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."
Heaven Can Wait
Freddie Gibbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just get high, treat everyday like my birthday, smoke with the crew
Hit the hood cause you know bitches be thirsty for dudes with loot
I change the paint to money green on my Cutlass
Rumble the roof like it was reinvented
Where the freaks is?
What's a drop if ain't no bitches in it?
Ride with me today, I'm in a mood to go spend some spinach
Funny how we straight from section 8, now we chill in resorts
30, 40 deep on south beach, me and D-Edge
Brought some bitches with us, but fuck these Puerto Ricans instead
Do this for my people, hopefully I can leave them some bread
Before these punk polices or jealous streets leave me for dead
I live a wild life, some might say it's child-like
On my second childhood
Bubba kush, banana wood, sippin' on some purple fluid
These drugs will kill me before I let you do it
187 Proof, I die today, I live through this music, Gibbs
Before I check out, let me diamond my neck out
Blow a mil on my niggas, fuck bitches like I was fresh out
Fresh to death when I step out, every day approaching the gates
I live a helluva life, baby, heaven can wait
Before I check out, let me diamond my neck out
Blow a mil on my niggas, fuck bitches like I was fresh out
Fresh to death when I step out, every day approaching the gates
I live a helluva life, baby, heaven can wait
Heaven can wait
Everyday I pray to be as strong as Huey Newton
Before you pull that trigger, take a closer look at who you shooting
Mirror image, nothing different, you just another slave
Tryin to succeed in these European's narcotics trade
Worked all week, 140 dollars was all I made
Fuck a job, I'd rather chop a rock and be chopping blades
Gotta watch these cops 'cause I came too far to die in a cage
Watch who you fuck, rather catch a bullet than die from AIDS
Before I check out, let me diamond my neck out
Crushing feelings on Broadway, I pulled that Monte SS out
Buy my mom a new spot and make sure that bitch super decked out
Swear I can't leave this Earth 'til I'm sure that you never stress out
Before I left out
I grab the zip and extra clips and hit the L on 21st and Virginia, and bless the Fifth
Hit the lab so I can lay all the shit I didn't get to spit
Could die tonight, but what I write they forever gon' reminisce
It's Gangsta Gibbs
Before I check out, let me diamond my neck out
Blow a mil on my niggas, fuck bitches like I was fresh out
Fresh to death when I step out, every day approaching the gates
I live a helluva life, baby, heaven can wait
Before I check out, let me diamond my neck out
Blow a mil on my niggas, fuck bitches like I was fresh out
Fresh to death when I step out, every day approaching the gates
I live a helluva life, baby, heaven can wait
The lyrics to Freddie Gibbs's "Heaven Can Wait" depict the mentality of someone who believes they have only 24 hours left to live. At the beginning of the song, Gibbs talks about getting high with his crew, visiting the hood, and spending money. He continues talking about living the life he wants, buying expensive things and luxury trips to South Beach. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that Gibbs is aware of the dangers that come with the lifestyle he has chosen. He speaks of the possibility of being killed by police or the streets, and how he doesn't want to die before ensuring his family is taken care of. He also speaks of the drug use that characterizes his life, but that it is his music that will live on.
The lyrics are a reflection of the turbulent life that Gibbs led when he was younger. He repeatedly urges listeners to live their lives to the fullest because they could be gone tomorrow. Despite the lifestyle he sings about in the song and the references to violence, capitalism and drug use, the song is ultimately about doing whatever it takes to help the people that matter most to you. To Gibbs, that's his family, friends, and fans. The song's title, "Heaven Can Wait," is a nod to the philosophy that in life we should focus on the present and make the most of it before moving on to the next realm.
Line by Line Meaning
24 hours to live, what would you do?
If you only had one day left to live, how would you choose to spend it?
Just get high, treat everyday like my birthday, smoke with the crew
I would spend my last day smoking weed with my friends and treating every day like it's a celebration.
Hit the hood cause you know bitches be thirsty for dudes with loot
I would go to the neighborhood because I know that women are attracted to men with money.
I change the paint to money green on my Cutlass
I painted my car green to symbolize wealth and money.
Rumble the roof like it was reinvented
I want to make my car so loud that it sounds like the roof is shaking.
Where the freaks is?
Where are all the attractive women who are interested in me?
What's a drop if ain't no bitches in it?
What's the point of driving a fancy car if there are no women around to impress?
