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."
Flamboyant
Freddie Gibbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These bench warmers never actually been
Part of the action i wanna be legit
But being broke would be a distraction
My only interest is pimping and pandering
Pistol packing so fuck rap
I ain't that nigga that
I got away with shit that could've
Put me under the prison
My recent run ins with police
Has got me under suspicion
I bet they never find me
Guilty under my own admission
This shit is part of god's plan
This was not my decision in hell's kitchen
But I'm chefing up a fresh
Cold plate of revenge
On you fuck niggas and fair weather friends
I got them nervous because I
Got niggas still rocking
Despite my flights with police
Lights and light pockets
I'm still the same dog
Same killer flow but your rap
Is a different game, dog
Not gone compromise my pride
To entertain ya'll
Hip hop I damn near hate ya'll
I'm sick and tired of all
These Autotuned ass niggas i miss Nate Dogg
Miss me with that back
And forth video blogging
Because a nigga really out here robbing
If I felt you was a bona fide problem
I'd bring straight at ya
Only Youtube niggas bust guns on camera
I could shoot dudes quicker
Than paramedics can handle
Watch a motherfucker down that amble
Take his last rock
Indiana's all time greatest
But I ain't satisfied fuck the rap game
I'm your favorite by a landslide
Whether niggas know it or not yet
My shit about to knock on every block
Every project
It's East 17th, put it down for my set
So blame it on them crackers why
My album ain't dropped yet
I guess I'm too hard for Power 92 or GCI
And I'm just a hop, skip
And a jump from the Chi'
But bitch I'm out the dos-uno-nueve
Es para mi que llegue
Pushed D in EC and got in shootouts with eses
Them niggas down in 'Nap know that
I ain't scared to blast, nig'
Jack them pussy niggas for they
Rims at the Classic
A black mass of black kush wrapped in plastic
35 dollars for the gram, I was taxing
Telephone calls from her man
While I'm smashing slay your main dame
Have her mashin' for rations
Your ho' give me the whole check
So ho' check it
Got smokers on my team that like
To smoke they dope naked
With a crack ho' stroking his rope
He want the hard and the broad
So I'm serving them both
I flip a spot to a one stop
Shop for rock and hot cot
Got lines of Lenny Bias
So throw in your snot box
Niggas rhyme these days
At times it's not hot
Labels buy they own records and
Pay for the top spot
Am I in the wrong business, I wonder
"Should I stop?
Is my music going to take care
Of my mama if I flop?"
Is a nigga gonna depend on that?
I think not, if you think so
You think slow, so don't think, ho'
Freddie Gibbs run up in
Cribs like Kris Kringle
Touch down and talk more shit than Ocho Cinco
My people slaved in this American regime
This need I feel remain, Rahim
Stay on my team praise to the most high
Fuck everything in between
Seen young black kings and
Queens turned to fiends
Swallowed up in the machine, nahmean
Straight greasy you lock a nigga up
What I'ma do when they release me?
Shout out to Finger Roll, C Mac
And Will Screezy the reason why I make it
Look easy, East Side, nigga
In "Flamboyant," Freddie Gibbs delivers a raw and introspective exploration of his life and experiences. The song begins with Gibbs asserting his authenticity and ambition, expressing his desire to be a legitimate success rather than just another bystander. He reveals his primary interests in pimping and pandering, highlighting his street background and rough upbringing.
Throughout the lyrics, Gibbs reflects on his encounters with law enforcement and the criminal activities he has engaged in. He acknowledges that he has gotten away with illegal actions that could have landed him in prison. Despite feeling under suspicion, Gibbs believes these experiences are a part of God's plan, although he didn't choose this path voluntarily. He seeks revenge against those who have betrayed him or turned their backs on him, expressing a determination to overcome the obstacles he faces.
Gibbs also criticizes the state of the rap game, expressing his frustration with the prevalence of autotuned artists and longing for the legendary Nate Dogg. He asserts his authenticity and refusal to compromise his pride or entertain others for the sake of popularity. Gibbs further emphasizes his street credibility by dismissing video blogging and emphasizing that he is not afraid to resort to violence if necessary.
The lyrics also touch on Gibbs' pride in coming from Indiana and his frustration with the delay of his album release, which he attributes to external factors. He asserts his status as Indiana's greatest, stating that he is unsatisfied with the rap game and is about to make a significant impact.
