Alfredo | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 29, 2020 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 35:05 | |||
Label |
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Producer | The Alchemist | |||
Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist chronology | ||||
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Freddie Gibbs chronology | ||||
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The Alchemist chronology | ||||
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Singles from Alfredo | ||||
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Alfredo is a collaborative studio album by American rapper Freddie Gibbs and American hip hop producer The Alchemist. It was released on May 29,2020,through Gibbs' own record label ESGN Records,as well as ALC Records and Empire Distribution.
The album is the first project between only Gibbs and The Alchemist,as it also marks the second time they have collaborated on a full-length project,following 2018's Fetti with fellow rapper Currensy. It features guest appearances from fellow rappers Rick Ross,Benny the Butcher,Tyler,the Creator,and Conway the Machine. It was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
The Alchemist and Gibbs first worked together as early as 2003–2004. However,nothing from that period was released. [1] Their first official collaboration was in April 2011 on the Currensy and Alchemist song "Scottie Pippen",which Gibbs was featured on. [1] In October 2018,the trio released a collaborative album titled Fetti . [2]
The title is a portmanteau of The Alchemist and Gibbs' names. [3] The album cover,designed by Vlad Sepetov,shows a hand puppeteering a Fettuccine Alfredo dish. It draws similarities to the logo of renowned crime film franchise The Godfather . [4] [5]
On May 27,2020,Gibbs and The Alchemist announced the release of new music via social media,before confirming the collaborative project shortly after. [6] [7] The announcement came alongside the option for pre-ordering the album in digital and physical format,including a comic book stylized based on the album. [8]
The first single,"1985",was released a day before the album,alongside an accompanying music video directed by Nick Walker. [7] [9]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 88/100 [10] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [11] |
Clash | 9/10 [12] |
Exclaim! | 9/10 [13] |
HipHopDX | 4.5/5 [14] |
The Line of Best Fit | 9.5/10 [15] |
Loud and Quiet | 8/10 [16] |
No Ripcord | 8/10 [17] |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10 [18] |
Q | [19] |
Tom Hull –on the Web | B+ ( ) [20] |
Alfredo was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic,which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications,the album received an average score of 88,based on nine reviews. [10]
Jack Bray of The Line of Best Fit praised the album,stating,"It's an incredibly tight record packed with stellar performances,production and presence throughout. The blood,sweat and tears of hip-hop run through the album,but Gibbs has once again redefined what that means". [15] Josh Svetz from HipHopDX enjoyed the album,saying,"Alfredo is a master class in rap —35 minutes of cutthroat bars that feel like 15,leaving you hungry for another course. In a world where the basic function of waking up feels like a chore,Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist have served up a dish of quick comfort food packed with essential nutrients included". [14] Reviewing the album for Clash ,Robin Murray stated:"Alfredo excels on every front,a record that fuses a thirst for fresh innovation with a depth of love for hip-hop and rap music that is almost unparalleled. Pretty much an instant classic,it's the sound of Freddie Gibbs finally bursting free,working with tour de force production to surge past expectations and claim his place at the absolute pinnacle." [12] Juan Edgardo Rodríguez of No Ripcord gave a positive review,stating,"Gibbs is a masterful curator who knows who to match his flows with,like on God is Perfect and Look at Me,splicing soul loops,movie clips,and inventive beats etched into his gruff vocals. The beats are an attraction in itself,but make no mistake:they wouldn't be as good if Gibbs weren't behind the mic spitting his poetic yet matter-of-fact observations". [17]
Clayton Tomlinson of Exclaim! said,"The current king of rap manages,yet again,to offer a searing insight into his life,past and present. The songs on Alfredo are fun even when the themes aren't". [13] Pitchfork critic Matthew Ismael Ruiz said,"Gibbs skates over these beats,effortlessly gliding in and out of the pocket. Even the moments of stark contrast feel natural". [18] Writing for AllMusic,Andy Kellman felt that "Whether Alchemist transmutes glacial boom-bap and trawling acid nightmares or spiritual soft rock and tear-jerking soul,Gibbs makes it all work to his benefit". [11] Rupert Howe of Q said,"The melodic flow of Alchemist's beats perfectly offsets his partner's raw,unfiltered delivery". [19]
