humble beginnings), Freddie’s evident grasp on authenticity surfaces with very few signs of disappearance.

    Putting up absolutely no false pretense regarding his passion for debauchery, aptly titled songs including “Money, Clothes, Hoes” and smoker’s anthem “Kush Cloud” (featuring veteran Krayzie Bone and freshman SpaceGostPurrp) allow Freddie Gibbs creative space within the confines of his comfort zone. In the same vein, his cohesion with Dom Kennedy shines on “Walk In Wit The M.O.” (their second record together this year) and the soulful “Krazy” guest starring Jadakiss & TDE’s Jay Rock continues the chemistry developed with Statik Selektah who fully produced last year’s Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away EP for Gibbs. These versatile highlights do much to complement his rugged character which has no trouble making a statement of its own.

    Freddie Gibbs is steadily mastering the art of mindless entertainment, promoting a hardened sound that is fearless and free of a filter. Baby Face Killa mostly consists of organic groupings and catchy hooks, both outweighing minimal flaws and missteps such as repetitive material and Kirko Bangz applying the no longer novel autotune to “Bout It Bout It.” In all, Gibbs and his edgy demeanor are necessary to further the worthy cause of gangsta music and pave a lane for an alternative harsh reality the masses are ill equipped to handle.

    DX Consensus: “Free Album” (the highest possible praise for a mixtape)

    Listen to Baby Face Killa by Freddie Gibbs

    77 thoughts on “Freddie Gibbs – Baby Face Killa (Mixtape Review)

    1. Pretty amazing mixtape. Definitely album quality. Can’t wait for his major label debut hopefully soon. The world needs to hear more of Gangsta Gibbs.

    2. An awesome mixtape. Gibbs is one of the heavy hitters in the current era of emcees, and it’s nice to hear someone with quality street music again.

    3. I’m sorry, but what does this even mean: “Freddie’s evident grasp on authenticity surfaces with very few signs of disappearance”

      Re: the mixtape itself – another strong, muscular effort, although like you point out the lyrical themes can get a bit repetitive.

    4. its a good tape but i expected more gritty production. I think his midwestgangstabox and cold day in hell are better

    5. For me personally this is album mixtape of the year and shits on most other albums mixtapes no wack features just pure hip hop you can play from start to end and gibbs didnt sell out he kept it underground and real

    6. Yeah man Freddie Gibbs is dope as @*#$! man, I’ve been waiting for this release for a while now. I’d say it’s exactly what I expected, not spectacular and not bad either. So I’m satisfied.

    7. Gibbs only puts out quality music. He kills all types of different beats all through the tape. Another classic project.

    8. wack. I cant listen to diz shit after Lil Wayne classics like Tha Carter III / IV and rock classic Rebirth. Lil Wayne is real muzik. Gibbs is just hoe ass nigga and Rozay ethered him. swag

    9. his best mixtape yet, not too say str8 killa n cold day in hell weren’t really good too. but this tape is epic. one of my favorites of the year if not my favorite.

    10. Can’t nobody even touch this cat. Dude is on some other ish. Flow is crazy, production is point and he is one of the few guys I’ve heard as of late that sounds just as good over a Premo type beat, to a bass heavy lex luger beat, to a kanye beat to a any beat this dude sounds dope on it. Gibbs is that dude. Gibbs is in a class of his own.

    11. This is an amazing tape, I think I prefer Cold Day In Hell but #BFK still has the potential to become a classic.

    12. this shit go hard…but on another note…I just don’t know if CTE is the right place for him….I would’ve like to see him link up wiht J-prince, rap a lot…..

    13. Last year Freddie released cold day in hell and it stayed on top for at least 10 months(on this site) and now he released BFK and look its on top again 5 stars. #respect

    14. Yo the first track on this tape is the best joint on the whole shit, I aint even bothered to listen to the other songs beseides 17 and Hard

      1. LMAO! Hate for Drake just flows through you doesn’t it? Damn Drizzy must be on your mind 24/7.

        Like Drake himself said “Jealousy is just love and hate at the same time”

    15. 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000da best since 2pac

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