The Breakfast Club - Freddie Gibbs Talks Unapologetic Persona, Rap Beefs, Major Label Records + More

Episode Date: October 12, 2022

Freddie Gibbs Talks Unapologetic Persona, Rap Beefs, Major Label Records + MoreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water,

500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zaka Stan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-A-S-T-A-N on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best, and you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing.

Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, y'all. Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids

and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone.

The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different, inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat.

Nine months before Rosa, it was called a woman. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. Apple Podcasts, or every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ MV, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Th guy we are the breakfast club we got a special guest in the building I'm not used to seeing them like this either he got record label people with them like me so separately all right now yes sir this is your first solo major label deal?

That's it? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, it's my first major album that I put out, period. What made you decide to do that now? Lambo, my manager, really, to be honest. It was supposed to happen before. Yeah, and my partner, Norvay.

You know what I'm saying? He's been trying to sign me to a major for a long time, man. So it just worked out perfect this time. It was just a good business move. What can they do for you that you weren't already doing for yourself you already been nominated for grammys i mean it looked it looked good you know what i'm saying like you see you see it you you know you noticed the change when i walked in so i mean you know it's definitely extras on that thing we're doing right now you know i mean like you know we got a i got a record added at radio i ain't never been that i ain't never had none of that um you know uh top 20 billboard release i ain't never had that so

you know there's definitely changes been made and sometimes it's nice not to have to do everything yourself that too and pay for everything yourself that too it's always good to eat on a dollar absolutely for sure we got a lot going on freddie because by the way i think the album is pretty amazing thank you i appreciate that you know your music is never in question like people know you Absolutely. For sure. We got a lot going on, Freddie. By the way, I think the album is pretty amazing. Thank you. I appreciate that. Your music is never in question. People know you make good music. Yeah.

But it's everything else that comes with it is probably what they question. They don't question. They just have questions about. But sometimes that comes with being very honest. A lot of times people censor themselves about things that they might say, and you haven't really- I mean, I'm from a small town, man. You know what lot of people censor themselves about things that they might say Really, I mean, you know from a small town man, you know, I mean so it's like, you know It ain't hard to beef with me. You know, I mean, so I feel like you know a lot of people Take offense to you know stuff. I say and things I do but you know

You got to do something about it. You got to deal with me. Y'all gonna feel me till they kill kill me. So it is what it is. I ain't tripping on that. So why is the jokes? Because people, you know. I'm a comedian, man. I don't mind the jokes. The jokes ain't shit. The jokes ain't nothing. The jokes is light. It's the violence.

The jokes ain't nothing. I don't initiate the violence. I just do what a man would do and just handle himself in certain occasions. I ain't never initiated no violence on no rapper. And, you know, if I did, you wouldn't know about it. You know what I'm saying? Like, I didn't have problems with people, you know what I'm saying? And it went way too deep, you know, but I don't need to, you know, publicize it. I think that like a lot of these guys that had issues with me, you know, they come in the fight with camera crews, you know what I'm saying? Like it's,

we in the clout era. So it's like, you know, they thought it was a free pick, so they just want to do what they got to do to get their clout up. But I don't got to do nothing like that to get no clout up because, like you said, the music speak for itself, my brother. We leave street stuff in the streets. I don't even get into that. You said something on Now I'm Now that was interesting, and I never thought about it, but you said

you make people feel good about coming from Gary, Indiana. Yes, sir. And I was like, well, damn, I never thought about what impact did the Jacksons have on young black kids about it but you said uh you make people feel good about coming from gary indiana yes sir and i was like well damn i wonder i never thought about what impact did the jacksons have on young black kids coming from gary i don't know i mean you know it was definitely motivation to see the you know the biggest musical family come from right around the corner where you from but you know it wasn't really like a a direct you know tangible impact you know what i mean but it's hard man you know i mean like gary's a it's a tough place to impact, you know what I mean? But it's hard, man. You know what I mean?

Like, Gary's a tough place to be from, you know what I mean? And I don't go back enough, you know what I mean? Because I got stuff that I got going on and I'm trying to pursue. So I feel like I'm in a position now where I could go back and make changes, but I wasn't in the beginning of my career because I was still trying to get to where I needed to be. I can see how you're more relatable than the Jackson is what I'm saying. Oh, yeah. You know what I'm saying?

Earl Hill didn't like that, right? He didn't like the fact that people would say, you know, from the same place as the Jacksons. Yeah, because you said that at the XXL show. I remember that. I was mad. I was like, well, he's the man that I like. You know that, because I didn't like you for a long time. I didn't like you.

Wait, y'all didn't like each other over that? What is that? I did not know this. I've never heard you say that in my life. I'm going to tell you. So it wasn't actually XXL. It was MTV. Was it MTV?

So when we had the show on MTV, you know how MTV writes the scripts. So in the teleprompter, it says, from Gary, Indiana, the same home of the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson, Freddie Gibbs. No, no. Don't do it, Envy. What was it? Don't do it, Envy. They wrote it out. What was it?

They wrote it out. And that's the way it was read. That's the way it was written. But you ain't say it like that. What'd he say? You said, like, Gary, you're the head of the whole thing. He was cloudy. I can imagine.

