Consistency has long been his greatest attribute. Like every work in his extensive discography, Soul Sold Separately is another demonstration of Gibbs’ pure rap ability. The hype-fueled buildup to the casino-themed Soul Sold Separately, Freddie’s first release since 2021’s Alfredo, and his return to a partnership with a major label after a decade-plus of independence, is positioning Gibbs to hit his first legitimate jackpot. Now he’s raking in results no one could have predicted when his run began nearly two decades ago: undeniable, charisma-driven superstardom, a Grammy nomination, a feature film acting debut at Cannes, and renewed respect from a populace – which, if the ruling in Austria wasn’t a resounding, unanimous innocent verdict – would have left him with nothing.

Momentum picked up again until the deafening silence following his arrest in France, his extradition to Austria, his show trial abroad, and his uncertain verdict in the court of public opinion back home. Jeezy popped up from under the table, yelled, “Yeaaaaaah!” and almost burned all Gibbs’ chips with his bad energy. From Krayzie Bone to Bun B to Daz Dillinger and Spice-1, Gibbs’s idols bestowed him with cameos and support. The cheers grew louder as it all kept hitting. Then the industry that scooped him up dropped him as soon as his brand of lyrically-driven gangster rap failed to adapt to the changing pop-rap landscape – or proved to not fit within it.īetting on himself, Gibbs rolled the dice on a string of self-released mixtapes.

By the time he got his first major label deal from Interscope in the middle of the 00s, he’d already survived the streets of Gary, left his football scholarship at Ball State, and endured a mandated military boot camp. Will Hagle knows that Hot Girl Summer may be over, but he’s looking forward to the start of ugly grown man who cares too much about college football season.īefore he ever made it to the table, Freddie Gibbs’s story had more ups and downs than a game of craps. Support real, independent music journalism by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon.

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