The past couple of years have been full of ups and downs for Freddie Gibbs. After releasing his fifth studio album, $oul $old $eparately—currently his highest-charting album on the Billboard charts—it felt like Gary, Indiana’s own was making headlines more for controversies outside of music. The news seemed dominated by his clashes (including physical altercations) with Benny The Butcher, and his tumultuous and toxic romantic relationship (I won’t even get into the “Spreadie Gibbs” situation). During this period, Gibbs’s musical output also slowed, which is unfortunate because, in my opinion, Freddie Gibbs is arguably one of the best gangster rappers, with a discography to back it up.
But now, Gangsta Gibbs returns with a new album, You Only Die 1nce. Although there were hints, the album was still a surprise release (it even came with a “Devil Direct Hotline”). While Freddie Gibbs has other interests and endeavors beyond rap, let’s see if this album brings his music back to the forefront.
1. Status
Produced by Pops & K-Notes
Over an eerie beat, Gibbs does what he does best: rapping about his come-up and, naturally, drug dealing. I don’t have a problem with that—Freddie has a talent for detailing his life in the drug trade. It’s a short song that serves as an intro, ending with the devil—voiced by none other than Slink Johnson, aka Black Jesus—asking Freddie if he’s really leaving the streets behind and “strayin’ from the program.” This ongoing theme is a strong setup for the rest of the album.
2. Cosmo Freestyle
Produced by DJ Harrison, Ben “Lambo” Lambert, Pops, Lowner, & Mischa Chillak
I wish Freddie had given us another verse here. Over a piano-led, soulful beat, he raps about leaving the streets, women, and out-rapping his peers. But without the devil’s interlude—who returns to entice Freddie at the end of this song—it’s not even two minutes long. Side note: Has Freddie’s manager Ben “Lambo” Lambert always been a producer? You’ll see his name a couple more times on this project, and I wasn’t aware of this before.
3. Wolverine
Produced by 454, Pops, & Moo Latte
For me, this is the first track on the album that feels like it could have been on Bandana or Piñata (especially with the slight beat switch midway through). It’s another song where Gibbs delivers just one verse with no hook, but I’m not complaining—he’s really spitting here:
Slammin’, dollar sign G’s like Vito Genovese
Devil’s in position, they itchin’, wishin’ to get a piece
Rap wolverine, I proceed to survive the murder scene
You can’t be my nigga if we can’t share the same enemies
Niggas lactose intolerant to this cheddar cheese
Youngins poppin’ pills laced with fentanyl and amphetamines
Get your brother whacked while I’m fuckin’ off in the Philippines
I’m judge, jury, and executioner with this guillotine
4. Brick Fees
Produced by YG! Beats, Walbrook Santana, & Pops
“Brick Fees” is a wild title for a song, and as soon as I saw it, I imagined all the ways Freddie might rhyme with it—and he does just that (“Six-speed, fuckin’ on a mixed-breed”). I thought the hook might get repetitive (brick fees, Swiss cheese, bitch need, flip screen, etc.), but he doesn’t overdo it. Plus, the evolving production really keeps the track fresh.
5. Rabbit Island
Produced by Pops & Ben “Lambo” Lambert
I was ready to dock points from this song for the off-key hook—until I realized it’s actually Freddie singing, so I’ll let it slide for comedic effect. Despite that, this is one of my favorites on the album. The beat seems to draw inspiration from Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Devotion” and has the Gary, Indiana rapper dropping lines like:
Still thuggin’, hoes frontin’
Niggas underrate me like Jalen Brunson, but yo, I’m leavin’ with somethin’
I’m from around the way, ho can’t take my crown away
Starvin’ in that cell, feel like I lost like three, four pounds a day
Growin’ up in the G, might have to duck at least four rounds a day
Don’t wait ‘round for no ambulance, bitch, ándale
Murder always complicate, once it’s up, it’s outer space
Niggas wanna have a kumbaya, but I can’t conversate
A standout track on the album.
