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."
Serve or Get Served
Freddie Gibbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make that Hardcore thuggish shit, could care less if the bitches love it
But they do cuz I stay True, They Rushing Takin Pictures of Us
Gangsta Trill as Bobby Seale, bitch I'm the New Rendition of Him
Real Nigga, Reputable Reputation
Pockets Get too low, I Heat the Stove up wit no hesitation
Find a Block and pick a spot to eat like i got reservations,
Lay you to rest if you cant relate to my new revelation,
I simply illustrate my life i live it as i wrote that,
And yea i served some geekers, took some trips, and brought some dope back,
But that dont make me harder than nobody you could quote that,
I represent the Loc'd out, low-class, 20 dollar dope bags,
Drop you for yo motherfucking last(?). wit' our broke ass.
Either you the server or the mothefucker gettin' served,
couldnt wait to load it in his pipe and let it burn, Str8 kill
In Freddie Gibbs's song Serve or Get Served, Gibbs portrays himself as a true gangster and "the definition of slamming." He doesn't care if people love his hardcore thuggish music, but he knows that they do because he stays true to himself. He compares himself to Bobby Seale, the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, stating that he is the new rendition of him. Gibbs has a reputable reputation as a real nigga, and when his pockets get low, he heats the stove up with no hesitation. He is willing to find a block and pick a spot to eat even if he doesn't have reservations, and if anyone cannot relate to his new revelation, he will lay them to rest.
Line by Line Meaning
Slamming , Look it up bitch im the definition of it
I am the embodiment of the word 'slamming', look it up and you'll find a picture of me.
Make that Hardcore thuggish shit, could care less if the bitches love it
I create music that's hardcore and thuggish, and I don't care if women appreciate it or not.
But they do cuz I stay True, They Rushing Takin Pictures of Us
Despite not making music for women specifically, they are drawn to me and constantly take pictures with me because of my authenticity.
Gangsta Trill as Bobby Seale, bitch I'm the New Rendition of Him
I am as gangsta and trill as Bobby Seale, and I am the new version of him in terms of my dedication to my cause.
Real Nigga, Reputable Reputation
I have a reputation of being a real, authentic person.
Pockets Get too low, I Heat the Stove up wit no hesitation
If I'm running out of money, I'll start selling drugs without hesitation.
Find a Block and pick a spot to eat like i got reservations,
When I sell drugs, I do it with such confidence that I seem like I have a specific spot picked out for it like it's a fancy restaurant.
Lay you to rest if you cant relate to my new revelation,
I won't hesitate to harm those who don't understand my new way of thinking or my philosophy.
No this ain't no Coke rap, no i dont promote that,
Contrary to popular belief, my music isn't about promoting cocaine.
I simply illustrate my life i live it as i wrote that,
I make music that reflects my life and experiences, and I write as I live it.
And yea i served some geekers, took some trips, and brought some dope back,
I have sold drugs and traveled to bring them back before.
But that dont make me harder than nobody you could quote that,
Selling drugs doesn't make me any more tough than anyone else.
I represent the Loc'd out, low-class, 20 dollar dope bags,
I am a representative of those who come from less privileged backgrounds and sell cheap drugs.
Drop you for yo motherfucking last(?). wit' our broke ass.
I will take what little money you have left with our broke selves.
Either you the server or the mothefucker gettin' served,
In this world, you're either the one serving (selling drugs) or getting served (being poor and buying drugs).
couldnt wait to load it in his pipe and let it burn, Str8 kill
My customers can't wait to smoke the drugs I sell, and it's killing them slowly.
Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sway TFE
who ever directed and produced this got mad kudos from me...and of course to gibbs
Gematria What is 47
Got this song on repeat!!! Freddie has become one of my favorite hip hop artists. I would love to see more tracks like this with the smooth beat & cool edits. Gangster Gibbs!!!
Michael Trasvina
What’s the meaning of 47? It’s my favorite number for years I see it everywhere
robert cadena
How….In 2022 Did I JUST FIND THIS!?! I’m Ashamed, This Is Fucking Fire!👌🏼
Kyle Killion
Found this gem today
Ske004
Found it today and wow. this is really special
Benjamin Farias
Str8 Killa No Filla Mixtape. Look it up.
smokemafiaclick
i like every track this dude makes, finally some real music
Steven E
Wish it was longer cuz it’s so good. Sounds just as good when I heard it 8 years ago. First Gibbs song I heard.
Jojo 4 eva
this should be longer. This is my song right now.