Freddie Gibbs is sticking to his guns. After years of not-so-quiet industry hurdles, Piñata feels a little like another debut. His content remains uncompromised—nothing on the album would be a fit for radio—and particularly with Madlib at the helm, he seems as focused as ever. It’s a bit of a new brand of the same for Gibbs in that sense, undoubtedly his best and most streamlined to date, another conspicuous drop in the bucket for ‘Lib. The album itself, like their first and two other EPs that help build up this full-length, has been released on the producer’s own label. Gibbs is an album removed from his CTE departure—ESGN as his independent debut less than a year ago—and Madlib splitting his time between Stones Throw Records and his self-named Invazion imprint.
By his own account, Gibbs’ strength is in his versatility, and he has an obvious knack for transcending either his hometown or current landscape. To that end, with Gary, Indiana in the pocket and Chicago somewhere in the mix, Piñata may well measure up as a high mark of Hip Hop by year’s end. Gibbs makes as good a use of Madlib production as could be said in recent years, and he’s no doubt benefited from top-tier attention. The record carries the producer’s most appealing fingerprints: a knack for minimalist funkiness and well-channelled quirks, as well as some of his more polished production of late. There’s no rough-draft Madlib to be found, and instead he’s satisfied his attention span with consistent beat interludes and sampled film quotes that push along song transitions.
Gibbs has likely never had as refined a platform for his flow, and he jumps from bouncy double time to his laid back near-drawl with each track. His ability to switch immediately from upbeat nostalgia for a Chicago chicken spot anthem in “Harold’s” to a sinister drug drama alongside Raekwon on “Bomb” is testament to his general agility. The features help center the rapper too, cut in the cloth of either Rae or Scarface on one hand and a decade older than Domo Genesis, Mac Miller, or Earl Sweatshirt on the other.
Dense and verse-heavy, most of the best lines are pleasantly un-emphasized, Freddie’s flow and baritone the obvious allure. On the standout and now years old “Thuggin’” he quips, “Why the Feds worried ‘bout me clocking on this corner / When there’s politicians out here getting popped in Arizona / Bitch, I’m thuggin’.” The gangster subject matter runs from “split your potato” slang to more grounded imagery on songs like “Broken,” a track that features Scarface and a verse from Gibbs grappling with his father’s history as a possibly crooked police officer. It’s stories like those that ground the rapper’s thuggish tales in more than imaginative boasts, particularly as self-doubt and insecurity ride along. Gibbs is believably cool and endearingly vulnerable, a mix of no-good and knows-better. “Seven grams of rock, I stuff ‘em in my nuts / And seven bucks an hour wasn’t good enough,” he raps.
For good or bad, Piñata is also home to another Jeezy dis. To the rapper’s credit, it’s a well done and defensible act of aggression that boasts not one but two Madlib beats—the first a fast-paced, cowbell heavy break and the second a more G-funk leaning backdrop. If “Real” has an obvious downside it’s that it will almost certainly age poorly in comparison to the rest of the release, a possibly tacky timestamp down the line (it should also probably be his last word on the subject). For all his grittiness, Gibbs has an unchecked humor and relaxed demeanor on songs like “Robes” and the L.A. anthem “Lakers.” As he continues to encourage weather as much as Tupac comparisons, he hones in with a relevant vocal sample from the rapper at the end of that track. “This is not a new allegiance to the West Coast,” ‘Pac says in an interview clip, “I’ve been on the West Coast all this time.” For Gibbs as well it sounds convincingly true, both as personal narrative—he has lived there for years now—as well as artistic justification. The album is, after all, Hoosier-bred West Coast Gangster, an uncontrived intersection of Gibbs’ Tupac, Scarface, and Master P fascination rolled in one.
Piñata’s most obvious accomplishment is as a polished contemporary Gangster Rap album, and it’s a feat in subject as much as sound with Gibbs at his self-reflective best. Madlib is as forward as he has been in years and offers his emcee production to flex his delivery in a way he’s never had a chance to do before, riding out to finicky loops instead of more rigidly overlaid drums as he’s done previously. The upshot is that Piñata is likely a MadGibbs peak, and it would be hard to blame them for stopping here. If the rapper is smart he’ll use it as a roadmap for directing future solo releases, a blueprint in design more than sound. He won’t have to team up with Madlib again to achieve the same level of focus, but he’ll have to ditch the mixtape inclinations and longer tracklists as he’s done here. As Gangster Rap, Piñata is free of conceptual pretense; it’s a slice more than a thesis. It’s also a new benchmark for Gibbs and may end up as a career calling card. If nothing else, it quickly sounds like one of the year’s best.
qa
No doubt this will be top 5 of the year
Top 1
Great album!!!! Def go down as one of the years best and in time will be looked back at as a classic…..