I believe you, Freddie. I know this nigga. I believe you. That sounds like him. I believe you. So I took offense to that, but, you know, we cool. Damn. This is like mine.

This is like 15 years. So why you don't like him? Because you messed up. I didn't mess up. I said it the right way. He got on stage. I ain't fucking from Gary, Indiana. He said something else. What? Why did he say that? You just lied on him messed up. I didn't mess up. I said it the right way. He got on stage. I ain't fucking from Gary, Indiana. He said something else.

What? Why did he say that? You just lied on him. I know he didn't say that. I know Freddie ain't say that. Oh, he doesn't say he from Gary, Indiana. I'm not from the... What did you say?

I said this light-skinned-ass nigga tripped. Word. That's what I said. Damn. That's what I said. I said he tripped, man. So is this the first time y'all made up? No.

No. I've been on the show. We've been up here three times. And by the way, over a span of 13 years. That's why I'm shocked I've never heard you say it. I've never heard it. Like Freddie, yeah, I've never heard that. I got big love and respect for him. Even when he didn't like me, I still like him.

We spoke after that. It was a long time ago. It was like 14 years ago. This is the silliest beef I ever heard. All his beefs are silly as shit. There was no beef. This is silly. I just didn't like something he said. Can is the silliest beef I ever heard. All his beefs are silly as shit. There was no beef. This is silly. I just didn't like something he said.

Can I have my opinion not to like something? I got beef with everybody, man. I would say Envy's very sensitive. Would you consider yourself sensitive? No, Envy likes getting married. He got a right to be sensitive, man. That's right. He's a stereotype.

He's a walking beige stereotype. That's all it is. As soon as I walked in, I said, my light-skinned brother. That's right. That's my brother. I haven't seen you before that. We do this before. We always speak. We always talk. Along walked in, I said, my light-skinned brother. That's right. That's my brother. I haven't seen you before that. We do this for a long time. We always speak.

We always coordinate. Along these lines, I do want to talk about some things you did say on the album, right? Okay. So you and Jeezy, you talked about your own immaturity in that situation. Correct. So what made you come to that realization? Because this was something that for years you've had, you know, kind of a chip on your shoulder about it, but now you're like, you know what?

I was immature. I wasn't ready. You even said you've listened back to some of those of a chip on your shoulder about it. But now you're like, you know what? I wasn't sure I wasn't ready. You even said you've listened back to some of those old songs. Yeah. And so what? It was on Rabbit Vision. Yeah, I was just ready to just get past that in my career. You know what I mean?

Like, I didn't really, you know, me and Jeezy ain't never had no, like, physical stuff or anything of that nature. So it was just like, you know, like, we can, you know, I can move past that. That was just a business disagreement. Did y'all have a conversation? Because you said some wild stuff about Jesus back in the day. Nah, we didn't have a real conversation, but we seen each other, and we, you know, sometimes just, you know, a handshake is worth a thousand words.

You know, we shook each other's hand. He was with his wife. I was with my girl, and we just kept it pushing. We was in the airport. But, I mean, the conversation can be had, but I don't even think if we need to, then cool, but, yeah then yeah yeah i don't have nothing against none of that you know i mean like that that situation definitely made me stronger and made me a better artist so you know i pay homage to dude even when we wasn't when i was

to with him i was still bumping trap at that like i would you know i said i'll still listen to the music so but it made you a boss yeah definitely but but i had to you know i had to level up man you know he said i remember one time i had a conversation with him in an interview and he said that it just really you were upset because things didn't work out for you as an artist with him. Correct, correct. Like I said, it was just a bad, you know, business disagreement, you know? But I didn't, I took it too far and made it personal, and that's why I messed up at it, you know what I'm saying? But I did that really to, you know, show younger artists, you know, under me, you know, that that really to you know show a younger artist you know

under me you know that you can um you ain't you ain't no gangster unless you can keep your composure and in that situation I ain't keep my composure and I let it you know I let my emotions spill all over the place and I shouldn't have did that what does the title soul sold separately mean oh man really just this album is about taking risks and you know life's a real gamble and I've definitely taken a lot of risk in my life, man. So I just wanted to just get it out there. And, you know, like I said, this is my first major label album that I put out. So I was working on it since I got the Grammy nomination.

And I was like, you know what? If I don't come with my best album this time, then I might not have another one. So I was like, all right, let me really focus. So I really got focused on this, you know what I'm saying? Like, extra focused on this. You feel like more eyes are on you now because of the Grammy nominated and the label, so now it's, it opened you up to an audience you might not have had before.

Yeah, definitely, definitely, definitely. Like, man, I'm about to go on tour with the Gorillaz, you know what I'm saying? So it's like I'm doing, you know, I'm just trying to, just create my own lane in the game, man. You know? That's it. And an actor down with the king.

Congratulations on that. Actor and producer. Don't forget that now. I'm definitely a producer on that film as well. We took that to Cannes Film Festival. So acting is cool. It's great. But, you know, I want to attack the film world the same way I attack the music industry.

You know what I mean? I want to create things. I want to, you know, I want to be the producer. the same way I attack the music industry. You know what I mean? I want to create things. I want to, you know, I want to be the producer. I want to be the director. You know what I mean? I want to, you know, just, you know, do more than just acting, you know? You was really out there, like, farming and playing with animals. Yeah, we really did do that.

