After the critical acclaim of "Str8 Killa", it should have started a label war similar to that for AZ in 1995, instead, Fredrick "Freddie Gibbs" Tipton signs with Young Jeezy's Corporate Thugz. The rapper decides to immediately publish an extended play, turning to Statik Selektah: the tape is entirely made in a single day, seven short cuts emerge (plus two bonus tracks, which I will not discuss) for about twenty minutes in total.
After a decent intro by Slaine on Statik jazzy-soul beat, Freddie Gibbs shows up on the title track: boom bap jazzy, great samples including an organ that gives dark vibes, the MC has a flow of a higher level than average, slow, but unstoppable. In the next cut, Gibbs delivers as usual, Daz Dillinger severely closes with good delivery, no surprise, but it wasn't a foregone conclusion, on this good soulful boom bap. "Affiliated" sees the presence of the friends of Statik Reks and Push! Montana: Selektah great beat, claustrophobically gloomy, Reks should surprise to be on the level of Gibbs and, in fact, he's clearly inferior, Gary's MC brings out a wonderfully timeless flow, would be unmatched for 93% of players.
Reks is a couple of stairs below him, maybe a couple of buildings. Push not even perceived, is a city and a half away from them. The fifth track features bouncy rhythm, decent samples, Gibbs as usual, but Termanology isn't great and Fred the Godson is a little subdued. Trae tha Truth is the only guest of "Already": he has the opening verse with good dark delivery, on a well-made beat made by Statik Selektah, jazzy-soul boom bap that uses a good sample, helped by a couple of scratches on the hook. Freddie Gibbs closes the piece with a murderous flow, he seems to be strafing everything in front of him, he's unstoppable. The banger is here, best track of the record.
The last cut is "Keep It Warm for Ya", with Smoke DZA and Chace Infinite: light jazzy-soul boom bap, Gibbs has a less hardcore flow than usual and a more rhythmic one, always flowing; DZA offers a relaxed and effortless delivery, the melodic bridge is one of the best things of the choice, then Gibbs to storm the song again, closes Chace with a despicably forgettable verse. The track is quietly sexual and could even be skipped, if it weren't for the fact that here Gibbs offers a delivery with the same style, the same theme and practically the same lyrics (then, of course, improved) that he'll use on a masterpiece beat by Madlib and with a wonderful sample and hook from BJ the Chicago Kid to create the classic "Shame" (2012; eponymous EP then "Piñata", two years later).
Honest gangsta rap EP, Statik doesn't offer his best beats, even with some great samples and fresh scratches, but Freddie Gibbs is fit here and carries those twenty minutes easily, despite being continually interrupted by guests who, too often, aren't up to par, like the producer's friends (well Daz and Trae).
Highlights: "Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away", "Rap Money", "Already".
Rating: 7/10.
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