This is a fantastic album
Good fucking score Jay, at least it wasn’t that retard shelley pearce reviewing
5/5 though. This is Gibb’s illmatic/Me Against the World/Ready To die album.
This album makes him a legend
Thank you, but I really don’t appreciate you making a rude jab to my girl, Shelly. That’s my little shorty on the side and she means the world to me..besides my wife, I mean.
DOPE.
Niggas are giving Freddie Gibbs way too much credit. This album was so-so at best. While it wasn’t all that great as far as lyrics go(which put me to sleep with all the “imaginative” tough talking, empty threats, and thuggish braggadocio), production wise, it was somewhat passable. Now if you want to talk about 5 star albums, check out Rick Ross album, Mastermind, which is full of trunk banging, lush production and mind blowing lyricism. A true masterpiece from a mastermind. Anyway, I give Pinata a 2.5/5 at the very least.
fuck outta here wit yo cop loving groupie azz
Groupie? No, sir. I’m Ross’ personal ghostwriter and close friend/confidante.
tell rick ross to get a new name. talk about dick rider. stealing a real dudes name just to ride the high of his fame.. rick ross is just a fat black jew.
Wow this fag really said Mastermind is a 5 star album.
DX trolls make it even more impossible to take Ross and his shit serious.
FUCK ALL OF YOU ANONYMOUS PUSSIES! ROSS GETS PEOPLE TALKING, HIS NAME RINGS BELLS, UNLIKE SHITTY CENT! HOW THE FUCK ELSE DID MY NIGGA/MENTOR RECEIVE THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM IN THE COUNTRY? I GUARANTEE IN A FEW MONTHS YOU’LL ALL FORGET FREDDY GIBBS AND YOU’LL STILL BE BANGING MASTERMIND OUT YOUR TRUNKS! 5 OUT OF 5 MY FUCKING ASS! YOU STUPID NIGGAS WILL GIVE THE TITLE OF ALBUM OF THE YEAR TO ANYBODY, EVEN RONALD MCDONALD! GIBBS IS A CORNY WANNABE WANKSTER RAPPER. NOBODY BELIEVES THAT CLOWN. I DON;’T GIVE A FUCK HOW MANY GUNS HE WAVES IN MY FACE. THE NIGGA IS AN ACTOR AND HIS LYRICS SOUND LIKE SOMETHING A 3 YEAR OLD WOULD WRITE. ANYWAY, I’M DONE WITH YOU SISSIES. YOU MOTHERFUCKERS ACT LIKE YOU HATE ROSS, BUT IN REALITY, YOU PROBABLY HAVE MASTERMIND TUCKED UNDER YOUR PILLOWS WAITING TO PLAY IT IN YOUR BEDROOMS ONCE YOU’RE DONE TROLLING , YOU BUNCH OF FUCKING NERDS!!! LIKE I SAID, GIVE IT 2 – 3 MONTHS, RICK ROSS WILL PLACE YET ANOTHER PLATINUM PLAQUE ON HIS MANTELPIECE!! MAYBACH MUSIC STAYS WINNING, YOU FUCKING COWARDS! #bawse
he has no platinum plaques
Introducing Brutha Dee y’all.
5 stars. Gangsta Gibbs has never let me down.
I camt force myself to like Madlib beats no matter how many nerds on the internet tell me I should.
nerds?
simple dont listen to it then
hot fiyah
REAL HIP HOP IS ALIVE AND WELL
Real hip hop shit,best album so far this year…gangsta rap is making a big comeback this year,looking forward to that Animal Ambition
Animal Ambition is gangsta rap? Fuck world you livin in? 50 hasn’t been gangsta rap since Massacre dropped…
5/5
Real the downside of the album? Real is probably the best song after the EP songs and “High”… that second verse is unreal
Whoa. I seriously thought this album was gone called “Jeezy can kiss my A$$”.
AOTY
im goin to amazon to buy this right now gibbs is like jeezy when he first came out got the streets on lock but he a realer n better mc
Dope! Gibbs go hard
5
great album, no complaints. a 5 from me because this album did what it set out to do, dope ass beats and Gibbs rippin them to shreds
Straight Flames
Gangsta Gibbs and Madlib can do no wrong. Best album of the year so far.
Jeezus. I guess I will be making a purchase from Itunes today. Think i’ve slept on Gibbs for way too long.
Yea you have man, start with Str8 Killa and work your way up chronologically. I thought Gibbs was on a downturn after hearing ESGN, but he just needed the right backing. Madlib knocked this shit out the park, as a duo they are unstoppable…
Madlib and Gibbs doesn’t sound like a good duo. Yes, Madlib CAN make a great beat but failed here. Run The Jewels are a perfect example of how a duo should sound like! They sound like all-time best friends, which makes them sound much more natural.
This album is absolutely amazing. I didn’t expect it to the this good. I can’t name one bad/average song, and I’m normally a hard critic.
