Hailing from Gary, Indiana, a place whose murder and crime rates have ranked it several times at the top of the "Most Dangerous Cities" list, Freddie Gibbs is the true definition of a street survivor. Raised on Gary's east side, Gibbs lived the hard life firsthand in a run-down industrial community plagued with vice and ignored by the establishment. After playing at Ball State on a football scholarship, Gibbs was kicked out of college. Over the next few years he went through court-ordered boot camp, joined and got discharged from the military, and held down a series of 9 to 5 jobs without success. Feeling like the system had failed him, Gibbs turned to hustling; pimping and selling crack out of a local house. Inspired by rappers like UGK, The Geto Boys, and 2Pac, Gibbs started rhyming about his life and the issues facing urban youth in Gary and the countless other impoverished cities just like it. Gibbs is the first rapper signed to a major label from Gary.
The Steel City's most famous musical residents to date are the Jackson 5, whose name still adorns a marquee on a falling-apart theater in Gary's blighted downtown. His desire to rep the Midwest and his city led Gibbs to start recording mixtapes and pushing them online as well as the streets, where he quickly began garnering fans drawn to his original style, diverse flows, and deeply personal lyrics about his experience as a young black man growing up below the poverty line in a forgotten American city.
Freddie has worked with respected producers like Madlib, Red Spyda, Just Blaze, Buckwild, the Alchemist, Polow Da Don, and Collipark among many others. Gibbs cites Houston rap and Pac as his major influences, and it shows in his ability to alternate between chillingly tense street stories of violence and laid back comedic tales about women and weed. Ultimately Gibbs shows and proves with his rhymes, which demonstrate the promise of a legend in the making. His skills, wit, and street credibility establish Freddie Gibbs as a true artist. He's ready to represent for Gary, the Midwest, and anyone who relates to the struggle of inner city life. As Gibbs tells it: "My music is definitely on some gangsta shit. That's what I was raised on and what I witnessed. How can I speak on anything else?" "Become a fan now, or become one later."
Babies & Fools
Freddie Gibbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kane Train
Toot a lil' somethin', somethin'
Let's smoke a lil' somethin', somethin', yeah
A bitch could never (all of me)
Ha, never, bitch, yeah (all of me)
Yeah, real nigga, what's up?
My second love was hard drugs, weed and this rappin' shit
Alhamdulillah on the nights that I wasn't havin' shit
I say my prayers but I'm rusty as fuck with Arabic
Lord, take me as I am 'cause I'm gon' come as I'm is
I might die twice if I look down and see my mama in tears
I gave her (all of me), uh
But I ain't gon' never die (all of me), uh
Bitch, I could never, what's up?
I know the Lord watch over babies and fools
I did the fooly with this tool to put my babies through school
I took my last ho out the country, fuck that bitch, we ain't cool
Hit them DMs, a nigga can't swim, but I fucked her friend by the pool
'Cause she was tour pussy, I never needed that bitch
She cussed me out in long-ass texts, but I ain't read them shits
She wanted (all of me)
But you could never have (all of me), haha, yeah
Bitch, you could never, what's up?
James Harden, I had to take a step back from bitches and certain niggas (yeah)
Sometimes you slip to get the success, then you start hurtin' feelings
Used to have the hardtop, yes, now I convert the ceiling
Friends was tryna count my pockets like I don't deserve a million
Bitch, I deserve a trillion
'Cause I would've did a trillion years for these niggas
Whole bid for these niggas
I gave 'em (all of me)
Nigga, I gave the streets (all of me)
I'm fallin' back, what's up?