You know what I'm saying? Like, them animals was real, too. What did you learn from that experience? It was pretty funny and interesting to see you in that environment. You know what, man? I was like, playing that role and doing that thing was real therapeutic for me because I was really on that farm for two months, you know, like away from the rap game and all of that.

And, you know, it was COVID. So, you know, it was a real difficult time, even shooting a film during COVID. Everybody on the set got masks on, you know. I had a baby on the way at the time, you know what I mean? Like, I remember, hey, Teresa, how you doing? I had to shout out my baby mom. But she was going in labor while I was on a movie set.

And, like, it was COVID, so I couldn't go in the hospital to see the baby. It was just a real wild, tumultuous time, you know what I mean? But, you know, those times make you stronger, you know, as a family and everything. He was on bus down a lot got a lot of kids i ain't going for nick cannon record but uh i'll get three just three just three nick cannon got like 12 kids one day one of your children's mothers got really mad at you after this album came out because you named her i would be like that you know people just get frustrated you know be like that you know that was a time but you know i uh i spoke to her about it before it came out

and everything and it was a decent conversation and she didn't get mad after it came out yeah because you the way you explained it probably is not the way it came out on the record no not at all i said word for word i think and she didn't she wasn't upset at all this is what it is man baby mama's love me i love that man it's all about raising the kids they probably hit different when the album come out they hit different when the album come out and everybody listens to it. They hitting her. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what it is, man.

Because you did say, you're about to squeeze academics' titties. I love a fat bitch. Yeah. Where did that, why? You got to explain that segue. We were just talking about his child and about Reagan and all of the stuff.

I see why you don't like him. I need to know your thought process for that segue, bro. Because you talk't like it. I need to know your thought process for that segue, bro. You talk about lines that you got to explain. You said, I love a fat bitch, and then you talk about academic cities. Did you just call his baby mama fat? No. No, no, no. My baby mama's not fat.

I don't understand the segue. I said you were talking about lines that he has to re-talk about. I do like fat bitches, though. That's my thing. I do. I just blew a kiss to Lizzo, but she didn't look at me. Where did you blow a kiss at? I seen her somewhere.

And then I seen a picture on the wall that I went in serious I was like man. I want to meet Lizzo one day everybody giving Lizzo a hard time. I need to leave alone Nah, I saw before and okay. Hey You and academics y'all just never gonna squash whatever Can man ain't nothing like that you look man academics is a person that I only see when I pick up my phone. You know what I'm saying? Like, to me, it ain't even, like, real. You know what I mean?

It's like some internet troll thing. You know what I mean? But I'll probably only see them in person, like, one time. But, yeah, I'm a sensible guy, man. I ain't stupid. Like, we could have a conversation. You know what I mean? No matter what you said.

You know, as long as you don't put your hands on me, anything's fixable. I ain't even see it, but I saw something yesterday. Somebody sent me something. I don't know where it started, but he was like, you put your hands on me, anything's fixable. I didn't even see it, but I saw something yesterday. Somebody sent me something. I don't know where it started, but he was like, you only, what he said, you got beat up twice this year. You only sold half your records or something like that. Nobody checking for you. Leave Big Ack alone.

That's all cap, though. So, I mean, you know, that's all cap. I mean, that's what academics do. Like I said, man, I got to pick up my phone to see academics. I don't see him out here. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, he going to push the narrative, you know, to his favor at all times. And he don't like me, so what am I supposed to do?

You know what I mean? Like, somebody don't like you, you know, they ain't going to say nothing nice about you. They ain't going to say the truth about you. So he can keep, you know, spreading the falsehoods. I mean, he said my brother was a district attorney. My brother's a gynecologist. You know what I'm saying? Like, the top gynecologist in Chicagoologist you know what I'm saying like the top gynecologist in Chicago

you know what I'm saying so he's like I'm like what are you talking about so it's like you know he gonna spread his own narrative you know what I mean he's like man your brother's a district attorney he the feds I'm like I'm like my brother has a PhD my brother you know what I'm saying so it's like

I don't feel that's why I don't feel that way about nothing that he say. I just be like, all right, man, okay, cool. Would you ever do his show? Would you ever do his podcast? I would. If he asked me to come on there, I'd go. I'd do it.

Yeah, we got a hit for five minutes, and then we can go do whatever we need to do. I never could understand how somebody could not like Freddie Gibbs. I mean, I get people get sensitive though if you say something about them. So I understand that part of it. It's always a joke. But you do have jokes. Yeah. I'm going to be honest with you. I don't know where none of this shit started, Freddie.

I don't know where this shit with Benny started. I don't know where this shit with Jim started. I have no idea how any of this started. I even saw Benny recently saying that it just went too far. Yeah, what happened with Jim? Like, you always in New York. Y'all ran that it just went too far. Yeah, what happened with Jim? Like, you always in New York. Y'all ran by each other

millions of times. Like, that was weird, I thought. I'm still in New York despite whoever got an issue with me. You know, I think I'm about to get me a crib out here, too.