Ride with me today, I'm in a mood to go spend some spinach
Come with me today, I feel like spending a lot of money.
On my niggas of course
I plan to spend my money on my close friends.
Funny how we straight from section 8, now we chill in resorts
It's ironic that we used to be poor, but now we can afford to stay at luxury resorts.
30, 40 deep on south beach, me and D-Edge
There are 30 to 40 of us partying on South Beach with my friend D-Edge.
Brought some bitches with us, but fuck these Puerto Ricans instead
We brought some women with us, but we don't want to spend time with the Puerto Rican women we met.
Do this for my people, hopefully I can leave them some bread
I'm doing this for my friends and family, and I hope to leave them some money when I am gone.
Before these punk polices or jealous streets leave me for dead
I am afraid of the police or people who may want to harm me because of my money.
I live a wild life, some might say it's child-like
My lifestyle is considered reckless and immature by some people.
On my second childhood
I am living a life of carefree abandon, as if I were a child again.
Bubba kush, banana wood, sippin' on some purple fluid
I am smoking marijuana and drinking lean.
These drugs will kill me before I let you do it
I would rather die from drugs than let someone else take my life.
187 Proof, I die today, I live through this music, Gibbs
I am willing to take risks and even face death because my music will live on.
Before I check out, let me diamond my neck out
Before I die, I want to buy expensive jewelry to wear around my neck.
Blow a mil on my niggas, fuck bitches like I was fresh out
I want to spend a million dollars on my friends and have sex with as many women as I can.
Fresh to death when I step out, every day approaching the gates
I always dress well and live life to the fullest because I know that death is always approaching.
I live a helluva life, baby, heaven can wait
I am living an amazing life, so I am in no rush to get to heaven.
Everyday I pray to be as strong as Huey Newton
I pray every day to have the strength and courage like Huey Newton, an American political activist.
Before you pull that trigger, take a closer look at who you shooting
Think twice before you harm someone because you don't know who they are or what they've been through.
Mirror image, nothing different, you just another slave
We are all the same, and we are all slaves to society, its norms and ways of thinking.
Tryin to succeed in these European's narcotics trade
I am trying to make money in a dangerous business which was introduced to the community by Europeans.
Worked all week, 140 dollars was all I made
I worked hard for an entire week, but I only earned a small amount of money.
Fuck a job, I'd rather chop a rock and be chopping blades
I do not want to work a low-paying job, so I would rather sell drugs instead.
Gotta watch these cops 'cause I came too far to die in a cage
I have accomplished too much to let the police arrest me and imprison me.
Watch who you fuck, rather catch a bullet than die from AIDS
Be careful who you have sex with, since it is better to die from violence than to die from a disease.
Crushing feelings on Broadway, I pulled that Monte SS out
I showed off my nice car and made people jealous on a popular street in New York called Broadway.
Buy my mom a new spot and make sure that bitch super decked out
I want to purchase a new home for my mother and make it very luxurious.
Swear I can't leave this Earth 'til I'm sure that you never stress out
I promise to not leave this world until I have ensured that you will never have to worry about anything again.
I grab the zip and extra clips and hit the L on 21st and Virginia, and bless the Fifth
I took some drugs and ammunition and went to a specific location on the Chicago Train System to sell drugs and make money.
Hit the lab so I can lay all the shit I didn't get to spit
I went to the recording studio to record songs I had not yet released.
Could die tonight, but what I write they forever gon' reminisce
I could die tonight, but my music will remain and people will remember me through it.
It's Gangsta Gibbs
This is a reminder that I am Freddie Gibbs, a gangster rapper.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tipton Fredrick Jamel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kevin Madison
2021 still jamming that morning glory sample tho 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Kevin Madison
@Alex Baum yeah he was full sounds and vibes back in the 90s fun middle school memories lol
Alex Baum
Hell yeah it is! When this came out, I ended up going back and listening to a bunch of Jamiroquai. Dude’s catalogue is full of highly sample-able shit.
paul farrell
one of the best songs ive ever heard. crazy how the dopest shit is hidden and alot wack mainstream i can hear eveywhere...money make the world go round on this planet
Sellyboy 727
@jordan 3 yrs later couldn't be truer. Freddie still be spitting tho, just not AS "PURE" still Illy
Mychael Miller
💯
jordan
7 years later and that shit cannot be more true.
matto8o9
Word!
Tee Major
This is by far my favorite Freddie Gibbs song!
Michael Robles
By far best concept.