$oul $old $eparately
| Freddie Gibbs
$oul $old $eparately
Soul Sold Separately (stylized as $oul $old $eparately) is the fifth studio album by rapper Freddie Gibbs. It was released through Warner Records on September 30, 2022, making it his first to be released on a major label. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
Inviting producers like Kaytranada, James Blake, and DJ Paul into the fold offers a refreshing canvas for a rapper whose technical prowess and stark songwriting deserve a varied landscape to thrive in.
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NPR
$oul $old $eparately may not be a slam-dunk thesis statement, the unassailable capper on a storied arc, but it does fit with Gibbs' other stabs at rap immortality; he knows that after you've put in the work, legends never die, and Gibbs, the eternal technician, never stops working.
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Soul in Stereo
Soul Sold Separately does have it share of stumbles, especially early on. And no, it’s not nearly as bleak and antagonistic as some of his more well-known projects. But it does showcase the growth needed for Gibbs to hit the next stage of stardom. I stand by what I’ve said – he’s still one of the greatest of this era.
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Slant Magazine
Even with all of its guest spots and expensive-sounding beats, $oul $old $eparately is a frustratingly unambitious effort. A plethora of phoned-in verses from rap’s elder statesmen underscores the problem: For one, Rick Ross overburdens “Lobster Omelet” with the same type of empty victory-lap raps that have oversaturated his last few releases.
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Riff Magazine
$oul $old $eparately is another solid entry in the fantastic catalog Freddie Gibbs has built for himself. The album offers a unique perspective on the relationship between success and misery in ways others haven’t been able to touch.
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Treblezine
The Lambo and Jesus bits are funnier than anything that comes out of Ross’ mouth, which isn’t exactly surprising; his career has stalled out at “tryhard-offensive roast guest.” Encountering the Rogan bit is frankly like encountering a nugget of petrified shit in a luxurious steak, but even reacting that way is giving the dumbass what he wants, so, whatever. None of it stops Freddie Gibbs from making a good album. It may not be on the level of his classic mixtapes, the Madlib albums or 2020’s Alchemist-produced Alfredo, but that still puts it ahead of most of this year’s rap records all the same.
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The Line of Best Fit
Throughout his discography, he’s proved himself adept at rapping in different arenas while refusing the mainstream draw of selling his vision for cheap. Souls may be sold separately on the trail for gold, but respect is earned, and Freddie Gibbs continues to rack up the points with another stellar entry in an almost-infallible collection of projects.
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WhyNow
It’s not uncommon for rappers to lay claim to being the best in the industry; it is, after all, a game that exudes confidence and belief. Pusha T, for instance, also declared his album It’s Almost Dry to be the album of the year. Gibbs, meanwhile, the self-proclaimed “most versatile rapper in the game,” nonetheless makes a case for this status on $$$. And with his rhymes tighter than ever before, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny the rapper’s greatness following another stellar addition to his catalogue.
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Legends Will Never Die
I’d still say The Elephant Man’s Bones is my Album of the Year, but this dude been talking about $.$.$. for nearly 3 years now & the final product is one of his best solo efforts to date in my opinion. A couple lackluster cuts here & there, but Gangsta Gibbs locks in with his niche on here by exposing his style to a wider audience without it being too excessive like a lot of other major label debuts can normally be.
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Ratings Game Music
If you want to listen to a consistent, traditional mafioso album that features some damn good rapping, you should press play on $oul $old $eparately.
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Clash Magazine
One of rap’s most resolute figures, Freddie Gibbs has built his profile for two decades now. Peppering the underground with some of its most influential cuts, each new project has taken him closer to his goals – hell, he’s even nailed a Grammy nomination. ‘$oul $old $eperately’ works emphatically to bring these elements together and push them to a new level.
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Epigram
$oul $old $eparately is not a perfect album: the hooks are not always the strongest, particularly on 'Zipper Bagz' and 'CIA', and features by Offset and Moneybagg Yo feel like treading water. Still, Freddie Gibbs' consistency is remarkable, another impressive addition to a superb discography.
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Everything is Noise
I’ve listened to this album probably thirty times by now, and I can’t really determine if the Triple S hotel & resort is Gibbs’ version of heaven, the last spot he was seen before he was abducted by aliens, or just his fever dream El Dorado he physically manifested from being such a fucking gangster, but holy fuck did he rap his ass off through it, and we’re all invited into the VIP to share his success with him. Give this man his fucking Grammy.
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The Needle Drop
The best album from Freddie in the director's seat.
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The Nuance Magazine
Turning 40 this year, Freddie is not slowing down one iota with his tenacity for wanting to be the best ever to do it. Putting out this quality of work at this stage in his career is a rarity in the music industry, especially in hip-hop. Gibbs is getting better by the day, aging with gracelike fine wine. $oul $old $eparately is a supreme showcase of Gibbs’s talent and skill, exemplifying him as one of the best in hip-hop today.
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Commedia
With plenty of auxiliary-friendly cuts and deep more personal tracks, there is a lot to like here. It may now be even more uncertain where Gibbs will go next due to his rise in popularity and dynamics in the artistic world. One can only hope it will be as consistent as the rest of his discography is, but as usual with Gibbs, the bar will always be set impossibly high.
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The Post
‘$oul $old $eperately’ is a talent-packed step toward mainstream for Freddie Gibbs.
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