So, you know, I don't really, you know. Where did the issue start from? Jokes? Was it the jokes or? I don't know, man. I let street shit stay in the streets

and, you know, I don't got no problem with nobody that's like, you know, doing better than me. So, it's okay. I don't got no problem with nobody that's doing better than me, so it's okay. I don't really worry about that. I let all the hate come from the bottom and just deal with it how it come with. It is what it is, but people know who I am and who I'm with. Did y'all really get into a tussle in Miami?

It was some stuff. Furniture moving? It was some furniture moving, but ain like, ain't nobody really get a— it was just like a food fight or something like that. It wasn't nothing crazy. That's an expensive food fight in that restaurant. Yeah, it wasn't nothing crazy like that. Ain't nobody get, like, you know, fucked up to that point, you know.

It ain't nothing that, you know, people can't move past. We on, man. Do you feel like any of that overshadowed your artistry? Nah, not at all. It just made y'all talk about me more. And my music is good, so it don't even matter. Like, you're still getting

all the great guest appearances. You know who I loved on the album? Raekwon. Yeah. That song. That's a great one. That's one of my favorite songs. That one and Rabbit Vision.

Yeah, just to get guys like Raekwon, Scarface. Scarface. How you convince Scarface to get back rapping? That's my dog. Me and Scarface real close. And that ain't the first collab we did. He collabed with me on Pinata. So it's like, you know, I look up to him.

You know, I got a great relationship with guys like him and Bun B. You know, they was like some of the first, you know, big name features that I did coming in. So it's like they sharpened me up. You know what I mean? So I'm always going to pay homage to Brad, you know? And DJ Paul. Man, that was crazy. That was a crazy studio session. I love DJ Paul. You know what I'm always going to pay homage to Brad, you know? And DJ Paul. Man, that was crazy. That was a crazy studio session.

I love DJ Paul. You know what I'm saying? Like, that was a—because when I—I was telling somebody this. Like, when I was recording the album, I was in a real dark space. And that session really, like, brightened everything up. When he came in, he was just, like, happy. And, like, the song was fun. And it was just like, damn.

You know what I'm saying? Because, like you said, I was going through a lot of stuff. Getting in fights. Getting into it. You know, I had street stuff going on. Homies getting killed. you know what i'm saying because like i said i was going through a lot of stuff getting in fights getting into it you know i had street stuff going on homies getting killed you know what i'm saying like uh legal stuff you know and i was putting all of that into the record and then when dj paul came in he like really like cheered me up man he really like lifted my spirits to help me finish the album you know what i'm saying in the correct fashion you should get out of the dog space is it through music is it definitely music is those therapeutic for me like I don't really you know I hear you talk about therapy all the time

but I don't really like therapy like you tried it right you said that's right I really like my therapy was cute too so I had you flirting those you flirting but I don't like talking to dudes you know I'm saying so it's like you know I was like all right man let me get out this therapy and just go make another album so but there's other ways to heal though like therapy is not the only only way true true true i might do like i did in the movie and just take a hiatus and just go on a farm you know what i'm saying just you know switching up the environment man rap get you know it get kind of redundant sometimes so you gotta like you know find

other inspirations so you can like keep keep doing it i've been doing it for a long time that was the biggest thing for me because it felt like, you know, it felt like self-sabotage. I didn't know what was going on, but I'm like, damn, I see Freddie on Bus Down. I see Freddie on Power. He's Grammy nominated. So why the street shit now? You know, like.

I know you come from that, but why now? I wasn't, you know, I was chilling, man. All the incidents you see, I was just eating with my girl, man. I wasn't, you know, I don't think that, I don't go out, you know, trying to start nothing with nobody, but I got to handle my business. You know what I'm saying? In any of those situations, you would have did the same thing I did. No, I would have said security, handle my business.

But it was unexpected. Well, I like to fight, so, you know what I'm saying? He was a door dash. I like to hit, so we can hit, you know what I mean? If you want to hit, then we can hit. I ain't ever going to back down from that, you know what I mean? And like I said, in those incidents, I had my girl with me. The one in Buffalo could have been bad.

You even said you heard hit him, hit him, hit him. Either time could have been bad, you know what I'm saying? But, like, you know, y'all, like, everybody, like, naming, like, these rappers and stuff like that, but ain't no rapper ever hit me. Ain't none of them ever did nothing. They got to, like, you know, I'm not no little guy. You ain't about to just like run up on me.

You gonna think twice when you know. I mean, I ain't Deontay Wilder or nothing like that. You just saw him. Yeah, I just see him. I was like, damn, you just got to be like, you know what I'm saying? You gonna think twice before you run up on me to, you know, do what you got to do. You know what I'm saying? You gonna have to get reinforcements.

And that's what everybody got to do in every case. Why not have security? We got it. in every case. You know what I'm saying? Why not have security, though? We got it. We got it. You know what I'm saying? We got it. But, you know, I'm a man at the end of the day, man.

Does this ever prevent you from getting situations like shows, or does it prevent anything like endorsement deals? Are people like, I don't know, it's a little risky? Not at all. Not at all. I got my own wine. You want some? I'm drinking some.

