NPR’s Microphone Check is coming off a dope interview with VA’s Pusha T. But without slacking for a week, Frannie Kelly and Ali Shaheed Muhammad got up with Freddie Gibbs, who recently released his Shadow of a Doubt album.
During the sit-down, Freddie discussed the daily independent grind, which he says many rappers don’t talk about.
“It’s tough when you gotta run a independent situation on your own,” says Gibbs. “I know it’s tough on me sometimes. When you gotta go pick up the director, get the video equipment, get the video shot right, the video treatment, go in the studio, pay the bills, and perform. And be the talent. So it’s just — it’s difficult. Everybody can’t stomach that or fathom the thought of having to do that on a daily basis. But I was definitely up for the challenge.”
Also, Gibbs talked about music streaming and how he’s hesitant to believe that it’s possible to count how many times somebody listens to a song, picking up game from the autobiographies of Rick James and George Clinton, and how he feels he is lacking the recognition that he deserves.
“I don’t feel like I get the recognition for being as innovative that I am musically, you know what I mean? I don’t think that I get put up there with the J. Coles and the Kendrick Lamars and guys of that nature when I definitely think that I’m rapping on they level and definitely higher.”