- It's been five years since Freddie Gibbs released Pinata, his full-length collaboration with legendary production wizard Madlib that's already carved a place in the pantheon of classic hip-hop records. Gibbs' gritty street lyricism sounded truly timeless atop Madlib's lush and sample-based scenery, relentlesly smooth beats sanded Freddie's trap-leaning tendencies into something far more refined.
Looking back, Pinata's cult following is entirely deserved. The duo's instant chemistry created a platform for both artists to explore new facets of their respective sounds, and its ensuing success helped put Freddie on the map while further bolstering Madlib's untouchable musical resumé. The prospect of a sequel is tantalising yet dangerous, promising to either further a legacy or help tarnish it. With Madlib's history of shaky collaborations, I'd honestly resigned myself to Pinata being a rare cosmic event in the world of hip-hop. Thankfully, Bandana is here and ready to go head to head with 5 years of impossible expectations.
First things first, Bandana takes more risks. Right from the get-go there are jarring beat-switches, unchained flows, and some puzzling skits involving a charming Japanese man. Even though some of these tracks have been in development for years, none of that raw energy is lost in reaching a cohesive whole. As damn-near perfect as Madlib's beats were on Pinata, some cuts here are comparatively insane. Lead single Flat Tummy Tea brings this cutthroat aggression that had me practically pinned to my seat while the thundering grooves on Massage Seats and Half Manne Half Cocaine sound almost unholy. If you're familiar with Madlib's colourful history of collaborators then you'll know what to expect, though he alleges most of Bandana was made on an iPad, something I'm inclined to believe based on the raw sampling skill underpinning each piece.
Where Pinata saw Freddie prove his worth next to one of the greatest in hip-hop, Bandana sees Gibbs often taking full control of a song's direction. Fake Names is an anxiety-ridden reflection on his rocky past while closer Soul Right is focused on the present. Freddie's personality and natural charisma provide balance and authenticity to his well-loved choices in subject matter. Gibbs doesn't just rap about selling drugs, he'll drop a cocaine brag before touching on the real life impact these long-term vices have had. It's a unique mixture of confidence, dark humour, and honesty that's pushed Freddie to the top of gangsta rappers today.
Even if the lyrics weren't consistently insightful and engaging, Freddie also stepped up his flows for Bandana. Especially when matched against an intense or oddball beat, Gibbs demonstrates his skills as an honours graduate of the school of trap. That primal hunger is still present in everything he spits, but now it's backed up by cascades of multi-syllabic flows and deliveries so intense they overtake the beat entirely. Bandana's first half is packed with short, punchy bites of contemporary gangsta rap at its finest, but it's around halfway that things start to sag. Here's where Madlib's iPad production claim becomes a negative, as multiple tracks in a row start to wear thin as they lean on shallow melodies for support.
Luckily, things pick back up again with Education, where Freddie goes toe to toe with conscious hip-hop heavyweights Mos Def and Black Thought. It's a phenomenal endpiece that's rounded out by the aforementioned Soul Right, bringing things home on a pleasantly intimate note. These slight dips in quality are only minor complaints within a fantastic overall project. I didn't find it quite as consistent or polished as Pinata, but that's okay. Bandana does everything a follow-up album should, search for new creative space that doesn't just retreat the same ground.
Even if you find gangsta rap's traditional themes to be tiresome, Bandana is still worth a listen. Freddie has evolved so much as both a person and an artist, progress that's documented clearly in every verse he spits. The duo's interviews have hinted at a potential trilogy and, without wanting to jinx it, I'd take as much music as they're willing to put out. Not many rappers have an album as good as Pinata in their discography, and now Freddie has two. This record left me feeling cautiously optimistic about music and life in general, it's honestly that good.
- Boddhi Farmer.