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard | The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2020 | 6 | |
Complex | The Best Albums of 2020 | 4 | |
Exclaim! | Exclaim!'s 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 15 | |
The Fader | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 15 | |
The Guardian | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 34 | |
The Best Music of 2020 | 9 | ||
Pitchfork | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 44 | |
Spin | The 30 Best Albums of 2020 | 16 | |
Stereogum | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 18 | |
Under the Radar | Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2020 | 59 |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Album | Nominated | [31] |
In the United States,Alfredo debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200,earning 30,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, [32] making it both Gibbs' and The Alchemist's highest-charting album to date. [4]
All tracks produced by The Alchemist.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "1985" | 2:32 | |
2. | "God Is Perfect" |
| 3:59 |
3. | "Scottie Beam" (featuring Rick Ross) |
| 4:04 |
4. | "Look at Me" |
| 2:33 |
5. | "Frank Lucas" (featuring Benny the Butcher) |
| 4:41 |
6. | "Something to Rap About" (featuring Tyler, the Creator) |
| 4:42 |
7. | "Baby Shit" |
| 3:36 |
8. | "Babies & Fools" (featuring Conway the Machine) |
| 3:26 |
9. | "Skinny Suge" |
| 2:52 |
10. | "All Glass" |
| 2:33 |
Total length: | 35:05 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "Daddy Loves You" |
| 1:18 |
Total length: | 36:23 |
Notes
Sample credits
Credits adapted from Freddie Gibbs' social media.
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [33] | 145 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [34] | 76 |
US Billboard 200 [35] | 15 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [36] | 12 |
Alan Daniel Maman, professionally known as the Alchemist, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and songwriter. He began his music career in 1991 in the hip hop duo The Whooliganz under the moniker Mudfoot, along with now-actor Scott Caan. After rising to prominence in the late 1990s, as a close associate of Dilated Peoples and Mobb Deep, he went on to produce for many of hip hop's leading artists in the 2000s, and has been hailed as one of the genre's leading producers. While he produces for many artists, most of his recent production has been for a close group of frequent collaborative rappers. He focuses on producing entire albums for rappers and instrumental projects of his own. He is currently Eminem's official DJ.
Fredrick Jamel Tipton, better known by his stage name Freddie Gibbs, is an American rapper from Gary, Indiana. After initially being signed to Interscope Records in 2006, Gibbs recorded his debut studio album under the label. However, he was eventually dropped and the album was cancelled. Gibbs later signed with Young Jeezy's CTE World and released a number of mixtapes through the label, including 2012's highly acclaimed Baby Face Killa.
Str8 Killa is an EP by rapper Freddie Gibbs. It was released on August 3, 2010 through Decon Records and Gibbs Family.
Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away is a collaborative EP by American rapper Freddie Gibbs and producer Statik Selektah. It was released on June 24, 2011, by Showoff Records and CTE World.
Shante Scott Franklin, better known by his stage name Currensy, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. In 2011, he founded the label Jet Life Recordings.
Mic Tyson is the third solo studio album by American rapper Sean Price. It was released on October 30, 2012 through Duck Down Records. Production was handled by Alchemist, Beat Butcha, Eric G, Evidence, 9th Wonder, AMP, Khrysis and Wool. It features guest appearances from Buckshot, Ill Bill, Pharoahe Monch, Pumpkinhead, Realm Reality, Ruste Juxx, Torae, Ike Eyes and Freddie Gibbs.
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ESGN is the debut studio album by American rapper Freddie Gibbs. The album was released on June 19, 2013, by ESGN and Empire Distribution. The album features guest appearances from Daz Dillinger, Spice 1, Jay Rock, G-Wiz, Hit “Skrewface”, Big Kill, Lil Sodi, Problem, Y.B., D-Edge, G.I. Fleezy and BJ the Chicago Kid.
