Freddie Gibbs and producer The Alchemist recently released a new collaboration album titled “Alfredo 2” on Friday, July 25. The 14-song, 48-minute album contains features from Anderson .Paak, Larry June, and JID. The release of the album was highly anticipated, as cryptic crumbs, including a short film that helped promote the album further, were continually dropped leading up to the release.
The intro song “1995” showed that the duo haven’t lost their chemistry. Gibbs’ raw lyrics over Al’s silky production gives the impression that the album is no laughing matter. The lyric, “Ooh/Freddie Kane, why you do ‘em so cold?” at the end of the track epitomizes the entire album.
Gibbs let loose on this album, calling out multiple artists. Track 11 “Lavish Habits” targeted hip hop influencer and commentator DJ Akademiks and, yet again, Atlanta rapper Gunna. The lyrics were, “I’m still gon squeeze Akademiks titties, that fat bastard/ Gunna dissed me and took a plea, he a rat bastard.”
In 2022, Gunna made the decision to take a plea deal in the highly publicized YSL case, which involved Atlanta rapper Young Thug and his RICO charges. Following the plea, criticism towards Gunna came flashing, with Gibbs chiming in as well. The tension between the two rappers is still ongoing, with the line from “Lavish Habits” being proof.
Gibbs also aimed at fellow rappers Jim Jones and Benny the Butcher. In the song “Empanadas,” Gibbs writes, “Smacked in Miami his boys jumped me, he played it safe,” referring to an altercation allegedly involving Jones and his team. His next line, “Bitches in Buffalo get the same thing, they was throwing plates/ Limped away on his good foot, but he ain’t bust a grape,” was aimed towards Benny the Butcher, making mention of an altercation occurring between the two in Buffalo.
Although Gibbs had his shining moments on the album, the features were also outstanding in their own right. Anderson .Paak provides the chorus for the song “Ensalada,” and it leaves a memorable mark on the track. Larry June’s verse on “Feeling” brings that silky unique flow we’re used to hearing from the Bay-Area rapper. J.I.D’s feature is the best on the album in his contribution on the song “Gold Feet.” His verse made it seem as if it was his own and Gibbs didn’t offer a verse of his own.
This is not the first time Gibbs and The Alchemist have collaborated on projects. In 2018, Gibbs, The Alchemist, and New Orleans rapper Curren$y released the project “Fetti.” In 2020, Gibbs and The Alchemist would drop the Grammy-nominated “Alfredo.” Following “Alfredo,” the duo released solo projects of their own, with the two pairing up for a track on Gibbs’ solo release “$oul $old $eparately” (2022).
Gibbs and The Alchemist offer solid chemistry as both artists release yet another great album in their long discography. In a loaded summer for hip-hop albums, Gibbs and The Alchemist show once again why they are timeless artists in the genre.