Freddie Gibbs exudes a relentless truth. This “Mouthpiece from the Midwest”, possesses an authenticity which is reflected in his unfiltered thoughts. Always the candid MC, Gibbs presents AllHipHop.com with a list of only five MCs that he considers worthy to be called “Top 5 Dead Or Alive.”
AllHipHop.com: We’re known for our signature “Top 5 Dead or Alive” lists at AllHipHop. According to Freddie Gibbs, which five MCs make this list, and why?
EMINEM
Freddie Gibbs: Eminem.
AllHipHop.com: Why, Eminem?
Freddie Gibbs: Because, technically, he’s the best rapper of all time. With words, he’s the best. The way he raps, the way he puts words together, his wordplay – nobody can do wordplay better than him.
AllHipHop.com: Which track from him best exemplifies his technical skills as an MC?
Freddie Gibbs: All of them. You can’t really pinpoint one, because Eminem raps better than everybody else. He has a tailor-made flow. Can’t nobody match it – not even me.
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
AllHipHop.com: Why Biggie?
Freddie Gibbs: Biggie, because of his storytelling capability. His voice is one of the most unique voices in Rap, period. So, I think he was just an underdog; everybody wanted to root for him.
AllHipHop.com: He only gave us two albums. Did those albums change the genre, or do we just miss him?
Freddie Gibbs: [incredulous shrug] Well, those two albums are better than most n*gga’s careers. It doesn’t matter. A lot of people say that, ‘Biggie only had two albums.’ But, you couldn’t rap better than him on either one of them muthafu*ckas. How can he not be considered one of the best?
TUPAC SHAKUR
Freddie Gibbs: And, Tupac, of course!
AllHipHop.com: Why, ‘Pac?
Freddie Gibbs: He’s just the best, overall.
AllHipHop.com: Favorite album, favorite verse, favorite track by, ‘Pac?
Freddie Gibbs: There’s so many – I can’t even name one.
AllHipHop.com: Tell me!
Freddie Gibbs: It’s hard to find a Tupac song that I don’t like. I’ll put it that way.
AllHipHop.com: Have you, or would you, make any posthumous collaborations with him?
Freddie Gibbs: Would I do a posthumous collaboration [with Tupac]? No!
AllHipHop.com: No; why not?
Freddie Gibbs: I think that sh*t is corny as f*ck. Posthumous collaborations are corny! Unless, it’s like some, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jay-Z sh*t, or like some Frank Sinatra and Jay-Z sh*t, or, like a mash-up or some sh*t. N*ggas that be doing songs with dead rappers – that sh*t is corny.
AllHipHop.com: Why’s that?
Freddie Gibbs: Because, you don’t know if that n*gga would do a song with you in real life. Unless it’s like Bun [B] doing a song with Pimp [C]. I love, Tupac! But, in real life, I don’t know if he would have f*cked with me. I would never jump on one of his records.
AllHipHop.com: So, it’s a respect thing; you think it’s too audacious to do that?
Freddie Gibbs: Yeah, it’s kinda lame. Do your own sh*t.
SCARFACE
AllHipHop.com: [laughter] Who else makes this list?
Freddie Gibbs: Scarface.
AllHipHop.com: Have you been able to work with him yet?
Freddie Gibbs: No; I would like to. I wish. He’s on my wish-list. For the last five years, I wished for that sh*t for Christmas. I ain’t got it yet. I love him to death.
FREDDIE GIBBS / JAY-Z
AllHipHop.com: One more.
Freddie Gibbs: Me and Jay-Z are the top fifth. Well, there really is no order. It’ll be me and Jay-Z.
AllHipHop.com: Why Freddie Gibbs?
Freddie Gibbs: Because, with them n*ggas, I think that’s the level that I gotta reach. Everybody else, I can probably rap better than them.
AllHipHop.com: There’s that confidence.
Freddie Gibbs: [nods head to emphasize point] I can probably rap better than everybody else. Oh, I forgot to add Bun [B]! I can’t rap better than Bun yet, but I’m working on it. I’m studying your moves! He’s a good teacher to have, so I’m studying his moves. I study his moves, like I said, I study, ‘Face. I look at these fools like that. And on the technical side, Eminem, can’t nobody really f*ck with his bars. On the technical side, a lot of n*ggas can’t f*ck with Bun [B]. I can’t give you just five n*ggas; it’s hard.
Anyway, like I was saying, you can’t have just five n*ggas. Get high and make raps. F*ck the police. Keep it pushing, [and] keep it real, man. Stop f*cking with all the bullsh*t.
http://allhiphop.com/2012/02/27/allhiph ... die-gibbs/
