More than a decade ago, the Indiana rap prospect Freddie Gibbs got dropped from Interscope and went on an underground tear, cranking out mixtape after mixtape and developing a huge critical reputation. After that, Gibbs spent a little while on Jeezy’s CTE imprint. But for most of the time since he lost that Interscope deal, Freddie Gibbs has been an indie-rap monster, one who cranks out new music with a feverish intensity that somehow looks effortless. Earlier this year, for example, Gibbs teamed up with the Alchemist to release Alfredo, one of 2020’s best rap albums. But now Freddie Gibbs has a brand-new major-label deal, and he’s got a new single to celebrate it.
Today, Gibbs and his ESGN label announce their new deal with Warner Bros. For his Warner debut, Gibbs has teamed up with fellow Midwest native Big Sean to release the giddy, triumphant fast-rap single “4 Thangs.” Over a beat from producer Hit-Boy — the very busy beatmaker who has recently overseen entire albums from Big Sean, Nas, and Benny The Butcher — Gibbs and Sean both go in, trading off graceful shit-talk.
In some ways, the song almost seems like an excuse for the video. In director Nick Walker’s clip, Gibbs and Sean are the two best players on a team that’s just won its fourth straight championship. We get to see the locker-room celebration and the post-game press conference. Onscreen chyrons tell us that Gibbs and Sean have both averaged 50 points per game and zero assists, which is pretty amazing. Gibbs has been bringing a laid-back comic energy to his videos for a long time, and he and Sean make a good pair. Check it out below.
“4 Thangs” is out now, and Gibbs is doing a pop-up event tomorrow at 7767 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. There will be a mural, and there will also be free tacos, T-shirts, and foam fingers. There’s also a whole lot of new Gibbs merch that you can buy here.
