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FREDDIE GIBBS & MADLIB BANDANA (2019)
TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW: a thread
(RT’s much appreciated)
TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW: a thread
(RT’s much appreciated)
TRACK no. 1
OBRIGADO
This is just a mere intro at 10 seconds in length, and a bit of a tone setter. It’s unique as it seperates itself from the 30 second intro track from Piñata, ‘Supplier’. Which had a very grimy coke-rap asthetic. This one has a much more (1/2)
OBRIGADO
This is just a mere intro at 10 seconds in length, and a bit of a tone setter. It’s unique as it seperates itself from the 30 second intro track from Piñata, ‘Supplier’. Which had a very grimy coke-rap asthetic. This one has a much more (1/2)
subdued tone, especially with the man speaking (I don’t know wtf he’s speaking) which reoccurs throughout the album. It gives it a different vibe, not sure how to describe it
Track no. 2
FREESTYLE S**T
This song is the first full track on the album and a great one at that. Starts off the first full song extremely soulful, with the chopped up horn and vocal samples. Freddie’s lyrics compliment the production with them showing the contrasts (1/2)
FREESTYLE S**T
This song is the first full track on the album and a great one at that. Starts off the first full song extremely soulful, with the chopped up horn and vocal samples. Freddie’s lyrics compliment the production with them showing the contrasts (1/2)
Between his life as a crack cocaine dealer in the underbelly of Gary, Indiana, and his life now making it big as a rapper. He paints a very good picture of how he feels leaving that lifestyle and entering this new one. (2/2)
7/10
7/10
TRACK no. 3
HALF MANNE HALF COCAINE
This track starts with an unexpected yet impressive trap beat from Madlib. Sounding very slick and clean among much of the trap beats in the mainstream rn (but done a lot better). Much of these beats in the mainstream are used (1/2)
HALF MANNE HALF COCAINE
This track starts with an unexpected yet impressive trap beat from Madlib. Sounding very slick and clean among much of the trap beats in the mainstream rn (but done a lot better). Much of these beats in the mainstream are used (1/2)
To rap about sex, money, women, etc. Which Freddie proceeds to do. He raps about all these luxuries of life to fulfill the ‘Half Manne’ segment of this track. He contrasts this the ‘Half Cocaine’ segment of the track, which shows a very grimy greasy beat. Complimenting (2/3)
Freddie’s lyrics about drugs and drug dealing in society’s seedy underbelly. Although showed in a non glorified manner. One thing that separates this album from piñata, is that it doesn’t choose as much to glorify the life is drug dealing. (3/3)
TRACK no. 4
CRIME PAYS
This track features a very slick and clean beat with a pulsating hi hat drum riff, and a very nice sounding electric piano? (Don’t know what instrument he sampled). Freddie once again rapping about the life of a drug dealer although not very (1/2)
CRIME PAYS
This track features a very slick and clean beat with a pulsating hi hat drum riff, and a very nice sounding electric piano? (Don’t know what instrument he sampled). Freddie once again rapping about the life of a drug dealer although not very (1/2)
Glorified, speaking about the cause and effects of that type of lifestyle. (2/2)
TRACK no. 5
MASSAGE SEATS
This shows a very punchy kick/snare pattern with a very simple vocal sample chopped throughout. Freddie using this beat to rap more about the specific stories of his life during these times.
MASSAGE SEATS
This shows a very punchy kick/snare pattern with a very simple vocal sample chopped throughout. Freddie using this beat to rap more about the specific stories of his life during these times.
TRACK no. 6
PALMOLIVE (FEAT. PUSHA T & KILLER MIKE)
This cut starts off with a verse from Freddie over this beautiful beat, a very subtle kick/side stick pattern over a vocal sample as well as low mixed guitars and bass. Freddie raps a bit about (1/2)
PALMOLIVE (FEAT. PUSHA T & KILLER MIKE)
This cut starts off with a verse from Freddie over this beautiful beat, a very subtle kick/side stick pattern over a vocal sample as well as low mixed guitars and bass. Freddie raps a bit about (1/2)
The current state of politics, name dropping several current and retired politicians. Killer Mike handles the chorus, which perfectly transitions to Pusha T’s verse. An amazing one at that, easily one of my favorite verses of the 10s. One of my favorite lines is (2/3)
“Obama opened his doors knowing I was a criminal” badass as fuck (3/3)
9/10
9/10
TRACK no. 7
FAKE NAMES
Great beat on this one, very eerie. Freddie compliments it with the huge downsides of living his past lifestyle as a criminal. “Shit so real need to use Fake Names” describes it as the “Lifestyles of the insane”. (1/2)
FAKE NAMES
Great beat on this one, very eerie. Freddie compliments it with the huge downsides of living his past lifestyle as a criminal. “Shit so real need to use Fake Names” describes it as the “Lifestyles of the insane”. (1/2)
Freddie keeps upon this lyrical theme until the beat switch where Madlib pulls out a few vintage horn and strong samples. Freddie proceeded to get more in depth with a specific story from this time in his life. (2/2)
10/10
10/10
TRACK no. 8
FLAT TUMMY TEA
Freddie comes over this very loud and sloppy beat (in a good way), rapping about the specifics of cooking crack, and his experiences with it. This lyrical themes are persistent throughout the track, although Madlib pulls a beautiful (1/2)
FLAT TUMMY TEA
Freddie comes over this very loud and sloppy beat (in a good way), rapping about the specifics of cooking crack, and his experiences with it. This lyrical themes are persistent throughout the track, although Madlib pulls a beautiful (1/2)
Beat switch in the middle of the cut which Freddie absolutely murders(2/2)
9/10
9/10
TRACK no. 9
SITUATIONS
In my opinion, the albums only fault. A kind of average beat (not horrible at all), very boring and reptiles lyrics from Freddie. With a very yelpy inflection and boring flow. That being said it’s not horrible and there’s some likable things.