It's hard. Yeah, I'm enjoying it. Ain't nobody preventing nothing. That thing going real smooth with us. Bro, you? I'm drinking some. It's hard. Yeah, I'm enjoying it. Ain't nobody preventing nothing. That thing going real smooth. If anything, they stopping themselves. In one of your posts, you said you heard, you know, somebody saying, hit him, like hit him. Yeah. You know, with the hammer.

And, you know, that got to make you think. Like, you know, you got kids. And the fact rappers is getting killed out here all the time. Not just rappers, black men, period. You got to think about that, too. You know what I mean? Yeah. Because, you know, like you said, it could be somebody that's about that life or somebody that's dead scared. Right, right, period. You gotta think about that, too, you know what I mean? Yeah, I just... Because, you know, like you said, it could be somebody

that's about that life or somebody that's dead scared. Right, right, right. And either one of them is, you know, it's a scary situation. True. I've been in way worse

situations than that, though, I'm gonna tell you the truth. You know what I'm saying? But I just handled it accordingly. So, I mean, what can I do? You know, I can't, I can't control if, I can't make everybody like me

and I can't control if you bring 30 people to a restaurant with a camera crew to try to, like, humiliate me, but you end up losing. But you was in Buffalo, though. Yeah, and I ain't worried about nobody in Buffalo. I would have stayed in a hotel, do your show, go home.

Uber Eats, do it, guys. I ain't got to do that, man. Plus, that day, it was like a shooting in the city and stuff like that, and I was just chilling. I was around the corner from the show. I did what I had to do. They did what they had to do, and I did my show. Ain't nobody stopping my money or none of that. Ain't nobody going to stop me from doing nothing.

It is what it is. I'll be back there next year to do a show. Can that be records out? I don't know. You want some wine? What's your infatuation with Rabbits? I'm the biggest Rabbit there is, man. Shout out to my big homie Kenny Shine.

You know what I'm saying? Shout out homie Kenny Shine You know what I'm saying Shout out to the Lords You know what I'm saying You already know how we rock it man With the rabbits You feel me No I don't I don't know what that is

Now I think I get it Now that you said that I'm like oh okay Shout out to the big homies man You know what I'm saying Like hey I'm just chilling man On Grandma's Stove

You know you talk about I think your dad Dealing with stomach cancer Yes sir Your thoughts on suicide Issues with your family How was was it unpacking all those emotions that album was like a suicide note to be honest you know what i'm saying so it's better that stuff like that go on a record instead of like a real suicide you know what i mean so it was just um it was stuff that i had to get out you know what i mean like uh you know shout out to my dad he just beat his stomach

cancer oh wow that's dope yeah he got taken out he had that surgery you know what i mean? Like, you know, shout out to my dad. He just beat his stomach cancer. Word. Oh, word. That's dope. Yeah, he got that taken out. He had that surgery. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, that took a lot of prayer and a lot of, you know, patience. You know what I mean? And, you know, that was something that I, you know, that had me depressed for a minute. Because I'm like, because I've been living in California so long, like, you know, I probably

haven't had the closest relationship with my father the past 10 years, you know, on my musical journey. But that cancer scare kind of brought us closer and I hated that. It's like I'm talking to you more just cause you sick. That's whack, you know what I'm saying? So that definitely made me depressed for sure. Was he a present father growing up?

Of course, yeah. My dad's a great dad, great dad. Amazing, amazing father. I think we forget about that sometimes. Like, we go on our own journey and forget. Yeah, man. We forget. We just think a phone call is good enough.

I think we all do that sometimes. That ain't good enough, man. I got to touch you. Absolutely. I got to hug you. I got to feel you. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, my dad was like, man, it's just so difficult to see somebody go through that.

You know what I mean? Like, stomach cancer is crazy. It's a period. Well, thank God. He's you know, he's good. Yeah, he's good now He's good. He just moved to Vegas. He lit. He's singing. He doing his thing my dad in the shot lights You know I'm saying, you know, he'd be doing this thing. You've been doing that thing for a long time Did that really miss y'all? Yeah, for real. Yeah, you traveling I'm the captain I'm not capping at all man. He won the original shot Now he wanted original shallow Traveling member with the group. Stop the capping. I'm not capping at all, man. He wanted the original Shy Lights. Nah, he ain't wanted the original Shy Lights. He in the group, though.

He in the group and he doing his thing. But my dad been dealing with music my whole life. He probably the reason I'm in music. He been singing and doing all of that stuff and singing background for groups and things of that nature. He introduced me to rap. Man, that's a dope-ass family tree. Your daddy in the Shy Lights.

Your brother's the top guy in the colleges in Chicago. My dad the same age as Michael Jackson, so Michael Jackson used to beat him in the talent shows when he was a kid. Man, stop. That was bullshit. I don't know what you're playing at. I'm not lying, man. Michael Jackson and my dad both was born in 1958.

They both from Gary, Indiana. They was both two singing-ass niggas, and Michael Jackson could dance better. I know your daddy got some funny ass story He got hella funny story yeah, yeah when I was a kid he was you know saying like in the 80s But after that he was like man fuck this I want to sing because he kept seeing Michael Jackson being successful Before Kelly Price started singing on the first record. Listen, I like how you started off the album with that song, Couldn't Be Done. That intro was amazing.

