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18 hours ago
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Al and Gangsta Gibbs return for another helping with their long-awaited Alfredo sequel.
Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist Nick Walker
Five years after Alfredo helped keep most of us sane in the midst of a global pandemic, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist have reunited for its long-awaited sequel.
The result is more of what made Alfredo a Grammy-nominated classic: velvety smooth vibes and plenty of luxurious bars about plucking feathers of eagles before eating them, riding in all white DeVilles, snacking on “Gas Station Sushi,” “smoking the opps like Patrick Mahones’ father, squeezing Akademiks “titties,” kicking it at Mar-a-Lago and so, so, so much more.
The Alchemist sounds better than ever, as his swirling, dusty grooves convey images of suited-up mobsters puffing on hearty cigars, and Gibbs sounds just as classy sliding along them. This is Gibbs second project in less than a year, but the rapper sounds more at home with Al then any other producer he’s worked with. While that homecoming is a nice thought, the world of Alfredo 2 feels seedier than its predecessor, demonstrated in part by the duo’s short film they released earlier in July. Trading Italian fettuccini for rice noodles, Al and Freddie navigate the criminal underworld of Japan, as they deal with the Yakuza and more in this noir-inspired album.
With features from Anderson .Paak, Larry June and J.I.D., Alfredo 2 is looking to be another memorable moment for Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist. So five years later, how does it all sound? let’s dive into the album. Billboard has ranked all 14 tracks on Alfredo 2, check out the rankings below.
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“Shangri La”
On “Shangri La,” Gibbs honestly plays it safe. The loopings sound similar to other stand outs on the album, and Gibbs flow and bars are right in line with the content expected on an Alfredo project. It’s not that it’s a bad song, none such tracks exist on this project, but the best moments in “Shangri La” are simply done better elsewhere.
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“Skinny Suge II”
“Skinny Suge II” is a fitting sequel to its 2020 predecessor. It feels more like an intermission from the project that allows Gibbs to get some braggadocious bars off his chest. Throughout the song he raps about how his opps should tread lightly, as if to serve as a generalized warning to all the rappers on Gibbs’ growing laundry list of feuds. Gibbs does his thing — but thematically, the song doesn’t fit in with the others and I couldn’t help but zone out a little bit towards the end. Then again, this song felt more like it was built for Gibbs to get some feelings off his chest rather than for the enjoyment of the fans.
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“Jean Claude”
With only one track to go before the finale, “Jean Claude” feels like another moment where Gibbs simply wants to speak his truth rather than make a song for the fans. “Grammy night felt like n—as took my trophy like Reggie Bush,” he raps, reflecting on Alfredo losing to Tyler, The Creator’s Igor. The song comes and goes like a gentle breeze, with Gibbs using “Jean Claude” to just vent for a few moments before saying farewell.
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“Gas Station Sushi”
Let’s get one thing straight: “Gas Station Sushi” is both a compelling song title, and a great perspective band name for Gibbs’ pop-punk alter ego if he ever decides to create one. It’s just a shame the song doesn’t hit harder, considering the tough topics Gibbs explores: “White supremacy been killin’ n—as, but the truth is we ain’t got no love for us,” Gibbs spits. Again, it’s by no means a bad track; the vibe of “Gas Station Sushi” just feels familiar when held up against the rest of the songs that have come before it, and with only a few tracks left to go at this point in the record, it’d be nice for the relaxed pace to pick up a few more times before the finale.
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“Empanadas”
While The Alchemist’s jazzy minimalism still hits hard on “Empanadas,” it gets buried amongst the highlights on this record. Gibbs also treads familiar territory with his bars, aside from the few lines clearly directed at Benny The Butcher. Those bars are the black sheep of the bunch, while the rest navigate sex, money and lavish desire in tandem with the other Alfredo 2 tracks.