In the later verses, Gibbs details his encounters with women and his involvement in drug dealing. He describes seducing someone's partner, emphasizing his power and control. He mentions drug addiction among black individuals and the systemic issues that contribute to their downfall.
Throughout the song, Gibbs shows his resilience and determination to rise above his circumstances. He paints a vivid picture of his experiences and expresses his loyalty to his team and his East Side roots.
Line by Line Meaning
East Side GI, what up? Goon life, what up?
Greetings to the East Side gang members and those living a tough, criminal lifestyle.
These bench warmers never actually been
These individuals posing as tough have never really been a part of the dangerous action.
Part of the action I wanna be legit
I want to be involved in real criminal activities and have a legitimate reputation.
But being broke would be a distraction
However, being financially unstable would divert my attention.
My only interest is pimping and pandering
My primary focus is engaging in illegal activities such as pimping and prostitution.
Pistol packing so fuck rap
Carrying a gun is more important to me than pursuing a career in rap music.
I ain't that nigga that be rapping about rapping
I'm not the type of rapper who constantly talks about the art of rapping.
I got away with shit that could've
I have successfully committed crimes that could have resulted in my imprisonment.
Put me under the prison
Sentencing me to a long prison term.
My recent run-ins with police
My recent encounters with law enforcement officers.
Has got me under suspicion
They have me under investigation as a suspect.
I bet they never find me
I'm confident they will never catch me.
Guilty under my own admission
I openly confess my guilt.
This shit is part of God's plan
These events are part of a greater plan ordained by God.
This was not my decision in Hell's Kitchen
I didn't actively choose to be in this dangerous situation.
But I'm chefing up a fresh
But I'm preparing a new and significant
Cold plate of revenge
Cold and calculated act of seeking revenge.
On you fuck niggas and fair weather friends
On all the disloyal individuals who pretend to be friends.
I got them nervous because I
I instill fear in others because
Got niggas still rocking
I still have supporters and followers despite my conflicts with law enforcement.
Despite my flights with police
Even with my ongoing confrontations with the police.
Lights and light pockets
Limited financial resources despite fame and recognition.
I'm still the same dog
I haven't changed, I'm still the same person.
Same killer flow but your rap
My rap style is still deadly, while your
Is a different game, dog
Style of rap is mediocre and lacks substance.
Not gone compromise my pride
I refuse to sacrifice my pride.
To entertain ya'll
In order to please the audience.
Hip hop I damn near hate ya'll
I almost despise the state of hip hop.
I'm sick and tired of all
I am exhausted by
These Autotuned ass niggas I miss Nate Dogg
These artists who heavily rely on auto-tune, I long for the talent of Nate Dogg.
Miss me with that back
Don't bother me with the irrelevant
And forth video blogging
And continuous back-and-forth video arguments.
Because a nigga really out here robbing
Because I am truly involved in criminal activities.
If I felt you was a bona fide problem
If I believed that you were a true threat.
I'd bring straight at ya
I would confront you directly.
Only Youtube niggas bust guns on camera
Only inexperienced individuals on YouTube showcase their gun usage on camera.
I could shoot dudes quicker
I can shoot and defeat opponents faster
Than paramedics can handle
Than paramedics can address the situation.
Watch a motherfucker down that amble
Observe a person collapse and meet their demise.
Take his last rock
Seize the last piece of crack cocaine from him.
Indiana's all-time greatest
Considered the best to come out of Indiana.
But I ain't satisfied fuck the rap game
However, I am not content with the current state of the rap industry.
I'm your favorite by a landslide
I am your favorite artist by a significant margin.
Whether niggas know it or not yet
Even if people are not yet aware of it.
My shit about to knock on every block
My music is about to have a significant impact and be heard everywhere.
Every project
In every neighborhood.
It's East 17th, put it down for my set
Representing my gang from East 17th street.
So blame it on them crackers why
Blame the people in power for the delayed release of my album.
My album ain't dropped yet
My album hasn't been released yet.
I guess I'm too hard for Power 92 or GCI
I'm too explicit and confrontational for popular radio stations.
And I'm just a hop, skip
And I'm just a short distance away
And a jump from the Chi'
From the city of Chicago.
But bitch I'm out the dos-uno-nueve
But I'm actually from the 219 area code.
