Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away

iTunes Review

Repping for Gary, Ind., Freddie Gibbs is among the most promising young emcees working today. He's spent the last several years building his resume through mixtapes, collabos, and EPs like Str8 Killa and Thuggin' (produced by Madlib and released under the name MadGibbs). On Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away, he joins forces with another fast-rising powerhouse, Statik Selektah, who's gone from “big in Massachusetts” (known for his work with Termanology), to one of the game's most in-demand beatmakers. On the seven tracks here, they also connect with G-Funk royalty Dat Nigga Daz (the reflective "Rap Money"), Texas favorite Trae Tha Truth ("Already"), and Harlem's Smoke Dza (the ridiculously soulful "Keep It Warm for Ya"), among others. As usual, Statik's loop-driven production is outstanding. It provides an ideal backdrop to Freddie's swift wordplay, which is equal parts streetwise, hyper-lyrical, and philosophical.