Freddie Gibbs / Young Thug / A$AP Ferg: "Old English"

Freddie Gibbs is not the hottest name in the credits of “Old English”, but he is rightfully placed in the middle: the success of the track hinges on him. After all, a Young Thug and A$AP Ferg collaboration makes all the sense in the world, as they’ve spent the past year and change as two of hip-hop’s most unpredictable linguists, rappers for whom style often is substance. It’s the sort of colorful flamboyance against which Gibbs has defined himself, serving as stubborn opposition to anything that doesn’t scan as being based off real street experience. Both Young Thug and Fergenstein hold true to form here, boasting about Maseratis and chilling at Santos Party House over production from  Salva and Nick Hook, each rapper respectively modernist in his approach while bringing to mind the unbridled exuberance of Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Busta Rhymes. And then there’s Gibbs in the midst of it all, fitting in without having to do anything altogether different. His flow is impeccable as always, but more importantly, he’s going with the flow in a metaphysical sense, which is how “Old English” is every bit the party starter it intends to be. Rather than asking “Why?”, everyone just says, “Why not?”. 

 

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