Freddie Gibbs

Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik

Freddie Gibbs

The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs

There’s no trickery when it comes to Freddie Gibbs. No fancy sneakers, no electro-tinged beats, no chaser. Reminiscent of Tupac and Scarface, his hardened flow chronicles life on the streets of Midwest murder capital Gary, Ind. “I’m fresh up out a city where most niggas broke/60 percent unemployment/why you think we selling dope?” raps Gibbs on “Murda on My Mind” from Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik. Gangsta Gibbs signed to Interscope in 2005 but was dropped before the label released any of his music. Much of what he recorded during that time lands on Midwest and The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs. Released a few months apart last year, both sound more like finished products than leftovers. On the project poetry of “Neverending Cycle,” Gibbs explains: “My label don’t know what to do with me/I’ll go broke before I let them crackers make a fool of me/before I’m a puppet, they’ll be reading my eulogy.” (Wed., 9:25pm, Aces Lounge; Fri., 10:50pm, Mohawk Patio.)

(Midwest) ***

(Miseducation) ***.5

This article appears in March 19 • 2010.

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Thomas Fawcett has been freelancing for The Austin Chronicle since 2007. He likes good music and does not fake the funk.