Bandana is the second collaborative studio album by American rapper Freddie Gibbs and record producer Madlib.
Entirely produced by Madlib, it is the follow up to their critically acclaimed 2014 album Piñata, and their sixth project as MadGibbs overall.
The album features guest appearances from Pusha T, Killer Mike, Anderson Paak, Yasiin Bey, and Black Thought.
Piñata was good. I didn't love it. Without relistening to it, from memory my problem with it I think is similar to this one. "It ain't smacking, it ain't funky, it ain't bangin'" - Michael Rapport said this about Nas' 'NASIR', and whilst I was listening to this I thought of that quote. I don't need an album full of bangers but there isn't a lot to get me excited. I like Gibbs as a rapper, but he isn't a great natural fast spitter which he attempts to do a bit throughout this album. In my review of Pinata I said, "Gibbs is at his best over harder beats as opposed to Madlib production", and nothing on this album has swayed me from that opinion. My favourite Gibbs song is '[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZiR4ztpo8c,Fuck Rap Pt 2]' - I think the dark trap like beat suits him best... and even 'Shitsville' which is my pic from his previous album. While he spits with some pace, the beat fits him more. This has a couple of 4/5 star songs, but throughout my 3-4 spins of it, nothing has grabbed me enough to go beyond that.
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