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."
Rearview
Freddie Gibbs Lyrics
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So many playa hatin' niggas tryna sound like us
I say these bitches got it twisted they don't know who to fuck
So many playa hatin' niggas tryna shine like us
I bet you got it twisted, you don't know who to trust
So many playa hatin' niggas tryna sound like us
I say these bitches got it twisted they don't know who to fuck
So many playa hatin' niggas tryna shine like us
Working while I got some prices on my license
A nigga tried to green light me, but I wasn't going
I used to lay up with this bitch
I used to flip and didn't really give a shit about a nigga blowin'
She was content just tryin' grind up to a brick
I used to see her in the kitchen whippin' with the soda
I bought a ounce of cocaina for I bent her over
And I used to remember when the broads put me out
Cars I was sleepin' out, pill hella heavy, bars I can't even count
LA county jail, I got my moms here to bail me out
Rap game break your homies hearts if you leave 'em out
Dope game will leave you with a charge if you gettin' out
Government will fuck a nigga dreams, never live 'em out
I'm trapping on the blade, hella cards I was sweeping out
Rap game break your niggas heart out if you leave 'em out
I bet you got it twisted, you don't know who to trust
So many player-hatin' niggas tryna sound like us
I say these bitches got it twisted they don't know who to fuck
So many player-hatin' niggas tryna shine like us
Say they ready, I don't think they know it
Yeah, yeah, say they ready, I don't think they know it
Yeah, straight to hell where these niggas goin'
Lifestyles of the insane, bang
Cost a little extra tryna be a real nigga
I thought a record contract would get the rent paid
Freddie Kane world tour fuck your deal, nigga
And all the niggas jumped off, that was your loss
And they forgot who was the boss and covered all costs
But yesterday a 50 package got 'em all off
I UPS it on the ground, bet they all watched
The pages of a psychopath
And nowadays I don't read 'em, I just recite 'em, yeah
I put the lighter to the fire, and ignite it, yeah
My neighbor used to hit my alley just to buy a bag
And I remember when the broads used to put me out
Cars I was sleepin' out, pill hella heavy, hella bars I can't even count
LA county jail, got my moms to bail me out
Rap game break your homies heart out if you leave 'em out
I bet you got it twisted, you don't know who to trust
So many player-hatin' niggas tryna sound like us
I say these bitches got it twisted they don't know who to fuck
So many player-hatin' niggas tryna shine like us
Say they ready, I don't think they know it
Yeah, yeah, say they ready, I don't think they know it
Yeah, yeah
I bet you got it twisted, you don't know who to trust
So many player-hatin' niggas tryna sound like us
I say these bitches got it twisted they don't know who to fuck
So many player-hatin' niggas tryna shine like us
Say they ready, I don't think they know it
Yeah, yeah, say they ready, I don't think they know it
Yeah, straight to hell where these niggas goin'
In "Rearview" by Freddie Gibbs, the lyrics are talking about people that can't be trusted, whether they are friends or lovers. The song begins by pointing out that people are trying to copy him, hating on his style, and trying to act like him. The lyrics then shift to discussing a failed relationship, where a woman was just trying to make money and climb her way up the drug-dealing ladder. The singer reminisces about their time together, but ultimately realizes that he was just a means to an end for her.
The song then transitions to discussing the music industry and how it can feel like a cutthroat business. Gibbs raps about how he was once signed to a record label, but it didn't help him pay his bills, and he had to take matters into his own hands. He talks about how his friends and collaborators can be fickle and how it's easy to forget who's really in charge. Finally, the lyrics end with a somber nod to the fact that not everyone will make it in the music industry, and some people are destined for failure.
Overall, "Rearview" is a reflection on the people and experiences that have shaped Gibbs' life, both positively and negatively. It's a song about navigating relationships and learning who to trust, all while trying to succeed in an industry that can be brutal and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you got it twisted, you don't know who to trust
You are confused and uncertain of whom to have faith in.
So many playa hatin' niggas tryna sound like us
Many people are envious and attempting to emulate us.
I say these bitches got it twisted they don't know who to fuck
These women are confused about who to have sex with.
So many playa hatin' niggas tryna shine like us
A lot of people are jealous and trying to be as successful as us.
Say they ready, I don't think they know it
People claim to be prepared, but I doubt their readiness.
Working while I got some prices on my license
I'm conducting business while also legally licensed to do so.
A nigga tried to green light me, but I wasn't going
Someone attempted to attack me, but I didn't let them succeed.
I used to lay up with this bitch
I was in a relationship with this woman.
I used to flip and didn't really give a shit about a nigga blowin'
I used to sell drugs and didn't care about the consequences of others using them.
She was content just tryin' grind up to a brick
She was satisfied with working to acquire a large amount of drugs.
I used to see her in the kitchen whippin' with the soda
I used to witness her cooking drugs in the kitchen with baking soda.
I bought a ounce of cocaina for I bent her over
I purchased an ounce of cocaine before having sexual relations with her.
And I used to remember when the broads put me out
I recall moments when women kicked me out of their homes.
Cars I was sleepin' out, pill hella heavy, bars I can't even count
I had nowhere to sleep, was heavily addicted to pills, and had been in jail numerous times.
LA county jail, I got my moms here to bail me out
I was arrested and my mother bailed me out of jail.
Rap game break your homies hearts if you leave 'em out
The music industry can hurt your friends' feelings if you exclude them from your success.
Dope game will leave you with a charge if you gettin' out
If you're not careful, selling drugs can lead to being caught by law enforcement.
Government will fuck a nigga dreams, never live 'em out
The government can prevent people from achieving their aspirations and goals.
I'm trapping on the blade, hella cards I was sweeping out
I'm currently selling drugs on the street and making a lot of profit.
Lifestyles of the insane, bang
The way of life is crazy and violent.
Cost a little extra tryna be a real nigga
Being an authentic person can be expensive.
I thought a record contract would get the rent paid
I believed that signing a record deal would solve my financial problems.
Freddie Kane world tour fuck your deal, nigga
I'm successful and touring the world, even if it goes against my record deal's rules.
And all the niggas jumped off, that was your loss
All the people who left my crew missed out on my success.
And they forgot who was the boss and covered all costs
They forgot who was in charge and covered all expenses themselves.
But yesterday a 50 package got 'em all off
Recently, a large drug sale earned them all a lot of money.
I UPS it on the ground, bet they all watched
I shipped the drugs discreetly and am sure they were all watching carefully.
The pages of a psychopath
My music is like the writings of a mentally unstable person.
Nowadays I don't read 'em, I just recite 'em
I don't read my lyrics anymore, I just perform them from memory.
I put the lighter to the fire, and ignite it
I light the drug pipe and begin smoking.
My neighbor used to hit my alley just to buy a bag
My neighbor used to come to me to purchase drugs.
Say they ready, I don't think they know it
People claim to be prepared, but I'm doubtful of their readiness.
Straight to hell where these niggas goin'
These people are headed towards a negative outcome or fate.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Frederick Tipton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind