Why 'Alfredo' Is an Extremely Relevant Album In Today's Society

At 37 years old, Fredrick Jamel Tipton, or Freddie Gibbs is no rookie in the rap game. Coming upon his talents at the young age of 21 he was signed to Interscope Records and recorded his debut album, The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs. With a hint of inspiration from Lauryn Hill, thus Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the title alludes to a debut album we all hold a spot for in our favorites or a concept that some of us struggle to understand. However, he was eventually dropped from the label following a management revision.

From there, Gibbs was brought on to Young Jeezy’s Corporate Thugz, where he dropped multiple mixtapes and EPs such as my personal favorite Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away. After a falling out with Young Jeezy in late 2012, Gibbs was dropped from that label as well, finally deciding to go independent- a great decision btw. It was up from there for the still young Gibbs who was 29 at the time. Defying many odds against him, Gibbs went on to release his debut studio album ESGN - Evil Seeds Grow Naturally in 2013. With features from G-Wiz, BJ The Chicago Kid, Jay Rock, and more. ESGN mixes together multiple aspects of the hip hop genre that we all know but rarely hear put together in one project.

Eventually knocking it out again with a collaboration with producer Madlib entitled Piñata, then getting into more recent projects and yet another Madlib collab this time using their history to their advantage in Bandana. It’s fair to say that Gibbs has many successes. Especially with his 2020 collaboration with The Alchemist, Alfredo.

Alfredo is literally full of Italian mob references from its Godfather cover art to it’s mobster analogies in “1985” or “Baby $hit” or even “All Glass.” However, the contrast or yet a shocking comparison with

Black kingpins such as Frank Lucas or Gibbs himself in a sense is an interesting perspective. This type of life has put Gibbs through the wringer, from poverty to close deaths, lack of coping mechanisms, with a heavy conscience and mental instability. A gruesome truth is revealed on Skinny Suge, a pseudonym for Gibbs, when he tells listeners

Man, my uncle died off a overdose

And the fucked up part about that is I know

I supplied the nigga that sold it

From then we learn about Gibb’s suicide attempt. And here is where the story gets a little bit more relatable, personal, when he talks about his lack of feeling, lack of wanting love but also not wanting to be lonely. “Loner but I hate to be lonely.” I believe with truly heartfelt albums there’s some songs that just need to be left up to individual interpretation, meaning different things to one. Anyways, I’ll leave the deep thoughts for you music lovers to ponder on your own. This was just to start a conversation I felt needed to be had. On a lighter note, my favorite part of this project is probably all the samples in the outros/intros. It’s a creative way to shape a story. Kind of makes you think what does this one mean? How did they tie this in? Freddie Gibbs is definitely a MC, truly does move the crowd one way or another.

My favorite song on the album is “God is Perfect.” Because he speaks on something worth talking about. Why does the rap game have to coincide with commercial drug use? Does anyone ever pay attention to who is truly benefiting?

I didn't want to speak on this shit

But it really been rackin' my brain now (Yeah, yeah)

'Cause really I fuck with this rap

But my niggas still sellin' cocaine now (Huh, yeah)

Them crackers they got enough on us

It’s that verse, along with

“The revolution will be genocide. My execution might be televised”

for me. So close to what has been shouted off roof tops for centuries and unfortunately still today, but with an eye opening twist. The truth of how us pushing for change, continuously begging for basic human rights and justice, often turns into an unnecessary and tragic, immoral and bloody war with our people as the underdogs. While the people in power watch us on screens, with contempt. Or maybe even closer to Gibbs' perspective with genocide as a result of the harmful patterns our community often falls into via struggling to fight against a system that wasn't made to protect nor uplift them. Coming full circle with the, or a, subject of Alfredo- manipulation of power. Whether it be a neighborhood drug lord (@ the interlude of "Baby $hit"), or a politician.

I shall leave you with one more aspect that spoke to me before you go on to create your own. The cold, mellow, raw cut vibe that withstands all 35 minutes. It’s like he went hard without ever having to go. hard. The light and airy electric guitar on “Something To Rap About” is delivered with so much composure one might think there was never anything to rap about, being content with just letting the beat run. Alfredo oozes the flaws of Gibbs, the rap game, and society. It’s like the whole album was one hit from Saitama.

Over and done with one punch. The culture box is checked, the vibe box is checked, the flow box is check, the creativity box is check, ok- one might even say 10/10.

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Carley Veal | @trippyspiderman

Header image via Wordplay Magazine.