Look, my first love was writin' verses and rappin' bars
My second love was sittin' on bandos and trappin' hard
Hospital bed, bullet in my neck and a fractured jaw
Call it crazy, but I always knew I'd bounce back this hard (I always knew)
Who got the matte black MAC? That's to match the car
I got that 'cause I been clapped before
Gave these streets (all of me)
Nigga, I gave the streets (all of me)
Uh, I'm on tour, I'm on the road just hustlin' and shit
My baby mama cut me off, she had enough of my shit
I'll Cashapp stacks every now and then, like that's enough
She like, "At least FaceTime, your babies don't see your ass enough"
Plus my older son is failin' math, that shit ain't addin' up
I guess I ain't around bein' a dad enough, I owe my kids
(All of me)
I owe them all and know it (all of me)
Uh, for the mob, you know I give niggas the shirt off my back
Somethin' happen to one of my niggas, I'll be the first to attack
Air out your corner, if I miss, then we circlin' back
Funeral lines, Cadillacs with the hearses to match
Huh, I rep my niggas every verse that I rap
Violate, the shots disperse from this MAC (May Block, nigga)
I gave my hood (all of me, you know what's up)
I gave my whole hood (all of me)
That's a fact, nigga
The song "Babies & Fools" by Freddie Gibbs depicts his personal struggles and complex emotions caused by his past and present life experiences. He starts by reflecting on his past, where he was once passionate about football and then later developed an addiction to drugs and rap music. He acknowledges his present conditions and expresses his gratitude towards Allah, despite feeling disconnected with his religious prayers. But, he requests God to accept him as he is, as he admits to making mistakes and being unsure of his future.
The chorus of the song highlights Gibbs's belief in God in that he knows that the Lord watches over babies and fools, hinting at his insecurities and mistakes, which he attributes to ignorance. Although he has made mistakes in his life, he has undoubtedly made it up to his family and loved ones by providing for them monetarily. The lyrics also reveal his strained relations with an ex-girlfriend, whom he had taken on a trip but eventually lost interest in, leading her to send long texts that he didn't bother reading.
The outro wraps up the song with Gibbs reflecting on his life's choices and how they have led him to where he is today. Although he has given his all (all of me) to his hood and music, he realizes that his children also deserve the same attention and promises to be a better father. Thus, the song contains Gibbs's true emotions of gratitude, regret, and hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Acknowledgement of the start of a new thought
Kane Train
Reference to a nickname or an individual
Toot a lil' somethin', somethin'
Suggesting the start of smoking or doing drugs
Let's smoke a lil' somethin', somethin', yeah
Encouragement to smoke or do more drugs
A bitch could never (all of me)
No woman can own or control him completely
Ha, never, bitch, yeah (all of me)
Reinforcement of the previous statement
Yeah, real nigga, what's up?
Asserting his authenticity and status
My first love was football from playin' that Madden shit
Affection for football as a game through playing Madden video game
My second love was hard drugs, weed and this rappin' shit
His next great loves, after football
Alhamdulillah on the nights that I wasn't havin' shit
Thankfulness, even in times of trouble
I say my prayers but I'm rusty as fuck with Arabic
Acknowledging his poor or limited proficiency in Arabic language
Lord, take me as I am 'cause I'm gon' come as I'm is
Requesting acceptance for who he is since he can't change himself
I might die twice if I look down and see my mama in tears
For his mom's sake, he strives to avoid situations that may lead to his death
I gave her (all of me), uh
He gave his all to his former romantic partner
But I ain't gon' never die (all of me), uh
He still has something left for himself
Bitch, I could never, what's up?
Reiteration of his unavailability to women
I know the Lord watch over babies and fools
Reference to the idiom and faith in God's protection
I did the fooly with this tool to put my babies through school
He committed a foolish or dangerous act for the sake of his children's schooling
I took my last ho out the country, fuck that bitch, we ain't cool
He left his last sexual partner outside of the country, and they are no longer friendly
Hit them DMs, a nigga can't swim, but I fucked her friend by the pool
He messaged someone on social media, had sex with their friend near a pool, even though he can't swim
'Cause she was tour pussy, I never needed that bitch
He only used her for sexual pleasure and didn't require a relationship
She cussed me out in long-ass texts, but I ain't read them shits
He received angry texts from her but didn't bother reading them
She wanted (all of me)
She wanted all of his attention and affection
But you could never have (all of me), haha, yeah
Reiteration of his unavailability to women
Bitch, you could never, what's up?