Es para mi que llegue
It's for me to make an impact.
Pushed D in EC and got in shootouts with eses
I sold drugs and engaged in gunfights with Hispanic gang members in East Chicago.
Them niggas down in 'Nap know that
People in Indianapolis are aware of my reputation.
I ain't scared to blast, nig'
I am not afraid to use firearms.
Jack them pussy niggas for they
Rob those weak individuals for their
Rims at the Classic
Wheel rims at a popular event or location.
A black mass of black kush wrapped in plastic
A significant quantity of high-quality marijuana wrapped in plastic.
35 dollars for the gram, I was taxing
Charging a high price of $35 for a single gram of drugs.
Telephone calls from her man
Receiving phone calls from a woman's boyfriend.
While I'm smashing
While I'm having sexual intercourse with her.
Slay your main dame
Having sexual relations with your main girlfriend.
Have her mashin' for rations
Have her working hard and providing me with resources.
Your ho' give me the whole check
Your prostitute gives me all her earnings.
So ho' check it
Be aware, prostitute.
Got smokers on my team that like
I have drug addicts on my side who enjoy
To smoke they dope naked
Using drugs while being completely nude.
With a crack ho' stroking his rope
A crack addict woman pleasuring a man's penis.
He want the hard and the broad
He desires both money and women.
So I'm serving them both
So I'm providing them with what they want.
I flip a spot to a one stop
I successfully turn a location into a place to sell drugs.
Shop for rock and hot cot
A store to buy crack cocaine and a place to sleep.
Got lines of Lenny Bias
I have large quantities of high-quality drugs.
So throw in your snot box
Prepare to receive a punch in your face.
Niggas rhyme these days
Most rappers these days
At times it's not hot
At times their music is not impressive.
Labels buy they own records and
Record labels purchase their own albums and
Pay for the top spot
Pay to ensure their music gets played prominently.
Am I in the wrong business, I wonder
I question whether I should continue pursuing a career in music.
Should I stop?
Should I quit?
Is my music going to take care
Can my music financially support
Of my mama if I flop?
My mother if I fail in the music industry?
Is a nigga gonna depend on that?
Should I rely on that as my only source of income?
I think not
I don't believe that's a wise decision.
If you think so
If you believe otherwise
You think slow, so don't think, ho'
You have a slow and foolish mindset, so don't bother.
Freddie Gibbs run up in
I, Freddie Gibbs, enter
Cribs like Kris Kringle
Houses like Santa Claus on Christmas
Touch down and talk more shit than Ocho Cinco
Arrive and boast more aggressively than the football player Ocho Cinco.
My people slaved in this American regime
My ancestors were enslaved under the oppressive American system.
This need I feel remain, Rahim
This urge I still have, Rahim
Stay on my team praise to the most high
Remain loyal to me, thank the highest power.
Fuck everything in between
Disregard everything else.
Seen young black kings and
Witnessed young black males who were once
Queens turned to fiends
Respected individuals become drug addicts.
Swallowed up in the machine, nahmean
Consumed by the destructive cycle of the streets, you know what I mean.
Straight greasy you lock a nigga up
Unjustly imprisoning a person
What I'ma do when they release me?
What will I do when they eventually set me free?
Shout out to Finger Roll, C Mac
Sending greetings and respect to Finger Roll and C Mac
And Will Screezy
And Will Screezy
The reason why I make it
The reason why I succeed
Look easy, East Side, nigga
Appear effortless, representing the East Side, my friend
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@prod6mill.512
Not anybody can just rap on a big L beat. You really gotta have something, and Freddie has it
@TheBroknPezDispenser
Freddie bodied this verse from start to finish. One of the BEST verses I've ever heard. Seriously.
@justincollins3874
This shit was hard
@GnosticType
It seriously is one of the greatest verses of all time. Stupid underrated
@_nx..kromer.6085
Try going vegan. ✌
@GnosticType
@@_nx..kromer.6085 very random but i did go plant based for a couple months back in canada! its a little more difficult here in thailand but im doing mostly vegetarian
@joshuavisser3398
Absolutely destroys it. One of my most favorite verses as well
@jonwetzel6908
Still listen to this regularly...ten years later
@Everyting-Irie
STILL my favourite rapper by a landslide!
@wpease7
Forever