I smell pussy, is that you irv
I smell pussy, is that you ja
I’m ballin now nigga so watch me, aint nothing you can do to stop me…
Classic material. Gibbs is the best rapper alive. This just proves it. Again.
Hoping Freddie Gibbs learns a powerful lesson of what works now, and what doesn’tas far as critical acclaim, and hopefully sales.
ESGN has much better production and is a 4.5/5 album, but this is okay too.. 3/5. Can’t wait for ESGN 2.
+1 ESGN are much better
You fucking kidding me? You are clearly younger than 18 if you think those generic trap beats are anything special. This release has soul, not just some heavy-handed drum and bass punched out on ProTools by guys with no musical inclination. Madlib is a fuckin genius who always manages to find the balance between the original and historic, samples and contemporary sounds.
ESGN was okay but definitely Gibbs’ worst release to date.. It sounds so rushed and generic, like every other fuckin person out right now. This release stands out like a mothafucka, tell me ESGN is better in 10 years when this lame ass trap fad ends just like every other tin can sound that has come before it. Piata gon age like fine wine, ESGN aged like milk. Since the month after it came out, the only tracks that stand out still are Eastside Moonwalker, Freddie Soprano and Came Up. It s drowning in features and shit beats. This is Freddie at his finest… Anyone disagree?
I’m not kidding. And I’m 28 years old. Yeah, those beats fit Gibbs much better than these dope-samples-no-drums ones. The overall sound of ESGN is much more professional and Freddie had more energy and sharper delivery on the mic. Freddie didn’t disappoint on this album – but there’s just THE thing missing that ESGN has.
You lost ya fuckin mind!!! I like ESGN, but Pinata shits on ESGN production wise.
Nope, I haven’t lost my mind. I just have a bit different taste in music.
Anon is retarded
4.89/5
But you guys are the first reviewers I’ve seen to get it right. By far Freddie’s best album to date. Like many great rappers, he needed a great producer to get the most out of his talents. Why not go to one of the top five producers of all time? Great decision, and incredible payoff with this album.
Albums gunna go down as a classic.. 5/5. I can’t find one flaw on the whole damn thing. HHDX just scared to give out a 5
Def. my favorite album since Marcberg. And it’s up there in my top albums ever. I love Gibbs and Madlib, but both together? man..
Went down to the record spot & copped it today, definitely worth the several years of waiting! Gibbs definitely sounds best over this type of production! Hope he continues to go down this lane & prosper as an artist.
Good review. The whole album is fire.
>>>>>>>>CCCCCCLLLAAAASSSSSIIICCCCCKKKKKK
You niggas have absolutely no taste in music whatsoever. Do you give EVERYONE who’s independent a 5/5? Please. Open up your fucking ears and listen. What do you see in Gibbs? He’s a clown with zero personality, his lyrics are absolutely horrible, cliche subject matter, and the beats he selected are sub-par at best. He’s a joke, a nobody, he’s LAME. That whole “gangsta” persona is so played out. Gibbs is nothing but a poor man’s version of Nino Brown.Nothing more than a low level drug peddler. Once a weed carrier, ALWAYS a weed carrier. I see why Jeezy wanted nothing to do with this moron. Once he left CTE, he started acting out like an girl who got dumped by her boyfriend. When I look at this clown, all I see is insipid mediocrity. I would rather listening to my mother’s dildo rap than Gibbs. If you want a real MC to bless the mic, then I suggest y’all listen to Mastermind. Rick Ross is blessing us yet again with a lyrical masterpiece that’s sure to get people talking for generations. He’s defeated 50 Cent, Trick Daddy, and many others in the battle for rap supremacy. He is a titan among men and he has created various businesses. On top of all that, he’s got an amazing ear for beats, but I digress. I hereby give this trash a 1/5
You a lame. You didn’t even listen to the album. Independent albums get 5/5 because they don’t have no major label A&R on their back telling them to make pop songs. Have you ever wondered why BIG K.R.I.T’s debut was lackluster and all his mix tapes FIRE? A good lyricist and dope producer always tend to connect well. I give this a 5/5.
How does it feel to be able to do pull ups from Rick Ross’ dick?
Lmao he said Rick Ross’s mastermind is better than pinata?! Not even competition for gibbs lol
Criticizes Gibbs’ lyrics as “cliche subject matter” then suggests Rick Ross as an alternative to this.. not liking the album is one thing (means your deaf) but that line is LAUGH OUT LOUD hilarious shxt..
i didnt read that long ass comment but it appears that feelings have been caught
YOU ARE A CERTIFIED HOE FOR THESE WORDS.
I listened to Pinata for a brief 2 minutes then fell asleep. You and author of this article are completely delusional. This is audio Nyquil at best. Mastermind is where it’s at. The story of a genius rapper overcoming the struggles of being a superstar & balancing family life. #bawse
Stop feeding this troll who’s a fan of a known liar. Gibbs already lyrically murked Rozay on 187 off of “A Cold Day in Hell.”