Reinforcement of his unavailability to women
James Harden, I had to take a step back from bitches and certain niggas (yeah)
Reference to NBA player James Harden and how he had to distance himself from undesirable people to succeed
Sometimes you slip to get the success, then you start hurtin' feelings
It's easy to make enemies when you succeed while leaving certain people behind
Used to have the hardtop, yes, now I convert the ceiling
He used to drive a car with a hard top, but now he has a convertible
Friends was tryna count my pockets like I don't deserve a million
His friends were envious of his success and wealth
Bitch, I deserve a trillion
He deserves even more wealth and success
'Cause I would've did a trillion years for these niggas
He would have done anything for his friends, even if it meant spending false or exaggerated amounts of time in jail or prison
Whole bid for these niggas
He would have served a full jail term for his friends to protect them from consequencial punishment
I gave 'em (all of me)
He gave his all to his friends, possibly including the aforementioned imprisonment for their sake
Nigga, I gave the streets (all of me)
He gave everything of himself to the streets, possibly through crime or hustling
I'm fallin' back, what's up?
He's stepping back from that life, presumably to try and live more honestly and safely
Look, my first love was writin' verses and rappin' bars
Music was his original passion
My second love was sittin' on bandos and trappin' hard
Drug dealing was his second love
Hospital bed, bullet in my neck and a fractured jaw
He was injured in a way that could have killed him
Call it crazy, but I always knew I'd bounce back this hard (I always knew)
He always had faith he would recover and get back to a successful life
Who got the matte black MAC? That's to match the car
Reference to a weapon to match his black car
I got that 'cause I been clapped before
He was shot before and needed protection
Gave these streets (all of me)
He gave everything of himself to the streets, possibly through crime or hustling
Nigga, I gave the streets (all of me)
He gave everything of himself to the streets, possibly through crime or hustling
Uh, I'm on tour, I'm on the road just hustlin' and shit
He's on tour and continuing with his work in the music industry and possibly other illicit activities
My baby mama cut me off, she had enough of my shit
His former romantic partner has ended contact with him due to whichever conflicts
I'll Cashapp stacks every now and then, like that's enough
He sends money to support their kids through an electronic transaction app
She like, "At least FaceTime, your babies don't see your ass enough"
She suggests he should communicate with his kids via video call and that he's not present enough
Plus my older son is failin' math, that shit ain't addin' up
His son is failing math, and he's concerned about it since the situation doesn't make sense to him
I guess I ain't around bein' a dad enough, I owe my kids
He admits he hasn't been present as a father and feels guilty about that
(All of me)
He owes his kids everything
I owe them all and know it (all of me)
He's aware he's indebted to his kids
Uh, for the mob, you know I give niggas the shirt off my back
In his mafia family or criminal organization, he's willing to give anything to help his people
Somethin' happen to one of my niggas, I'll be the first to attack
He's willing to use force to defend his friends or family
Air out your corner, if I miss, then we circlin' back
He's warning his rivals - if they strike, he'll retaliate and come for them again
Funeral lines, Cadillacs with the hearses to match
He'll send lavish cars to funerals of those he cares about
Huh, I rep my niggas every verse that I rap
He mentions his friends, family, or criminal organization in his musical performances
Violate, the shots disperse from this MAC (May Block, nigga)
He warns that if anyone messes with him, he won't hesitate to shoot them with his weapon (May Block is a reference to a street he grew up on)
I gave my hood (all of me, you know what's up)
He was fully invested in his neighborhood and the people there
I gave my whole hood (all of me)
He was fully invested in his neighborhood and the people there
That's a fact, nigga
Undeniable truth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Frederick Tipton, Demond Price
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adrianaguilera6693
This beat made a strip club look like a place where I can take my family and kids for lunch.
@Deballaphysique
😂😂😂😂😂
@jamalevans1574
💀💀💀💀💀💀
@SpottyFrmEV
😂😂😂
@52killergame
😂😂😂😂😂
@franklincrews6403
🤦🏽♂️😂😂😂😂😂😂🔥🔥🔥🔥
@yd856
The instrumental is so peaceful, Alchemist can never miss.
@gerardosantamaria9570
Facts, also nice pfp man 👍
@MTGDeckmasters
nice pfp
@pleasure.93
he cookin' good