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."
The Coldest
Freddie Gibbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, bitch, I'm ten toes in it
Uh, yeah, f'sho
Gibbs, baby
Bitch, I'm ten toes in it
Not a fake a facade or a cloned image
Got into rap same way I jumped in the streets with my own spinach
Tryin' to get straight up off this shit so that I can go on livin'
Something must wrong with 'em, he takin' this shit for granted
Try to write up in the house with no lights, you'll understand it
I can't teach ya how to dougie, but I can teach ya bout this thuggin'
Keepin' it thorough, keep your mouth closed, nigga, keep it one-hundred
Keep your hand up out my goddamn pocket and keep it pushin'
Keep the reefer, keep the white, keep the soft, or just keep it cookin'
But keep in mind that any given day you can die for this
As I bag this dope, I'm prayin' one day that I could just
Make an honest piece of change, prolly change the way I live
MJ fadeaway, I'm something niggas can't defend
Gangsta Gibbs, fresh out the fridge, forty below flow
No introduction needed, 'cause niggas already know so
You already noticed (the coldest, nigga)
I'm the motherfuckin' coldest
You sayin' that you did that, lived that
But you ain't quite like this, nigga
'Cause you already noticed (bitch)
That I'm the motherfuckin' coldest
I keep it really real
Sayin' what the fuck I feel
So let me talk my shit
So what you talkin' bout, bitch?
Really ain't shit if you ain't talkin' bout this
I'm runnin' laps around these rappers, scratchin' em off my list
She off that vodka so it's hard for her to stay off my dick
Trynna get rich and let the dollars flow throughout my clique
So we can break, bread and never ever be broken
Yac toastin', exotic bitches on my balcony, smokin'
We turns them out without a doubt they mouth about to be open
I let Alicia put her tongue on Valerie while I'm strokin'
But I ain't Jack Tripper, I'm that nigga, plain and simple
Fresh out the G to MTV, check the credentials
Ain't been a nigga bigger since the Jacksons left the city
Reppin' the hardest, niggas ain't know that we was rappin' in my city
And regardless if I got support or backin' from my city
They'll remember me as the the nigga that got it crackin' for my city, nigga
And on the mic I never have off nights
Cause every line I write is straight frostbite, nigga
You already noticed (the motherfuckin' coldest, bitch)
I'm the motherfuckin' coldest (motherfuckin' coldest, bitch)
You sayin' that you did that, lived that
But you ain't quite like this, nigga
Cause you already noticed
That I'm the motherfuckin coldest
I keep it really real
Sayin' what the fuck I feel
So let me talk my shit
So what you talkin' bout, bitch?
I'm on fire
To keep the streets hot, that's my desire
And to hell with the labels
'Til it's time for us to sit down at the table
If I don't focus on me
Tell me, who will?
And I speak from my heart
So you know I'mma keep it real
So much bullshit in the last six months tried to take my focus
But on a lotta situations them people had to hocus pocus
If anybody ever asks a dumb question like, "Will BJ make it?"
Give them a dollar and say, "God bless you," cause it must be a basehead
You already noticed
I'm the motherfuckin' coldest
You sayin' that you did that, lived that
But you ain't quite like this, nigga
'Cause you already noticed
That I'm the motherfuckin coldest
I keep it really real
Sayin' what the fuck I feel
So let me talk my shit
So what you talkin' bout, bitch?
Yeah, uh, nigga
Came in this game with my balls and my word, baby
Never broke 'em for shit
In this bitch
Shouts out to Kno, nigga
Gave me something I could fall back on, nigga
Appreciate it
Niggas still can't see
I'm doing this shit for the Mid-West, baby
Uh, fuck with me
Fuck everybody that was down that ain't down no more
Uh, yeah
Nigga, Scril, I see you, yeah, uh
And we out this bitch, nigga
Gibbs
The motherfuckin' coldest
Mid-West and I'm out
In the song "The Coldest," Freddie Gibbs and B.J. The Chicago Kid are bragging about their authenticity in the rap game. They don't pretend to be someone they're not, and they don't rely on gimmicks to make it in the industry. Gibbs mentions that he got into rap the same way he got into the streets, with his own instincts and natural talent. He's trying to make an honest living and get out of the illegal activities he used to be involved in.
Throughout the song, Gibbs and B.J. assert their dominance in the rap game, claiming that they are the "coldest" around. They aren't afraid to speak their minds and say what they truly feel, even if it isn't popular or mainstream. They know that they have the skills and the drive to make it to the top, and they won't let anyone stand in their way.