2014 So Far:
1. Cocaine Pinata
2. My Krazy Life
3. Mastermind
4. Oxymoron
let’s keep it real folks
2014 So Far
1)Mastermind
2)Mastermind
3)Mastermind
4)Mastermind
5)Mastermind
6)Mastermind
7)Mastermind
8)Mastermind
9)Mastermind
10)Mastermind
rap album of the year. those mad lib beats fit gibbs lyrical gangster flow. this should have been a 5/5
Good work here
Consistent as fuck from start to finish! 5/5
dope as album. Jeezey got ETHERED on real.
This shit streaming on spottily. dope ass album. Fuck the major label BS.
Damn! the nerd odd future/gangsta giibs collabo really worked on this album.
ab soul got killed on that lakers shit. gibbs been killing niggas, friend or foe, lately.
Ab soul did suck on that song. Jay Rock would of been a better fit on it.
ab-soul was ill on that.
he did the polar opposite of gibbs flow and made you listen to the lines hard.
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got two copies because of my nigga gibbs. album of the year after krayzie bone – chasing the devil
this album is the shit!.
Best rapper in the game
Not gonna waste too much time. Cocaine Pinata= classic material yo…period!
She got me wishing DMX ain’t never hit the pipe, Pun ain’t never die and big L was still here to bless the mic. best line on the album.
Never doubted this project. GANGSTA RAP CLASSIC. 5.
Gangsta Gibbs does it again! Every verse he spits on the album is fire. Some of the features and beats were a little ehhhhh. Blame Madlib for that though cuz Gibbs stays in my top 5 with this album.
Every beat was flames.
Only wack feature was Mac Miller
dope
I said this 4 moths before it would be realeased that it was gonnna be album of the year. I been fuckin with Gibbs about 6 years now if youre still sleeping go listen to Live from Gary Indiana vol 1 & 2, The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs, Str8 Killa No Filla, Str8 Slammin vol l-3 & midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik
all straight-up classics, Gibbs is top 5 in the game right now!
legit
damn 4.5? Freddie Gibbs? BFK was ill, so this shit must be ridiculous.
shit best be at the record store
Next he should do a Alchemist produced LP. I was super impressed by this LP,after three listens it really all set in for me. Just flawless production this is my second favorite this year after Stepbrothers. Gibbs is hard ass fuck it takes back to the good old days of gangster rap.
Man Madlib killed it on the boards!! And Freddie Gibbs spittin that gangsta shit best album of the year so far
This Nigga Gibbs snapped, Gary Indiana STAND UP! even though you look like bosnia
Shit Kicks
Gibbs did well. Lib did his things. But no synchro, no synergy. They should refer Killer Mike & El-P how they did harmonize.
YOU A CERTIFIED HOE FOR THIS COMMENT.
tunikut is being honest. My thoughts exactly.
ironically, there was synergy.
Been waitin a hot minute for this album to drop since thuggin, this shit lives up to the hype! Not one track was skipped and the shit has been on repeat since I got it. Gibbs and Madlib were on some straight mad man shit cookin this album up! Definitely pick this mothafucker up!
Shit is def’ly a banga. This is best joint since “Str8 Killa No Filla”
slapssss for days
G
tell schoolboy Q, this is how that gangsta shit suppose to sound
CO-SIGN. THIS SHIT EATS OXYMORON FOR BREAKFAST. REAL GANGSTA RAP WITHOUT THE WEIRDO SHIT.
oxymoron and this album are very different from eachother, but dont hate on oxymoron. its a really dope project too.
Shouldn’t you be telling that to Officer Ricky?
Schoolboy Q got that weird shit. Incoherent babble in the background and shit. TDE has a lot of fans that have so much pride they can’t admit when theyre wrong
This album sounds like it was recorded in the 90s. Not just the production, but the vibe, the content, it takes you back to the golden era of hip hop.
Dopest
One of the best madlib collabos, I am glad he didn’t get carried away with the interludes like he did in that OJ Simpson joint with Guilty Simpson. Next up, project with Mos Def and then the Madvillainy 2 jawn. In terms of Madlib’s collabos, I would rank them as follows:
Madvillainy with DOOM
Liberation with Talib Kweli
Pinata with Freddie Gibbs
In Search of Stoney Jackson with SAS
Seeds with Jajah Muldrow
OJ Simpson with Guilty Simpson
I hope that project with Blu and MED materialises as well. Madlib is the most prolific producer in any genre of music, I wish Nas could realise that.
no way you can even count liberation as it was an ep
How could you forget Champion Sound
Yes, my bad. Champion Sound would be above ‘OJ Simpson’. I rank it there because it was just 2 legendary producers having fun, no solid emceeing there (no disrespect to Dilla). Champion Sound raw uncut and showcasing the versatility of 2 of the best producers ever.