6. It’s Your Anniversary
Produced by Thurston McCrea & Ben “Lambo” Lambert
I remember hearing this track about a year ago, and yes—it’s literally Freddie’s take on Tony! Toni! Toné!’s classic song “Anniversary”. This feels like street mixtape material, but since those aren’t really a thing anymore, here it is on a studio album. It’s kind of low-effort but undeniably catchy. If it were formatted better and a little longer, it could’ve been a solid single.
7. Nobody Like You (Interlude)
Produced by Pops & Mischa Chillak
You know that thing rappers used to do on interludes when they have voicemails featuring women? This is that but with the devil sprinkled in.
8. Yeah Yeah
Produced by Pops & Moo Latte
In this track, Freddie raps about dealing with fame and everything that comes with it—women, drugs (is that a sniff at the beginning?), and the need to “unplug from the matrix.” I’ve always thought that once Freddie gains a stronger foothold in acting, he might be done with rap, and this song kind of confirms it (“And I barely be rappin’, but ho, when I turn on the flow, I’m a motherfuckin’ poet”). Solid track.
9. Steel Doors
Produced by BNYX®, Pops, Moo Latte & iloveit!
Over a haunting beat, Gangsta Gibbs takes us back to the crack house with “Steel Doors.” He raps about stealing drugs and unknowingly being around snitches. Nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s a solid album track.
10. Walk It Off
Produced by 454
On “Walk It Off”, Gibbs switches up his flow to a faster, more melodic style. There’s two versions of Freddie Gibbs: the straight-up rapper and the singing, fast-flow version featured here. Personally, I always preferred the former, but that’s just me. The production is smooth on this one, though. Yeah, yeah.
11. Ruthless
Produced by Ben “Lambo” Lambert & Pops
Much like “It’s Your Anniversary”, where Gibbs rapped over Tony! Toni! Toné!’s “Anniversary”, “Ruthless” finds him spitting over 112’s “Cupid”. I like this one too, but it feels like more could have been done on the production side—it’s a great sample but uses the exact loop you’d expect.
On the lyrical side, Gibbs talks about dealing with women and reflects on his last disastrous (and public) relationship:
If I wasn’t rappin’, I’d still be comin’ down on candy slab
Told her, “If the internet crashed, you’d just be sellin’ ass”
Louis bags, Prada boots
I show too much love to the strippers, scammers, and prostitutes
Left they other kids to come fuck with me, irresponsible
Funnily enough, the devil shows up toward the end, saying he’s the one who gave Freddie the “stupid bitches.” Well…
12. Origami
Produced by Coleman & BNYX®
“Origami” opens with a sample of Muammar Gaddafi and ends with a message from (presumably) rapper Lil’ Sodi, to whom Freddie dedicates a few lines (“Man, I miss my nigga Sodi, I still remember them days”). The track has a somber yet glamorous feel; either way, it’s well-executed. Gibbs delivers some standout bars here too (“Sixteenth seed, bitch, I’m breakin’ through, like a busted bracket”). Another standout track.
13. On The Set
Produced by Pops & Mischa Chillak
I mentioned earlier which tracks could have been singles, but “On The Set” is the album’s official first single—and for good reason; it’s probably the best song here. The track features an introspective Freddie reflecting on how he once looked up to Diddy, the deaths of late rappers like Rich Homie Quan, Nipsey, Dolph, and Hip-Hop legends Pac and Biggie, which leads him to consider his own legacy. You Only Die 1nce finishes the album on a resonant note.
With his sixth studio album, You Only Die 1nce, Freddie Gibbs delivers a solid project. If the theme here is Freddie being caught between the streets and a better life (music, acting, etc.), these tracks capture that tension well.
For those hoping for something that matches his past and best albums like Piñata, Bandana, or the Grammy-nominated Alfredo, You Only Die 1nce doesn’t quite reach those heights—but to me, those are classic or near-classic albums. Another minor issue is that some songs blur together in tempo and production, so they may not stand out to everyone.
Still, there isn’t a bad track on You Only Die 1nce, and Freddie is rapping as sharply as ever throughout. It’s definitely worth a listen for any Hip-Hop fan—at least 1nce or 2wice.
