Recently Freddie Gibbs remarked, “if Piñata was a term paper then Shadow of a Doubt is recess”.
I think this is a really fair description, not in that this project has a lack of effort, rather Freddie’s approach to Shadow of a Doubt is more carefree. There aren’t any consequences for trying new sounds, and Freddie certainly does that on this album. Practically every track has a different soundscape.
The impressive part comes in when you realize Freddie has a professional handle on the various sounds present on this record. He sounds confident on every track. Take “Extradite” for example, the beat is almost noise-hop and sounds like it would sit more comfortably on a Clipping record. Despite that, Freddie sounds unbelievably comfortable, however Black Thought comes through with what probably is the best verse on the album(usually a given).
The lead single “F**kin’ Up The Count” remains my favorite track. Maybe because it’s a sound Freddie is a little more masterful with, but probably more so due to the song’s structure and how chilling the hook becomes after the snippets of The Wire are tossed in the mix.
As a whole the album might not be that cohesive but Freddie’s content has that crime motif, providing a bridge across the varying sound profiles. It’s definitely a good release, and I’m excited to see what elements Freddie tries to bring into his next “term paper”.
The album can be purchased on iTunes
art by your homie Arthur Banach
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