Piata is the long-awaited collaboration between Gary, Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs and Los

Angeles producer Madlib. Released on March 18, it was originally set for release in early 2012.
The record combines Gibbs hardcore gangsta rap with Madlibs rock- and soul-infused beats.
Gibbs lyrics have always focused on visceral biographic authenticity and independence from the
trappings of the music industry. Piata explores Freddie and Madlibs self-awareness as
musicians, especially their contradictions. In an interview with HipHopDX before the release,
Gibbs says I don't regret shit, but I'll show you the things I'm not proud of.

As Gibbs reflects on his life on Piata, he oscillates between two perspectives, one the
hardened drug dealer and stick-up man, the other the successful musician. His lyrics confront the
American reality of doing wrong in order to survive. Over samples of music from the 70s and
80s, Freddie contemplates his past and confronts his failures. He identifies how his bleak
situation in Gary shaped him and how he has overcome it by establishing a fanbase and his own
record label.

One highlight is Thuggin which was first released as an EP in 2011. Here Gibbs is
straightforward about his life as a drug dealer while criticizing his own behavior. He warns that
children should be taught to avoid drugs because hes willing to sell them to anyone in order to
survive, even to his own family. Gibbs raises the question of whether the individual is a product
of their environment, and if busting users and low level drug dealers is the best use of
government resources.

Despite all of the political themes in his lyrics, the most inflammatory part of the record is
Real, a diss track aimed at Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy, Gibbs former boss at CTE World.
Gibbs was signed to Jeezys label in 2011 but left the following year because of a contract
dispute, adding that Jeezy looked weak when he backed down from confrontations with Rick
Ross and Gucci Mane. Calling Jeezy a puppet, Gibbs attacks major record labels, comparing
them to 19th-century minstrel shows.

Gibbs has shown throughout his career the ability to rap over many styles of beats. Madlibs J
Dilla-inspired production, with its non-quantized beats and samples, feels as human and real as
Gibbs stories. In an interview with Rappcats, he says Gibbs is one of the few rappers who can
handle a full-length album with this production style. The pacing of the album is punctuated with
skits created with samples from blaxploitation films and bite-sized beats. These breaks from the
lyrical action fill out the record with a variety of soulful, vintage sounds.

The following graph can be cut if needed. - Austin

Shame was first released as an EP in 2012, and features BJ the Chicago Kid contributing his
smooth vocals to the songs hook. Critic Anthony Fantano rightly points out that Madlibs
mixing is so good it sounds as if BJ is an original part of the sample, Wish That You Were
Mine by The Manhattans from 1973.

Although Freddie has always repped for Gary, a large part of his music career has been spent in
Los Angeles, including the entire recording process for Piata. In Lakers, he is joined by LA
natives Ab-Soul and Polyester the Saint in celebration of the west coast culture that has shaped
their lives. Gibbs has drawn comparisons to Tupac, and Madlib includes a short vocal sample of
Shakur at the end of the track. The LA-based producer selects a fitting sample of Gary singer
Deniece Williams, her 1982 track Waiting.

The following graph can be cut if needed. - Austin

LA rappers Earl Sweatshirt and Domo Genesis are also featured. Robes has the Odd Future
members opening up over a reconstructed version of Lenny Whites Sweet Dreamer from
1977. Domo shares his Third Eye beliefs while Earl confesses to relying on weed to cope with
his problems. Freddie cites his critics as a source of motivation. I got plenty fans but I aint shit
without my haters.

Last year, when the album was still called Cocaine Piata, Gibbs shared the inspiration for the
title. In a dream of his, he had a child who wanted a piata for her birthday party. When the
children started beating up the piata, no candy fell out, only cocaine. They was just kids
playing in the dope. This juxtaposition of innocence and corruption illustrates why Gibbs stays
true to himself as an adamant figure in the gangsta rap genre.

4 out of 5 stars

Multimedia:

Video for Thuggin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbxcPy1qJTU

Album art http://www.jeffjank.com/home/Pinata.jpg by Jeff Jank

Gibbs portrait http://www.rappcats.com/xxx/FREDDIE_GIBBS_by_Peter_Beste.jpg by Peter
Beste