Liberation was never called an EP by either artist.
Gangsta Gibbs the truth
album goes hard
I am gonna give it a 4 only because I shitted on it with that last joint I was featured on.
your verse was horrible tho
I know, right? If I were a producer, I would be Swizz Beatz. See the way he fucked up Life is Good for Nas.
real talk when I seen mac as a guest feature I was thinkin weather I should bother payin for the album but I had to support gangsta gibbs so I copped it mac millar is fuckin trash him n mgk 2 worst white boys in the game
Mac Miller has the only wack verse on the album
Review is on point. Great album.
Dopest Album in 2013+startof14. If you think Schoolboy and CyHi are the dopest projects to date, listen to this and admit that it is the dopest album since Gkmc.
I haven’t listened to GKMC in its entirety, but I would imagine at best its as good as this, otherwise its a classic if its any better.
Nah gkmc is not a gangsta rap album, its not underground music, totally different shit with k.dots weird voice and crazy hype. Cant even dig it and I doubt comparing these two is right. But this here in the same genre as Oxxymoron but of much better overall quality. Better raps over better beats.
agree. it is like comparing oranges and apples. GKMC is very radio friendly, I doubt Pinata will get many spins on the radio.
Cosign all you guys say. Am not comparing the too at all. Just saying, in terms of overall rap album quality.
as high as well all rate it, sadly it wont even sell 50k in its first week, 10k at best.
i copped the vinyl yesterday.. count me in
true im thinkin bout 15 thousand first week gibbs makes all his money off shows on the grind the streets fuck with him heavy
The stroke of genius in all this is that this brought together the Madlib and Freddie Gibbs fans, which is good for both artist. I will be honest, I have never listened to Gibbs’s work prior to the THuggin’ EP with Madlib. I have been a Madlib stan for over a decade. I doubt I would have got this album if say ‘Hitboy’ was on the decks. Regardless, album enjoyed by both Madlib and Freddie’s fans.
AOTY material.
Gibbs and Madlib kill it, best album since NWTS. Would love for Gangsta Gibbs to do a joint with Drake and 40.
FOH with that Drake shit
Drizzy and Gibbs would be leathal, no doubt.
Drake? You must be fucking kidding, dude.
Gangsta Gibbs and Drake would definitely be fire!
drizzy a fuckin lame his bars aint even all that.But if he did a song with gibbs it would get gibbs more exposure so why the fuck not send that bitch nigga to the studio
Outstanding.
instant classic, definitely gonna be an aoty pick. 2014 = the return of gangsta rap
Best since Str8 Killa
perfect
Fresh shit right here..
Sure, because it just came out.
Glad to hear it. Your doctor will be pleased too.
Fucking great album, Madlib on deck is a beast with the beats.
Best G album in years.
Freddie Gibbs has flow and great wordplay
everybody should go support this album . listen to the stream on spottily but dish out 10 dollars for it.
Great review DX.
co-sign.. only thing i disagree on is the writers take on “real” personally i feel like the authenticity and storytelling aspect of that track solidifies its place in hiphop history and will always be a reference point to that beef, and many other beefs like it.
i was anxious to read the review on this….soon as i heard this album, i said it was the hottest thing to drop so far this year….5 stars!
Gr8 album. 5/5
not one bad egg. 5/5 could not ask for more
Its pure crack I bought it off amazon I suggest you niggas show sum support to Gangsta Gibbs cause there aint many doing it for the streets the right way these days with real hip hop
Simply the greatest hip hop album of the beginning of this year !! Dope, I give it a perfect 5. Especially for tracks like Uno, Lakers, Bomb, High !
ask you record store to stock it FREDDIE GANGSTER GIBBS!!! support the real!
hiphopdx needs to give the album a 5/5
Gibbs really sounds like 2Pac on this. This is the best type of rap. People have to buy this album cause this needs to be at the forefront of music. this is the best album to come out in YEARS. Probably since My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to be exact
gibbs sounds nothing like pac pac was a good rapper but Freddie is a mc also
“gibbs sounds nothing like pac pac was a good rapper but Freddie is a mc also”
WTH? I don’t know what that even means kid. Listen to Uno and tell me that doesn’t sound like Pac. I don’t think you’ve listend to 2Pac although you might know who he is.
No way MadGibbs could go wrong.. they didn’t disappoint whatsoever 4.75/5
great review – perfect album – win all around
Real Hip-Hop still exists and it’s not in the mainstream. Quality album and can’t stop playing it.
Can’t wait to see them at the echoplex next Saturday
now this is what you call gangster rap in 2014 great album
i laugh when schoolboy q and YG say their albums are gangster rap lol
Schoolboy Q’s album is straight trash
Q’s album is great. If you think otherwise you need your ears checked
naaah you need your head checked. Schoolboy Q’s album was not quality. Habits and Contradictions was better
Their chemistry is thhe best sine Dre & Snoop. Madlib brngs out the best out of Freddie Gibbs.