And Kelly Price on the album was unexpected. I had to take him to church, man. I felt like I was in church when I made that song, man. Shout out to Norvay for getting Kelly Price on that. That was love, man. I appreciate her for that. Her voice was angelic on that. You shouted out Dr. Umar on there?

You did. I love Dr. Umar, man. How can you not? Yo, he's supposed to come up here this year. He didn't come up here yet this year, man. Why not? He was mad at you for something, though. Yeah, he was mad at me because I went on, I was with Mike Tyson.

Yeah, yeah. And me and Mike Tyson was talking about white women and interracial dating. And he was like, oh, no, no, Brother Freddie Gribbs. You can't do that. You can't be, you know what I'm saying? He got real, man. I really want to meet, because when I was locked up I was like reading like a lot of Umar stuff

and it was like I was like man when I was in Europe in jail I wrote him a letter he didn't write me back though he probably don't even he get a bunch of letters man

he might not have got that he would have wrote you back if I would have sent him a donation a coupon or a gift he would have wrote back you know what I'm saying

so I'm like so you wrote him what the letter said when you wrote him I just told him that I admired his mind and you know what I'm saying was really paying attention to what he was saying you know what I'm saying? So you wrote him a letter saying what you wrote him? I just told him that I admired his mind and was really paying attention to what he was saying. You know what I mean? I don't agree with that thing he said.

But that's like anything. But I really admire Dr. Umar for real. He wanted to know why all your rabbits white. Not all of them. We like all colors, man. We like all shades. White, black, Asian, all of that, man. Come on, man.

I want to go back to the stomach cancer thing. I think you said that it makes you think about your own dietary issues and stuff like that. Right, right, right. Yeah, yeah. That's a hereditary thing. After my dad got diagnosed with stomach cancer, I wouldn't get checked immediately. Colon, all of that type of stuff. You know what I'm saying? Black men, we got this scared of the doctor mentality.

You know what I mean? Especially for that colon right i think if my dad had uh had been like doing this stuff at my age he probably could have prevented that but thank god that you know we got that out the way and he moved past it i got a colonoscopy consultation today ah they're going to your butt yeah well not today. Today's the confrontation. But they will. I got mine today, too. For real? Mine is at three. I hope we're not going to the same place. I pray to God. Wait, y'all are both going to the same place?

Mine is today at three. I'm not saying what mine is, but it's around that time. Hey, I'm going to tell you this. You don't feel it. We're not getting the thing today. It's just consultation. Wait, Freddie. Freddie, Freddie, hold on.

Please don't tell me you didn't feel it. You don't feel it. Here come the jokes. They drug you or something? Or they just lube you up? Yeah, they drug the fuck out you, man. Yeah, yeah, because, hold on. Please don't tell me you didn't feel it. You don't feel it. Here come the jokes. They drug you or something? Or they just lube you up? Yeah, they drug the fuck out you, man. Yeah, yeah, because you pass out. I went in there drunk anyway.

I was like, hey, man, y'all going to do this? Before you do this, let me have some wine. Yeah, I was drinking wine the whole time. But no, they knock you out with it. You're not supposed to drink before you get the colonoscopy. They give you something to drink, I thought. Yeah, but not alcohol. I was drinking my own shit.

Y'all should have colonoscopy parties. Hushy noise, please. What is she talking about? But they give you good drugs, man. You gonna go right to sleep. I was thinking like, I was real scared. I was like, man, my butt gonna be hurting when I wake up. It wasn't none of that. It was all good. I went home. They was like, yo,

you just can't drive after. Just have somebody drive. You had somebody with you, yeah. I had somebody with me and I was doped up all day. I was good. Can you get right on the plane after? You ain't had no problems, right? No, I had no problems. I was good. I was free and me. I had somebody with me, and I was doped up all day. I was good, man. Can you get right on the plane after? You had no problems, right? No, I had no problems. I was good. I was free and clear.

I was clean. He was like, man, you're a very healthy individual, sir. I was like, thank you. Well, good for you. And on the song Space Rabbit, too, you talk about you wonder if you're going to hell. I wonder if I'm going to hell or my soul obliterated. That stuff you think about? Yeah, I be thinking about stuff like that.

You know what I'm saying? When you live a past like I got, you definitely think about stuff like that You know I'm saying when you live a past like like I got you you know you definitely think about stuff like that I mean like you know I've seen a lot dog, and you know I'd be like man. I'll just be praying like man. Let me Especially like you know like you said how dangerous this rap game is and I pointed out something else on my album like Like the pop smoke yeah, that's in Grandma's door too. Yeah, when he got killed, I was like, you know what I'm saying? Because it's like,

man, like you, you work your whole life to get somewhere and be somewhere and we buying these expensive houses and he was in the hill

out the way. Yeah, exactly. So, you know, and I got me a house in the hill too. So I was just like,

man, if I can get killed up here, like, what am I doing? You know what I'm saying? Like, I can go back to the, to the streets to get killed. But if I made it all the way up here and I can get killed up here, like, what am I doing? You know what I'm saying? Like, I can go back to the streets to get killed. But if I made it all the way up here and I still get killed,

oh, man, that's crazy. So how do you, we had this conversation with G Herbo, too. It's like, how do you celebrate your wins still dealing with that kind of PTSD and trauma? You got to celebrate them quietly with the people you love, you know what I'm saying? And, like, out of the way, you know what I mean? I think that, you know, it's just, with this rap thing, man, like you said, we want to celebrate it.

