![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.indiehiphop.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/madgibbs.jpg\" "\\"madgibbs\\"")
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Freddie Gibbs & Madlib<\/strong><\/p>\n Thuggin\u2019 EP<\/p>\n Stones Throw Records<\/a><\/p>\n 5\/5 Stars<\/p>\n From the very first time the\u00a0Thuggin’<\/em>\u00a0EP<\/em>\u00a0project was mentioned to me until the moment I finished listening to the whole thing, the concept of a \u2018perfect balance\u2019 echoed through my mind over and over. In so many ways does this\u00a0EP<\/em>\u00a0make sense of a what I\u2019d call a \u2018Hip Hop equilibrium\u2019.\u00a0Stones Throw’s\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>staple-producer\u00a0Madlib &<\/strong>\u00a0Freddie Gibbs\u00a0<\/strong>create a harmonious duality in which a legend meets a talented initiate, West Coast meets Midwest (Gibbs<\/strong>\u00a0hails from Gary, IN), and instrumental tracks shake hands with some solid lyrics.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stones Throw Records<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>released this\u00a0EP<\/em>\u00a0last November, but I\u2019ve been waiting to lend my excitement to others about it and discuss the potential of the full-length\u00a0LP<\/em>, which is to be released later this year. Even though it only consists of six tracks, it\u2019s honestly all you need for right now. You\u2019ll get full off of what they serve, no doubt. The first two tracks are complimentary of each other, meaning the vocal version of \u201cThuggin\u2019\u201d is followed by the instrumental version. Right before a similar vocal\/instrumental set of \u201cDeep\u201d is one of two bonus tracks on the album called \u201cRiot Call\u201d. These beats definitely do hype your attention with samples of low drums and summoning battle cries. Still, it\u2019s not in favor of chaos but in anticipation of the spaced-out intro of the vocal version of \u201cDeep\u201d. This one goes inward, to a place\u00a0Gibbs<\/strong>\u00a0raps about as though he\u2019s describing the back of his hand. He goes \u201cdeep inside the ghetto\u201d. He knows it, and he knows it well. It\u2019s a bummer, I wish the vocal version was longer… I want more fire fromFreddie<\/strong>\u00a0on this!<\/p>\n httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vbxcPy1qJTU&feature=player_embedded<\/p>\n We luckily get that energy, though. On the vocal version of \u201cThuggin\u2019\u201d, that is. A part of\u00a0Freddie\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0talent is how well his lyrics tell his stories. He not only gives the dirty details of what\u2019s going on around him, but he lends the ears his mind. Whether it\u2019s cookin\u2019 in the kitchen or posted on the corner in the hood, as rapped about in \u201cThuggin\u2019\u201d, we know what he\u2019s feeling, doing, seeing, smelling, and most importantly, thinking: \u201ccause it feels so good\/ it feels so right\u201d. All of these descriptions help the listener make sense of and relate to the story, or, the song.\u00a0Freddie Gibbs\u00a0<\/strong>has the ability to tap into his psyche and very clearly deliver it through bars. I have noticed that some emcees can lyrically tell a great story but don\u2019t quite include the element of how it makes them feel and how it all affects the mentality. This makes a difference to listeners because that\u2019s where the connection is made. When an artist does this honestly and with clarity, more people can feel the music, not just hear it. \u201cThuggin\u2019\u201d is a perfect example of such. A fab high-five for\u00a0Freddie<\/strong>!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This duo very recently dropped visuals for \u201cDeep\u201d and boy oh boy does it color the track without reservation.\u00a0Freddie<\/strong>\u00a0vividly narrates you through the life he\u2019s telling about with a three minute & twenty-two second mini-movie. There are some raw, super dope images in it so make sure you check it out ASAP…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While\u00a0Gibbs<\/strong>\u00a0has a handful of well-received mixtapes and two\u00a0EPs<\/em>\u00a0out prior to this,\u00a0Madlib<\/strong>\u00a0is a more familiar pioneer to Hip Hop. His producing abilities fit so very well with\u00a0Freddie\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0flow and demeanor. \u00a0I couldn\u2019t be more pleased with the outcome of this\u00a0EP<\/em>\u00a0and I am hella excited for the\u00a0LP<\/em>\u00a0later in 2012. I throw 5 stars at this album! I must, however, push everyone to purchase and play this album on vinyl! I think playing anything\u00a0Madlib<\/strong>\u00a0on vinyl keeps everything\u00a0Madlib<\/strong>\u00a0at its glory. You can cop both digital and vinyl versions of\u00a0Thuggin<\/em>\u2019 on the\u00a0Stones Throw<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0website<\/a>!<\/p>\n Review by:\u00a0Stephanie Nicole Jones\u00a0<\/strong>–\u00a0journalist<\/em>
\n<\/strong>@Stephnicojones<\/a><\/p>\n