Freddie Gibbs has reflected on the death of Nipsey Hussle on his new song “On the Set,” admitting his tragic murder almost made him quit music.
Gangsta Gibbs shared the track on Thursday (October 31) along with a music video, just a day before he drops his new album You Only Die 1nce as a Halloween treat for fans.
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Produced by Pops and Mischa Chilak, “On the Set” finds the Gary, Indiana native tackling a number of heavy topics over a shimmering organ and guitar sample, including the fatal 2019 shooting of his friend and collaborator Nipsey.
“I was gonna retire from rap when I seen that shit with Nipsey / Crazy when that shit hit your peers, that shit be hitting different,” he raps.
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Gibbs also raps about Diddy‘s demise and the deaths of 2Pac, Biggie, Young Dolph and Rich Homie Quan, as well as soul legend Frankie Beverly.
“God damn, they done got Diddy / I used to look up to that n-gga even when that n-gga ‘Pac dissed him / I wonder if he paid off ‘Pac killers / I wish them, I wish them n-ggas in L.A. ain’t never pop Biggie,” he spits.
“When you die they ain’t got shit for your mom / They rather ice their neck out / Rest in peace to Rich Homie Quan / You was too young to check out.”
You Only Die 1nce arrives on streaming services at midnight on Friday (November 1).
Freddie Gibbs began teasing the new album last week, kickstarting the rollout with help from iconic horror movie character Freddy Krueger.
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All around Los Angeles, billboards popped up featuring the villain’s glowing eyes alongside the notice that “Freddie’s Back” and a phone number to call.
When the number was called, fans could hear Krueger snarling while addressing the person on the other end of the phone as “little rabbits,” a nod to Gibbs’ bunny mascot.
The phone call also featured references to the rapper’s past albums Piñata, $oul $old $eparately and You Only Live 2wice.
According to TMZ, the voice on the recording was actually original Freddy Krueger actor, Robert Englund, who first played the role in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.
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Gibbs also teased the Halloween-inspired project on one of his burner Instagram accounts, with the animated video featuring a bunny wearing a Jason Vorhees hockey mask.
The ESGN general has plenty more in the works having previously teased upcoming projects with frequent collaborators Madlib and The Alchemist, as well as Boi-1da.
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Earlier this year, Madlib told fans that a third collaborative album with Gibbs was on the way, saying at a show: “Y’all ready for Freddie Gibbs? About to drop this live shit on y’all. Montana next up.”