I want the same mushrooms which you’re using.
Fantastic album. Too bad it isnt gonna sell more than 15k. It deserves to sell 500k honestly
I wanna physical but bestbuy here doesnt have it so ima have to wait. im pissed i cant add to the first week sales but ik this is happening to a lotta people
finally, a long awaited album that lives up to its anticipation. i knew if madlib took almost three years to drop something it had to be a masterpiece. other producers that took this long really disapointed me (alchemist with lord steppington and roc marci).
this one will be in rotation for awhile i can already tell.
I know that Marci beaucoup is kinda weak, but reloaded is a classic! So is this…
As good as hip hop gets. Madlib’s production is on point and Gibbs’ flows over the blaxploitation vibes are picture perfect.
Gay
I got it sellin nickle bags…BITCH.
One of his best works, way better than ESGN!
Gibbs = top 5 in the game.
Hell no, there’s no chance this topping ESGN. There are some fucked up features on ESGN, but as a whole it’s better than this. Even when it has trap beats.. Gibbs just makes them sound so good!
This is Illmatic 2.
Leave Illmatic alone, cause nothing is touching it. Stop comparing these new rappers to classics. Cocaine Pinata does have power to stand for years though
What do you call an album that can stand for years if not a classic ?
a classic is exactly what you call it. its been a couple weeks not years though so calm down and let it breathe. you can’t just throw around classic or it makes it meaningless
Stellar shit. This is gonna be on top this year.
These years..
Its fuckin dope as hell no lie. Shitsville fav so far but there aint a bad track on there this gon stay on repeat for a while. Support a real mc/nigga
dopeness personified..
This album is an instant classic, beats and rhymes are amazing and the chemistry between Freddie Gibbs & Madlib is admirable. Pinata is without a doubt Freddie Gibbs best project to date and I hope he and Madlib continue to collaborate and make music together. 5 stars, easily the best hip hop album of the year so far.
Solid material here.
Dude has great flow, phenomenal voice, very solid MC… I just cant hear the word Thug 1 more time… I’m from the 90s man and enough is enough… reminds me of how RnB stuck on love songs… is there anything else you guys can rap about?? Listen to Nas for ideas. Still give this a 4 tho cause homie is blessed with skills and thats obvious!
I disagree..people need to stay in their lane…I don’t cop D-Block records to hear love songs…feel me
Dope Record, Much Love from The G!!!!
Is it me or does Gangsta Gibbs sounds like Rakim meets Pac on some tracks like thuggin’
Yeah, it’s just you. Have your ears checked out real soon.
Gibbs is definitely Top 5 right now.
This album is amazing.
This album blew me away.
Always thought he was talented, but had wack production (mostly)
Madlib has given him some incredible beats on this one.
He had much better production before, but there’s improvement on the lyrical section. His flow and voice just won’t sound good over these beats. With better production this would be even better than GKMC and that means almost perfect album.
Listening to this feels like when I listen to a classic album which I’ve never checked out and I finally get what everyone was talking about. Like the first time I heard ATLiens, The Infamous, Liquid Swords, Madvillainy, Deltron 3030… etc.
It’s got that unique quality.
This album is really good. I’ve only given it one listen…but this is some real shit…give it a better review as time goes on…
Thuggin! And it feels so good.
ESGN has much better production and is a 4.5/5 album, but this is okay too.. 3/5. Can’t wait for ESGN II.
You fucking kidding me? You are clearly younger than 18 if you think those generic trap beats are anything special. This release has soul, not just some heavy-handed drum and bass punched out on ProTools by guys with no musical inclination. Madlib is a fuckin genius who always manages to find the balance between the original and historic, samples and contemporary sounds.
ESGN was okay but definitely Gibbs’ worst release to date.. It sounds so rushed and generic, like every other fuckin person out right now. This release stands out like a mothafucka, tell me ESGN is better in 10 years when this lame ass trap fad ends just like every other tin can sound that has come before it. Piata gon age like fine wine, ESGN aged like milk. Since the month after it came out, the only tracks that stand out still are Eastside Moonwalker, Freddie Soprano and Came Up. It s drowning in features and shit beats. This is Freddie at his finest… Anyone disagree?
You really copy and pasted my comment from a week ago in response to the same comment? (Scroll back a few pages) I read that like wait, this sounds familiar. This is a first, idk whether to be flattered or what, but thats just kinda weird… You know hip hops gone soft when ppl are even biting your comments… At least toss me a footnote or some shit
You lost ya fuckin mind!! I like ESGN, but Pinata shits on ESGN production wise.
What the fuck is going on in here? I’m the one who doesn’t like this album and Madlibs production, and I do not use the name Crip4Life from Oakland. Leave old comments and do not re-post them!