Piñata is the first collaborative studio album by American rapper Freddie Gibbs and record producer Madlib. It was released on March 18, 2014, by Madlib Invazion. Entirely produced by Madlib, the 17-track LP features contributions from Raekwon, Earl Sweatshirt, Danny Brown, Domo Genesis, Scarface, BJ the Chicago Kid, Ab-Soul, Casey Veggies, Meechy Darko and Mac Miller, among others. The album was recorded by Josh "The Goon" Fadem and Glenn "G-Wiz" Browder between January 2011 and October 2013. It was mixed and mastered by Dave Cooley for Elysian Masters, except for "Shame" and "Terrorist", mixed by Kelly Hibbert.
"Break the Bank" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Schoolboy Q, released on January 21, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records, as a promotional single from his major label debut studio album Oxymoron (2014). The song was recorded in 2012 and was produced by The Alchemist. The song has since peaked at number 32 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
The discography of American rapper Freddie Gibbs consists of five solo studio albums, four collaborative studio albums, twenty-two singles, eight extended plays, twenty mixtapes, and one compilation mixtape.
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Bandana is the second collaborative studio album by American rapper Freddie Gibbs and record producer Madlib. It was released on June 28, 2019, by ESGN, Keep Cool Records, Madlib Invazion, and RCA Records. Entirely produced by Madlib, it is the follow up to their critically acclaimed 2014 album Piñata, and their sixth project as MadGibbs overall. The album features guest appearances from Pusha T, Killer Mike, Anderson .Paak, Yasiin Bey, and Black Thought.
Freddie is the fourth studio album by American rapper Freddie Gibbs. It was released on June 22, 2018 through ESGN and Empire Distribution. The album features guest appearances from Gibbs' daughter Irie Jane Gibbs, alongside 03 Greedo and Cassie Jo Craig. It also includes production from Gibbs himself, credited as Freddie Kane, alongside Kenny Beats, Jones, A. Lau, RichGains and Tony Seltzer, among others.
Fetti is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Curren$y and Freddie Gibbs and record producer The Alchemist. It was released on October 31, 2018 for streaming and digital download by Jet Life Recordings, ESGN Records and ALC Records. Fetti was entirely produced by The Alchemist.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2020.
Pray for Paris is the third studio album by American rapper Westside Gunn. It was released on April 17, 2020 through Griselda Records with distribution by Empire Distribution. The album was produced by Daringer, Beat Butcha, the Alchemist, DJ Muggs, and DJ Premier. It features guest appearances from Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, Joey Badass, Tyler, the Creator, Boldy James, Freddie Gibbs, Roc Marciano, Wale, Joyce Wrice, Billie Essco, Keisha Plum, and Cartier Williams. The album debuted at number 67 on the Billboard 200.
Dark Lane Demo Tapes is a mixtape by Canadian rapper and singer Drake. The mixtape is a compilation of songs that were released on SoundCloud or leaked on the internet, as well as new songs, and is considered a "warm-up" to Drake's sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy (2021). It was released on May 1, 2020, by OVO Sound and Republic Records. Production was handled by Drake's longtime collaborator 40, among others. Featured guest appearances include Future, Young Thug, Chris Brown, Playboi Carti, Giveon, Fivio Foreign, and Sosa Geek.
From King to a God is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Conway the Machine. It was released on September 11, 2020, by Griselda Records, Drumwork and Empire Distribution. Production was handled by eleven record producers: Beat Butcha, Daringer, Alchemist, DJ Premier, Erick Sermon, Havoc, Hit-Boy, Khrysis, Murda Beatz, Rockwilder and Signalflow Music. It features guest appearances from Armani Caesar, Benny the Butcher, Dej Loaf, El Camino, Flee Lord, Freddie Gibbs, Havoc, Lloyd Banks, Method Man and Westside Gunn. A deluxe version was released on December 18, 2020.