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."
County Bounce
Freddie Gibbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't even do shit, I'mma call up a bitch
I'mma see if she can post my bail, I was
Rollin' and smokin' that dro,
Shining on a motherfuckin' po, he was jealous as hell
That's why he threw a nigga in this hole
At a certain point of time, man I lost my way
But it really ain't no justification for the things I be on today
Coppin' and choppin that?
Kush weed, killa codeine, and purp
Ball til ya fall all goddamn long
But understand when you fall you can fall face first
So that's when my uncle O sat a nigga down,
Sat a nigga straight, and he said nigga set yo goals
Be easy, take shit slow, but don't ever let a muhfucka slow yo roll
Pockets stay swole and if you keep your eyes on the prize then they gon get bigger
Some of your homies might go out like bitches
The real niggas gon' be still here with ya
I might not send out kites and visit like I should, bruh
Got so much on my mind, spend some time, I wish I could, bruh
I'm hustlin' and duckin' police
Got me out here strugglin' to eat
A nigga try to do what he can
To keep it right with ya fam
But yo I gotta stay up on my feet
This music shit been kinda sluggish
Gotta keep my lights on so I stay thuggin'
Swear that I would stop if the streets didn't love it
Certain days man I wanna say fuck it
But I does it, do it, did it better than most niggas do this
And from the get-go I done let 'em know that it's all cause of you
Wouldn't be no me if there wasn't no Will Scrill, CC8,?
Pioneers of my city help me pave my way
So I pay my dues and I see the big picture
Let's get together we can get dope quicker
I hit the studio and burn out Swishers
To let my niggas know I'm still here with ya
The lyrics of Freddie Gibbs's song County Bounce tell the story of a man who wakes up in a county jail, having been arrested for a crime he didn't commit. He plans to call a woman he knows to post his bail so he can get out of there. He reflects on the circumstances that led him there, admitting that he lost his way but acknowledging that he is doing what he needs to do to survive. He talks about the drugs he sells and the risks he takes to make a living and provide for his family.
The lyrics also include a conversation he had with his uncle, who tells him to set his goals, take it easy, and not let anyone slow him down. He advises him to keep his eye on the prize and to stay focused despite the challenges he may face. The song ends with Freddie Gibbs expressing his dedication to his music and his appreciation for the people who helped him along the way. He acknowledges that he wouldn't be where he is today without his supporters, and he promises to stay loyal to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning shackled head to toe in a county jail
I was arrested and spent the night in jail
I ain't even do shit, I'mma call up a bitch
I didn't commit any crime and want to call a woman to help me post bail
Rollin' and smokin' that dro,
I was smoking marijuana while driving
Shining on a motherfuckin' po, he was jealous as hell
The police officer was envious of me because of my car or style
That's why he threw a nigga in this hole
The officer arrested me and put me in a cell
At a certain point of time, man I lost my way
I made some bad decisions in the past
But it really ain't no justification for the things I be on today
I can't use my past as an excuse for my current actions
I'm just doing what I gotta do I'm out here
I'm trying to survive and make money
Coppin' and choppin that?
I'm selling drugs such as kush weed, codeine, and purp
Ball til ya fall all goddamn long
I'm living my life and having fun, even if it means taking risks
But understand when you fall you can fall face first
If I fail or make a mistake, it can have serious consequences
So that's when my uncle O sat a nigga down, Sat a nigga straight, and he said nigga set yo goals
My uncle advised me to set goals and be focused
Be easy, take shit slow, but don't ever let a muhfucka slow yo roll
My uncle told me to relax, take my time, but not to let anyone stop me
Pockets stay swole and if you keep your eyes on the prize then they gon get bigger
If I stay focused and work hard, I can make more money
Some of your homies might go out like bitches
Some of my friends might act cowardly or betray me
The real niggas gon' be still here with ya
However, my true friends will stick by me no matter what
I might not send out kites and visit like I should, bruh
I may not keep in touch with my friends as much as I should
Got so much on my mind, spend some time, I wish I could, bruh
I'm busy and stressed out, and I wish I had more time to relax
I'm hustlin' and duckin' police
I'm working hard and trying to avoid getting arrested
Got me out here strugglin' to eat
However, I'm still struggling to make ends meet
A nigga try to do what he can To keep it right with ya fam
I'm doing my best to take care of my family
But yo I gotta stay up on my feet
I need to stay strong and keep moving forward
This music shit been kinda sluggish
My career in music hasn't been going well
Gotta keep my lights on so I stay thuggin'
However, I need to keep hustling to pay my bills
Swear that I would stop if the streets didn't love it
I would quit selling drugs if it wasn't so profitable
Certain days man I wanna say fuck it
Sometimes I feel like giving up
But I does it, do it, did it better than most niggas do this
However, I'm good at what I do, and I'm better than most people
And from the get-go I done let 'em know that it's all cause of you
I credit my success to my friends and supporters
Wouldn't be no me if there wasn't no Will Scrill, CC8,?
Without my friends Will Scrill and CC8, I wouldn't be where I am today
Pioneers of my city help me pave my way
These people were instrumental in helping me establish myself in the music industry
So I pay my dues and I see the big picture
I've worked hard and have a better understanding of the music industry
Let's get together we can get dope quicker
We can achieve greater success if we work together
I hit the studio and burn out Swishers
I go to the studio and smoke cigars with my friends
To let my niggas know I'm still here with ya
I do this to let my friends know that I'm still committed to our friendship
Contributed by Jayden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.