Thuggin and Deep were the two songs that made me take Gibbs seriously
Gibbs always been tight lyrically. Go check out Miseducation Of Freddie Gibbs and midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik if you haven’t heard them yet. Two of Gibbs earlier projects. Shit’s tight!
Shame gotta be my favorite joint on this shit. That storytelling and that smooth hook… that’s my shit. It’d be sick if Gibbs and Jay Rock did a collabo album, but I doubt it’d happen.
Yes, real music. Not ideally made to please playlist makers. Art raw
Very weak album, was waiting for A LOT more, #disappointed
What do you consider a strong album then? Production was on point and storytelling was tight. This is a solid 9/10.
GET OFF MADLIB DICK
THIS ALBUM AVERGAE
This is the freshest beat selection I’ve heard all year. Don’t come here with your faggot-ass hipster shit. And Freddie’s wit and storytelling is tighter than ever here. I’m not on either of these cats dicks. I’m just calling this album for what it is: a great album. 9/10.
If you listen to Madlib, you know the type of production you’re going to get on this album. If you don’t like his beats I don’t understand why you magically thought you would cause Gibbs is on it. this album is pretty damn good to me
Well, one reason would be the overhype -kind of comments here. They make you believe that it will be the album of the year. Then you’d be hugely disappointed, because the album failed to deliver that experience to me. I’ll go back to bump ‘Str8 Killa No Filla’ and other his classic work. They’re better in my opinion.
album of da year
Never really was a big fan of Gibbs until I heard this joint… I think this is going to be album of the year, really don’t expect anything to be better than this.
Only other album I can see being this good is Cadillactica by KRIT. Foreva play the game.
Thuggin
Shit is def AOTY material. If not TOP 5 without a doubt.
Classic from start to end Freddie Gibbs bringing back that Mafioso rap back.
Madlib’s beats are on point as usual and Freddie Gibbs comes out with that fiya! Wasn’t expecting a great album but it def was. 5/5.
Wasn’t used to Madlib and I had to get in a couple of listens, but Gibbs’s lyrics is what kept me going
man its easy for me to say this is album of the year cuz i fuck with both gibbs and madlib HEAVY but honestly i cannot think of a album in hip-hop history that combines this type of filthy underground beat selection with unapologetic gangster shit since ICE CUBE WAS DROPPIN IN THE EARLY 90S. LIKE WTF BRO THIS SHIT ALBUM OF THE YEAR CMON MAN CANT NOBODY ELSE DO THIS SHIT EXCEPT THESE TWO
Easily the album of the year its the best album I heard in a while.The sales really don’t do it justice but people buy lame music like fake fuck-boy tyga n pussy ass drake these days while dope upcoming mc’s like gibbs n boldy james get slept on.
Even legends like styles p n cormega aint getting respect on the sales side but stay making that tour money on the strength of their catalogue if you aint bought A Gangster and a Gentleman or The Realness you don’t know shit bout real hip hop classic albums
TRUE TRUE
great album i love when a LA gangster rapper like gibbs collabs with a dope underground NY producer like matt lib
You’re on molly …
Gibbs is from Gary Indiana not LA And Madlib is from Cali not Ny…..
fake gangster gibbs aint as real as big bad gucci mane the realest nigga to ever hold a mic.
You’re a fag… its because of feeble-minded pests like you that a whole race of people is lumped into sub-standard stereotypes
Dopest album I have heard in a while Mablib production is on another level.
You’re a fag…its because of feeble-minded pests like you that a whole race of people is lumped into sub-standard stereotypes
At first I thought you was talking about Gibbs. Aha, I was gonna call you out on your ignorance until I noticed you meant this as a reply for the Gucci stan down there.
ON some real shit. madlibs productions are cinematic. He doesnt do traditional hiphop like that. and the layering of samples he showcases is fuckin insane…. What i like is GIBBS was able to create something hott off NON TRAP STYLE BEATS. EVen kendrick using trap style here and der. rip jdilla
Such a dope album 10 times better than ESGN.The production is incredible this gon be a future classic. Check out his other stuff Cold Day In Hell and BFK Baby Face Killa they real dope too
I’ma add on to that. Check out Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs and midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik. Really dope shit as well.
U people gotta stop recommending his trap shit… If you guys want Gibbs rapping more like he did on this tape check the Miseducation, Midwestgangsta and the Str8 Killa EP
^co-sign
Thug rap over soul drenched beats haven’t sounded this good since the Mobb Deep era of the 90s five stars
I didn’t think so highly of the album. I thought the production was dumbed down in comparison to what we’ve come to expect from Madlib. I thought the concept of 1970’s era gangsta films was a nice touch. I also didn’t think the pacing was that great. But what it did have was an opening for other artists to potentially collaborate through different sub-genres of the game. Definite props to that. Check out my full review here: http://dozensofdonuts.blogspot.com/2014/03/freddie-gibbs-madlib-pinata.html
SCARFACE AND REAL BUT
THE REST IS BORING ZZZZZZZ……
shitsville is boring? and deeper?
who the fucks coming in here and giving the album anything but a 5? Last week the rating was like 4.87 and just yesterday it was 4.77
Now y’all dumb fucks are saying Jon Connors tape is better than this? LOL
So sick, atleast gibbs still puts out some real rap. One of the last ones left.