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“1995”
A fitting sequel to Alfredo‘s “1985,” Gibbs rapping about “Pluckin’ the feathers off this eagle, when I chef it” sets the tone for Alfredo 2 perfectly. Al’s beat sounds lush and succulent, crackling to life like a vinyl while Gibbs spits bars about the struggles he’s overcome. While it’s by no means the best song on the project, “1995” feels like a homecoming for the fans of its predecessor.
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“Lavish Habits”
Gibbs offers up some of his most devilish bars on “Lavish Habits.” With a glint in his eye he raps: “I’m still gon’ squeeze Akademiks’ t—ies, that fat bastard/ Gunna dissed me and took a plea, he a rat bastard/ Show up at your funeral, big Fendi b—h, ten Blickies/ Pee on city girls like P. Diddy, b—h, get with me/ If this heifer thinking ’bout sticking me, that’s a long shot/ I’m busy smoking motherf—ing opps like Patrick Mahomes’ pops.” These few bars alone have too much in them to dissect in such a short write-up, but Freddie Gibbs fans know the mischievous themes behind the lyrics.
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“I Still Love H.E.R.”
Freddie Gibbs pays homage to Mac Miller and calls out the Nine Trey Bloods all in one breath. It’s compelling stuff, especially when it comes in such a opulent package with The Alchemist’s soulful loops. “I Still Love H.E.R.” feels like a perfect intro for the album’s second half, as Gibbs steps away from his braggadocious rhymes in favor of more reflective subjects .
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“Feeling” (feat. Larry June)
Freddie Gibbs and Larry June are a match made in heaven. Both rappers sound right at home over Al’s dusty keys, as they flex their sexual talents with differing cadences, but an equal level of sophistication. The only complaint is that Larry doesn’t hang around for a bit longer. It feels like a missed opportunity in that regard, as Larry’s sloth-like pacing was a complementary reprieve from Gibbs’ rapid-fire hook.
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“Gold Feet” (Feat. J.I.D.)
Set against an elegant backdrop courtesy of Al, J.I.D. comes very close to beating out Gibbs on his own track. The two rappers spar really well on “Gold Feet,” and it’s nice hearing Gibbs have to try his hardest not to get washed by an equally as vicious lyricist.
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“Lemon Pepper Steppers”
“She sucked my d—k after church in these lemon-pepper steppers,” is quite an image. Aided by Al’s lo-fi piano trills and guitar plucks, Gibbs utilizes his quick tongue to hop along on “Lemon Pepper Steppers.” The song’s nonchalant swagger carries it like Tony Soprano heading to the fridge after a long day, and satiates like a Tupperware filled with Carmella’s baked ziti.
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“Ensalada” (Feat. Anderson .Paak)
Picking up the tempo just a little bit, “Ensalada” is the liveliest cut on the project. Al’s smokey guitars float along like weed smoke in a windowless room, while his steady click of drums keep .Paak and Gibbs from drifting away. The latter two MC’s sound great together, with .Paak’s melodic gate perfectly complimenting Gibbs bouncy flow.
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“A Thousand Mountains”
In Alfredo 2‘s closing moments, Freddie Gibbs drops some of the best bars on the project. “Feel like the only n—a rap cold as me, André 3000/ B—h, I raised a generation, kicked game on a thousand albums/ I should go get me a flute and just disappear in the mountains,” Gibbs says in the opening moments. He then goes on to compare himself to the disgraced mixed martial artist War Machine, the Arctic explorer Matthew Henson, the Barbie movie and Mortal Kombat. He also levels insults against The Breakfast Club and girls who heavily follow astrology. If all that sounds confusing, just go listen to the song and you’ll see how only a rapper like Freddie Gibbs can make it make sense.
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“Mar-a-Lago”
As Gibbs raps circles around the competition, Al’s technical beat making talents on “Mar-a-Lago” is at an all-time high. “Mar-a-Lago” stimulates the senses like a spoonful of expensive caviar, as both Gibbs and Al remain tightly in their comfort zone in the best possible way. Similarly to “Something to Rap About,” if there’s one song that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of an Alfredo project, it’s this one.
English (US)