Overall, "The Coldest" is an anthem for anyone who is trying to make it in a competitive industry while staying true to themselves. It's a reminder that success should be earned through hard work and talent, not through manipulation or deception.
Line by Line Meaning
Bitch I'm ten toes in it
I'm fully committed and deeply involved
Not a fake a facade or a cloned image
I'm the real deal and not trying to be someone else
Got into rap same way I jumped in the streets with my own spinach
I approach rap the same way I approached the streets with my own resources and hustle
Tryin' to get straight up off this shit so that I can go on livin'
I'm trying to make it in the rap game so I can live a better life
No song spinnin' so I resort to this zone flippin'
If my music isn't getting enough play then I turn to selling drugs for income
Something must wrong wit em, he takin' this shit for granted
There's something wrong with people who take their opportunities for granted
Try to write up in the house with no lights, you'll understand it
If you've ever had to write music in a difficult situation, you'll understand the struggle
I can't teach ya how to dougie, but I can teach ya bout this thuggin'
I may not know how to dance but I know about the streets
Keepin' it thorough, keep your mouth closed, nigga, keep it one-hundred
Stay true to yourself and keep it real
Keep yo hand up out my goddamn pocket - keep it pushin'
Don't try to steal from me and just move along
Keep the reefer keep the white keep the soft and just keep it cookin'
Keep selling drugs and making money
But keep in mind that any given day you can die for this
Remember that the drug game can cost you your life
As I bag this dope I'm prayin' one day that I could just
Even as I sell drugs, I dream of being successful in the music industry
Make an honest piece of change, prolly change the way I live
I hope to make enough money from music to live an honest life
MJ, fadeaway, something niggas can't defend
My skills are undefeatable like Michael Jordan's fadeaway jumpshot
Gangsta Gibbs, fresh out the fridge, forty below flow
I'm fresh and cool like I just came out of the fridge with my ice-cold flow
No introduction needed, niggas already know so
I don't need an introduction because people already know who I am
Really ain't shit if you ain't talk bout this
If you're not talking about the streets and selling drugs, you're not really doing anything important in my world
I'm runnin' laps around these rappers scratchin' em off my lists
I'm outperforming my competition and crossing them off my hit list
She off that vodka so it's hard for her to stay off my dick
This girl is drunk and can't resist me
Tryin' get rich and let the dollars flow throughout my click
I'm trying to make money and share it with my crew
So we can break bread and never ever be broken
We can share our money and never fall apart
Yac toastin', exotic bitches on my balcony smokin'
We're celebrating with cognac and smoking weed with beautiful women on my balcony
Weed turns them out without a doubt they mouth about to be open
The weed is making them talkative and ready for anything
I let Alicia put her tongue on Valerie while I’m strokin'
I'm engaging in a threesome with two women named Alicia and Valerie
But I ain't Jack Tripper, I'm that nigga plain and simple
I'm not a player, I'm just straightforward and honest
Fresh out the G to MTV, check the credentials
I'm from the streets and now I'm on MTV, check my credentials
Ain't been a nigga bigger since the Jacksons left the city
I'm the biggest thing since the Jacksons left my city
Reppin' the hardest niggas ain't know that we was rappin' in my city
I'm representing the toughest people in rap from my city
And regardless if I got support or backin' from my city
Regardless of whether I have support from my city, I'm still making it
They'll remember me as the the nigga that got it crackin' for my city, nigga
They'll remember me as the person who made it big in rap and put my city on the map
And on the mic I never have off nights
I always perform well when I'm rapping
Cause every line I write is straight frostbite, nigga
My lyrics are powerful and will give you chills
I'm on fire
I'm hot and successful at the moment
To keep the streets hot, that's my desire
I want to succeed in the rap game and stay relevant in the streets
And to hell with the labels
I don't care about record labels
Till it's time for us to sit down at the table
Until I'm making enough money to demand respect from the labels
If I don't focus on me
If I don't focus on my own success
Tell me, who will?
No one else will
And I speak from my heart
I speak truthfully and honestly
So you know I'mma keep it real
So you know I'll always be honest
So much bullshit in the last six months tried to take my focus
There have been many distractions trying to prevent me from succeeding
But on a lotta situations them people have to hocus pocus
But I've been able to overcome them with my own tricks and tactics
If anybody ever asks a dumb question like "Will BJ make it?"
If anyone doubts my potential to succeed in the music industry
Give them a dollar and say "God bless you, cause you must be a basehead"
Basically, they must be high or delusional to doubt me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bryan Sledge, Freddie Gibbs, Ryan Wisler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind