Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist Release Alfredo 2

Since 2009, Freddie Gibbs has constantly delivered vividly intriguing projects. An underground professor who rose to cultural heavyweight champion, his artistry seems to blend street wisdom with cultural diligence on the new release, Alfredo 2.

Many would believe that when Alfredo was released back in 2020 alongside The Alchemist, it would be a project that would never be surpassed. But with the second course strolling out of the kitchen five years later, it's clear that it rivals the original.

Gibbs and The Alchemist move like a prime Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard on Alfredo 2. The Alchemist expertly creates the bones of the pieces, crafting together majestical beats with carefully collated samples, before Gibbs latches onto the setup by adding audacious lyrics to cleverly finish off the move.

It's not trying to recreate the magic of its predecessor; its mood is wholly different. Both artists creatively merge to produce signature tracks for the ages. From the simplistic exquisiteness of ‘Empanadas’ to the strategic and composite radiance of ‘Ensalada’, you’re never bored and constantly craving more and more until your appetite is perfectly satisfied.  

This album will quietly dominate the rap scene. It may not receive worldwide plaudits, but its position in hip-hop legacy is already cemented with loyal fanbases going crazy on social media and praising the work of this dynamic duo. Colourful, poetic, confrontational and timeless, you depart this album with a full stomach while leaving a healthy tip in return; a nod to the incredible service.  

And that’s not all. The duo hosted a full album listening in support of their Babylon collaboration at hvw8 Gallery in LA last week, and a select number of lucky fans were invited to see a special advance screening of Alfredo: The Movie at Los Angeles’ Brain Dead Studios cinema. Directed by Nick Walker and shot on location in Japan, Alfredo: The Movie offers a cryptic glimpse into the Alfredo 2 world. The film casts Gibbs and The Alchemist as partners navigating a seedy, hyper-stylized version of the city’s criminal underground. A bold reintroduction to the duo’s creative universe steeped in noir aesthetics, shadowy criminal underworlds, and razor-sharp bars.

It gets to the point where we start to wonder whether Gibbs' discography can be considered as one of the greatest ever? An old soul who doesn’t hold back from revealing truthful admissions, Alfredo 2 is another feather in the cap of quite possibly the most underrated artist to date.