6/10
SITUATIONS
In my opinion, the albums only fault. A kind of average beat (not horrible at all), very boring and reptiles lyrics from Freddie. With a very yelpy inflection and boring flow. That being said it’s not horrible and there’s some likable things.
6/10
TRACK no. 10
GIANNIS (FEAT. ANDERSON .PAAK)
Really great sounding beat from Madlib here, with a very understated verse from Freddie. But here, Anderson really steals the show. He handles the very soulful chorus for a little bit, but then explodes in his rap verse.
8/10
GIANNIS (FEAT. ANDERSON .PAAK)
Really great sounding beat from Madlib here, with a very understated verse from Freddie. But here, Anderson really steals the show. He handles the very soulful chorus for a little bit, but then explodes in his rap verse.
8/10
TRACK no. 11
PRACTICE
My favorite track here. I has a beautiful beat. Amazing vocal samples with a simple kick/side stick beat. Freddie raps over this speaking about his love life, his decision to cheat in a very subdued yet intriguing way. (1/2)
PRACTICE
My favorite track here. I has a beautiful beat. Amazing vocal samples with a simple kick/side stick beat. Freddie raps over this speaking about his love life, his decision to cheat in a very subdued yet intriguing way. (1/2)
These lyrics of infidelity only hold until the first leg of the track. In the second leg Freddie raps about trying to hold on and salvage this relationship looking like it’s about to die. It’s a beautiful song and one of my favorites in Freddie’s discography (2/2).
10/10
10/10
TRACK no. 12
CATARACTS
Song comes with a beautiful sample with very minimal changing aside from a bit of pitch shifting and mixing. Although this does a lot. Freddie reminisces on old times during his times of a drug dealer, but more in nostalgic lenses. (1/2)
CATARACTS
Song comes with a beautiful sample with very minimal changing aside from a bit of pitch shifting and mixing. Although this does a lot. Freddie reminisces on old times during his times of a drug dealer, but more in nostalgic lenses. (1/2)
This stops until the beat switch later in the track. With a very slick and eerie beat. Freddie uses this to tell a story from his drug dealing days from a more paranoid and strange place.
9/10
9/10
TRACK no. 13
GAT DAMN
Like the beat here, very soulful with the faint drums and persistent strings throughout. Don’t love the singing from Freddie at the beginning (as he can’t sing that well), but it picks up more once he starts rapping. (1/2)
GAT DAMN
Like the beat here, very soulful with the faint drums and persistent strings throughout. Don’t love the singing from Freddie at the beginning (as he can’t sing that well), but it picks up more once he starts rapping. (1/2)
I like the rapping here but for me the refrain gets a little repetitive, thankfully the track doesn’t go for too long. (2/2)
6.5/10
6.5/10
TRACK no. 14
EDUCATION (FEAT. YASIIN BEY & BLACK THOUGHT)
Love the sample using from RD Bhurman’s dance music (probably would recognizing from the second part of 90210). He layers all the piano from the sample beautifully and meticulously. (1/2)
EDUCATION (FEAT. YASIIN BEY & BLACK THOUGHT)
Love the sample using from RD Bhurman’s dance music (probably would recognizing from the second part of 90210). He layers all the piano from the sample beautifully and meticulously. (1/2)
Love the beginning feature from Yasiin Bey (or Mos Def). Gives a very good feature on this album (as per). This great feature transitions to Black Thought’s feature, which is also great (also as per). Freddie comes in at the very last leg of the song. (2/3)
In my opinion he has the weakest verse here but it’s still great. Really great cut here. (3/3)
8/10
8/10
Track no. 15
SOUL RIGHT
Good ending track, great beat, very spacey yet still very well coordinated from Madlib as usual. Freddie pushes out a few great ending verses. I think if this last cut had was a bit longer it could’ve done a lot more.Still great ending to the album
7/10
SOUL RIGHT
Good ending track, great beat, very spacey yet still very well coordinated from Madlib as usual. Freddie pushes out a few great ending verses. I think if this last cut had was a bit longer it could’ve done a lot more.Still great ending to the album
7/10
@FreddieGibbs & @madlib
BANDANA
Track ranking:
Practice
Fake Names
Palmolive
Cataracts
Flat Tummy Tea
Giannis
Education
Half Manne Half Cocaine
Soul Right
Freestyle S**t
Crime Pays
Massage Seats
Gat Damn
Situations
Obrigado
BANDANA
Track ranking:
Practice
Fake Names
Palmolive
Cataracts
Flat Tummy Tea
Giannis
Education
Half Manne Half Cocaine
Soul Right
Freestyle S**t
Crime Pays
Massage Seats
Gat Damn
Situations
Obrigado
Would give this album a strong 9/10. My second (maybe first) favorite album of 2019
THANK YOU A LOT FOR READING
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Took me a while to word this correctly, hopefully it doesn’t flop. No matter if you retweeted this or just read it, thanks. Means a lot
Took me a while to word this correctly, hopefully it doesn’t flop. No matter if you retweeted this or just read it, thanks. Means a lot
END OF THREAD