We get too inviting, man. You know what I mean? We open ourselves up to a lot of people and a lot of things. And we, you know, we got to kind of curb that a little bit, you know? On the song Too Much with Moneybagg, yo, you said niggas got way too many enemies. They got to be chewed up. I said, I got way too many enemies. I gotta be chewed up.

Oh, shit. I'm not carrying no guns. Oh, okay, okay. NYPD, I ain't got nothing on me. Absolutely not. I ain't got nothing on me. So, that's just some rap lines. Now, you referenced your girlfriend a couple of times.

Just some rap lines. You referenced your girlfriend a couple of times. So, you also said that you had to cut off your whole roster. How did you manage to settle down into a relationship? You know, you just got to just be with somebody that's compatible with you, man. You know what I mean? That y'all both like the same things. You know, relationship ain't really nothing but like a friendship that you, you know, you just nurture.

And that's it. It's just a friend you having sex with. How do you know she was the one to cut off all those other relationships, like you said? How do you know she was the one? It's about being comfortable, man. You know what I'm saying? It's just certain people I can't trust and talk to about certain things.

You know what I mean? And at the end of the day, you just need somebody to be comfortable with, man. Did it bother you when they was bringing up her, I guess don't know if it's a pass on the which was no I don't believe in monogamy or nothing like that So I don't believe in like like owning people like people like sexual paths Anything like that or what they do that ain't gonna do with me believe in monogamy No, so you can so you have a girlfriend, but that means you still see other people I mean we can see what we want to see. We can do all that together.

So it's open. Okay. Got you. So it's open on both ends? You can share. Hey, do what you want. I don't believe in owning nobody or telling nobody. That's just my personal belief.

That may not work for everybody, but that's just me. I don't really get into that. You can't make me mad by telling me, oh, man, that girl sucked your dick three days. So what? Yours did, too. She just didn't do it over me. You know what I'm saying? mad by telling me oh man that girl sucked your dick three days so what yours did too she just didn't do it you know what i'm saying so how long have you felt like that because i feel like you're a relationship kind of guy no i know i'm not and you know i'm not you know i like a lot of girls

i just felt like i felt like that my whole life i was just probably scared to talk about it yeah i was hiding you know so i didn't know, that probably messed up my first initial couple relationships because I was doing it. But I wasn't, you know, but on a but I was hiding the fact that I was doing it. I was just like, yeah, I love you. I want to be because I thought that I was doing what I, you know, what I was supposed to do. When I had my first child, I got engaged because. Yeah, we remember that because we all know her. Remember, we were on a TV show. But I didn't really want to get engaged, so it was the right thing i thought it was the right thing to do because i was having my first child and i was like man i got to be in the

house with my child that's honorable but you know it ain't that don't you know that's not always the right thing for you just because you have kids with a person i mean you need to be living with them or being with you know what i'm saying and it ain't a slight to her you know what i'm saying it's just that you know we weren't supposed to fit you know i true. You know what I'm saying? And it ain't a slight to her. You know what I'm saying? It's just that we weren't supposed to fit. I love her. You know what I'm saying? I love all the mothers of my children.

You know what I'm saying? We had disagreements and things of that nature, but at the end of the day, man, the goal is for the child to get where they need to be. So all BS aside, I'll do anything for the mothers of my children, anything they ask me. You know what I'm saying? So we can have gripes and stuff about my personal life and the way I live my life, but that's really all it is. It's not a knock on me as a father because my kids love me.

Every disagreement that we might have, it's got shit to do with my personal life. It ain't got nothing to do with the kids. Don't you think when you got one woman, don't you think things are a little bit more stable for you? Nah, man. Hell no, that's for you. Like all the girls. Like all the girls, baby. So that's something that you have to,

yeah, I think if you're honest and a woman accepts that, because sometimes women also try to adapt to what they think you want, but if she's okay with it and truly can accept that and y'all are open. Yeah, I just got to an age where I got to stop lying to myself. You know what I mean? I can't do that. That's real, though. Yeah, I got to be honest, though.

You know, I'm at an age where, you know, I'm going to live a certain way and I'm going to have my way. And if you're not, you know, part of that, then you can, you know, go have your way somewhere else. That's fine. No problem. Now, with Soul Sold Separately, having this as your first major label album, right,

did you approach this differently than you've approached all your other projects? Nah, I didn't. Didn't sound like it. Nah, I didn't. I did the same thing. The only thing I did with, you know, that I really, and I don't even think it was a reach. You know what I mean? When I did the record with Moneybagg Yo.

Too much? Yeah, too much. They was like, oh yeah, this is a radio record. And I was just like, okay, cool. I'm glad that I'll wet y'all whistle with that. Now, leave me the fuck alone

so I can... You got your record? Now leave me alone. Yeah, leave me alone. They got a couple of records off this. You know, they got, you know, a couple things they can work. Ron know what I'm talking about.

