Bandana [PA]

by Freddie Gibbs / Madlib

4 stars out of 5 -- "Gibbs remains unphased; he fields each beat like Omar Vizquel and splits it down the middle with raw charisma, torrential flows, and economic, impactful writing. The end result is glorious..."
4 stars out of 5 -- "The end result is glorious -- the sound of two rap veterans still working at the height of their powers, testing the outer limits of their native chemistry, only to discover that those limits might not exist."
"Gibbs and Madlib continue to operate on the perfect wavelength together and their partnership still dazzles."
"[O]ne of the best of the year because of the surprising things they do with that virtuosity. Madlib engineers the vocals -- with odd layering and spots of metallic sheen -- as playfully as he has anyone's since the Quasimoto days."
5 stars out of 5 -- "On BANDANA, Gibbs hits another level as a lyricist....Gibbs' bars, with which he triumphantly talks about going from food stamps to making millions, are inspiring and have a real resilience about them."
Paste (magazine) - "Smoother and more relaxed than ever, the duo, while still exploring favorite topics like drug deals gone wrong and police brutality, dare us to loosen up and enjoy ourselves..."
Pitchfork (Website) - "Madlib's beats remain off-kilter, and Gibbs remains gangster, but there's a looser feel to this record, a spirit of intuition and intimacy."
Clash (Magazine) - "Madlib continues to provide the backing that allows Freddie Gibbs to shine..."