MF Doom and Madlib was straight trash. This blows that shit out of the water
child, know your music.
ahha I get it…You’re being sarcastic
Freddie Gibbs, the realest out there right now!!!
DOPE ALBUM. SELDOM YOU SEE A ALBUM OF THIS CALIBRE
Classik
great album fa real!!!!!!!
Str8 fire
AOTY ’14 point blank period.
Raw, uncut, authentik.
Cocaine Piata: The definitive gangsta rap album ?
Could be…
Broken featuring Scarface… man oh maaan !
You guys finally hopping on that Gibbs bandwagon huh?? Been telling niggas for 5 years now god damn
Oh thank you lord TRE for leading the way, for showing us the light !!!
We shall all kneel ! Thank you for having told us five years ago that Madlib and Freddie Gibbs album would be that good even before they knew themselves would collab together.
Could u tell us what we should listen to in 2019 pleaase ?
The reason why I fuck with Gibbs, he does what’s rare for rappers to do now-a-days, rap with some kind of conviction in his voice, a lot of cats have a delivery like Kevin Hart and talk about all the gangsta shit they did, or gonna do, ain’t nobody buying that, and it doesn’t come across as authentic, I think what we hip hop fans are dying for is some kind of authenticity, yet we get all this watered down, “me me me” garbage, with blogs, television, and fading rap stars telling us it’s classic. Nah, I’m cool, I function with Gibbs.
madlib beats and freddie gibbs = flawless
hottest shit out 2014
best album I’ve ever heard
This is the best hip hop album I’ve heard in a long time. This amalgamation of styles is really incredible and great for hip hop in general. Thuggin’ was the reason why I was anticipating this album so much. Now when you listen to Thuggin’, Shame, and Deep, they dont sound dated or out of place through the flow of the album. That’s classic shit right there. This album has been on heavy rotaion. 4.9/5.0
Madlib delivers another classic with Gibbs this time. IMO Madlib beats were better overall on this one than on Madvillian. But that is still a classic album as well. Gibbs storytelling was some of the best I’ve ever heard and the features all killed it. It’s awesome hearing Scarface over a Madlib beat. Whole album is dope but my favs in order
1 ROBES
2 Broken
3 Deeper
4 thug gin
5 Harold’s & bomb
420out
Classic material.
naah
CLASSIC.
classique
It’s funny, because out of 270 comments, probably 12 people supported them. Ya’ll “fans” are real funny. Keep your 5 stars and give him your 5 bucks if you really support him.
Picked up the vinyl last week. Had to grab the CD yesterday for the ride. Dope album.
Yo HipHopDX, what’s good?! I noticed y’all didn’t review LOCKSMITH’S new album, A THOUSAND CUTS, that dropped today. Just want y’all to know this album is DOPE AS FUCK, and is reminiscent of Kendrick’s “Section 80.” Straight up. It’s nothing but the truth. That’s all Lock knows and spits, is the truth. If you want to hear a great album go cop that shit!!
We ain’t reviewing that weed plate whitely. chill.
(Locksmith is that u?)
fresh
j
Boom !
Album of the year literal shit to live by
Most authentic album I’ve heard in a while, true story telling
Masterpiece…absolute masterpiece
This album is 5\5 an absolute masterpiece Freddie delivers authentic and real shit, this album is the proof that hip hop is alive and well in an underground level but mainstream tho… is a whole other story
Best album of 2014
gibbs is definitely not a great rhymer but madlib’s production expectedly knocks this shit out of the park
When I first hear Freddie Gibbs I didn’t think he had anything special on him, I actually thought he was just like any average rapper making Trap music until I hear this album. WOW! From beginning to end I love this album. I didn’t think that a great album was going to come out in a while since Good Kid M.A.A.D City. Gibbs has a really good flow, intricate lyrics and a special way of telling a story. Madlib did his job producing amazing smooth and soulful beats full of samples and interludes.
awesome joint!
dope shit 5/5
A thousand cuts, but worth your time?
dope ish
Gangsta Gibbs Baby
5/5!
Grammy worthy.
gibbs is that dude
Production could be more polished imho.
Um NOT! It’s Madlib and he was going for that exact sound.
5/5
Should have gotten a grammy nod.
Best album of the year, bar none. Unbelievable work.
best of 2014
dayum
Freddie is contender for most underrated rapper of all time.