That's why he like, yeah, man, nigga, we got some attention. I hate that mentality records label still have. But nah, nah, nah, man. They gotta do their job. You know what I'm saying?

I get it. You know what I'm saying? But their job got to evolve and their thought process got to evolve. And what I mean by that is, what is a radio record in 2022? I don't know.

I don't care. I ain't never had a radio record. That's what I'm saying. I made records and people told me that they can do XYZ with it. So have at it. Either way it goes,

you know what I mean? People know what I do. I'm still going to do a couple of tours next year, regardless. You know what I mean? People know what I do. I'm still going to do a couple of tours next year, regardless, you know what I'm saying? But I definitely didn't want to make a dud,

you know what I mean? I just came off a Grammy-nominated album. I want to go back to the Grammys. You put an album out, let's say the album comes out, it's out,

but let's say Lobster Omelette goes, Pain and Strife goes, but the label be like, well, those ain't the records, let's go with this one. Why are you you gonna go against the people if the people have already chosen i think they're gonna go with the people yeah i would hope so i think they're gonna go with the people man the people i work with we smart we got good we got good people around us norway

around we got good people i don't think that um i don't think that see they let me come in and do what i wanted to do you know i mean i made the album i wanted to make you know i mean there was nobody standing over my shoulder, you know what I mean? Like, oh, do this, do this, do this, X, Y, Z. Of course, it was pressure because it's a new company. You know what I mean?

New set of people you're dealing with. You know what I mean? You want to impress. But, you know, it's always been pressure on me in my career. So it wasn't nothing. It just made me rise to the occasion. What's your favorite song on the album?

Oh, man. It be changing up with my mood. You know what I mean? Honestly, right now it's probably like CIA, crack Instagram and A. Crack Instagram and A. That's what they gave us.

Is that what you want to get into right now? You want to get into that joint? I want him to explain that a little bit. When I was listening to it, I was like, man, that makes a lot of sense. Because I really do feel like people don't understand the impact that Instagram and social media period is going to have on us in the future. That shit is ruining us, bro. Yeah, it is. And I said that, you know what I mean?

Because, you know, I didn't necessarily mean Instagram. I ain't even got no Instagram. Yeah, they keep kicking you off, sir. Yeah, I think I got a new one. I used to tell everybody, follow Freddie Gibbs on Instagram. Yeah, they keep kicking me off. But the clout thing alone is a bad drug. It's just as bad as crack So, you know, I mean like, you know, we got guys doing stuff

For the internet that they wouldn't do 10 15 years ago You like our man you did that like just for the clout like it's crazy So, you know an ace is self-explanatory. You know't want AIDS. Even though they got medication for it, you still don't want it. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? So, that's why I made that record, man.

I just wanted to show, you know, three things that was kind of detrimental to the community. Yeah, at the end of it, you got the, like,

the studio session where you, they realized what you said and everybody was laughing. Now, let's turn that into a song. That was real? Yeah,

that was Lambo and Norvay. We was in Miami and we was just laughing. He was like, ah, yeah, we're going to put this on the album. So,

it worked out. And are you really doing stand-up comedy? Yeah. You're really going to pursue it? I'm already doing it. You got Jeffery Ross on here. I'm already doing it. You got Joe Rogan on here.

Man, shout out to Sam Jay, Chris Redd, you know what I'm saying, and rest in peace Jack Knight. But the reason that I was on that show, Bust Down, is because I had a stand-up comedy show in L.A., and they came through, and they was like, oh, man, you funny. All right, well, cool. So then they gave me the role, so.

Who came through, Chris and Sam? Sam, yeah. Where, where, where? Sam, Chris, yeah, and Jack, Jack Knight. Rest in peace, Jack Knight. I remember when they first told me about that show, I don't know if it was Chris or Sam, and they was saying, you know, Gary, Indiana, Walmart.

I'm like, you got to have Freddie on that. They was like, we got Freddie. Freddie playing the stuff, man. Yeah, man, I love them, man. They gave like, you got to have Freddie on that. He was like, we got Freddie. Freddie playing the stomp, man. Yeah, man. I love them, man. They gave me a real opportunity to, you know, get in that comedy world. So, you know, I owe all of that, you know, comedic stuff to them. You know, Sam J for sure.

She definitely somebody that I look up to. My homeboy Brian Moses, you know, he pretty much gave me my start in that. So, you know, I love those guys. And, you know, this is great for me, you know what I mean, to be doing something else outside of rap, you know, I love those guys. And, you know, this is great for me, you know what I mean, to be doing something else outside of rap. You know what I mean? I loved growing up watching Martin Lawrence do a deaf comedy jam. You know, that's something that I definitely want to get into hosting, you know, and giving like black comics and all kinds of comics different exposure, you know?

Absolutely. Well, let's get into the joint right now. And stay out of trouble, Freddie, man. C-I-A. Is that the record you really want to play? I don't know if that's the record you want to play for. I said, what you want to play? Oh, I don't know. Pick a record. Hey, man, what?

Too much. Look around. I'll say too much. Too much. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Good morning. had enough of this country ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine.

I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets.

Listen to Escape from Zaka Stan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-A-S-T-A-Nistan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, y'all. Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history.

Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. Did you know, did you know, I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a moment. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together.

So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.