"Critically acclaimed, but that shit don't mean a thang when you rocking mics, still in microwaves cookin' caine"

It seems we have been given a gift from the higher powers. Any time Madlib graces the boards and teams up with a rapper, it usually results in a project which goes down in history - think Madvillian (Madlib + MF DOOM) and Jaylib (Madlib and J Dilla). We've now been offered up an album which features the craft of Madlib with the gangsta flows of Freddie Gibbs, something that should make any music, let alone hip-hop fan appreciate the art. The theme for this album is hard ... you'll hear some uber hard raps and then the hardest violin and other strings to ever grace a rap track. This album is hard as a muuufaaka

Rapping on Madlib's beats is not the easiest thing to do and he doesn't suffer fools, hence why he's turned down approaches from an unconfirmed list of rappers. You can bet your last penny though that nearly every big time rapper in the last 10/15 years has requested to work with Madlib. This isn't going to be an education on Madlib however, as anyone who appreciates music, appreciates Madlib. But yeah, a vast array of well placed samples along with various switches in tempos and sounds make spitting a verse or two on a Madlib beat, pretty darn difficult. Where many rappers may fail, Freddie Gibbs shines.

As you probably read earlier in the week, Gibbs is someone who treads the gangsta rap path. He's got the experience of such a life to have undeniable credibility in the streets while also having the skills and versatility to do well on anything that Madlib conjures up. We'll start with the tracks that have you feelin like you yourself are a G in in streets. 'Thuggin' is my favourite to be honest and it's a song where the versatility of Gibbs is on display as he spits rhymes on what it's like to be a thug and why he's a pretty darn good thug ... this sort of bravado is something that only fans of hip-hop understand as rappers are constantly comparing themselves to each other, it's just the way it is. It kicks off in a cold, typical Gibbs fashion over a beat is Madlib to the core

Another very hard track is 'Shitsville' which, besides its rather comical name is another example of a typically interesting beat from Madlib being graced with some staunch words from Gibbs. Peep the said hardest violin usage. 'Scarface' takes you straight to Gary, Indiana for a brief moment with Gibbs spitting a verse which gives you a few goosebumps as he centres his energies on drug dealin' and stick ups - "Let's jack this nigga cos he's got some shit we can't afford".

Obviously Gibbs is hard as a mofo throughout the album, but on tracks such as 'Knicks' his rap skills are clearly evident. He takes listeners back to the early days of his drug dealing career, the hook should be enough - "I got it selling nickel bags, bitch". The work in the two verses puts Gibbs in a class of his own as he kicks off each verse with two seperate NBA references, from two different decades but still ties it all together to the point of the song, giving you a taste of what it's like to be Gangsta Gibbs.

These aren't no simple rhyme schemes that you might see in some Niche Cache poetry. The way he flows through songs and can compile a story without neglecting any part of Madlib's beats is something many rappers would envy. To partner 'Knicks' Gibbs and Ab-Soul team up on 'Lakers' to pay homage to the city they both love - Los Angeles. Gibbs is proud to call L.A. his new home while Ab-Soul is a local so they are in perfect positions to let you know about the good weed and nice ladies while also noting the importance of L.A. in this whole game.

Another test of the ability of Gibbs is his on the track 'Harold's' where he pays homage to his favourite spot for some fried chicken. His ability to rap about some food, his gun collection, robberies, girls and his trademark Adidas suit is nothing to be scoffed at.

The subject matter isn't just all things gangsta (which we love), there's also 'Deeper' which features Gibbs reflecting on some previous relationships. His ability is still on display but it's a moment of maturity for Gibbs and is definitely not a song to skip just because he's rapping about girls and relationships. Maybe that's why I enjoy MadGibbs so much, Madlib's work encourages Gibbs to approach the beats with maturity and an open mind. There's plenty of reflection on Pinata with Gibbs looking back at the life he previously lead.

'Broken' is probably the best opportunity for Gibbs to reflect. In his first verse he drops some hearty lyrics....          "A young nigga who's been thuggin' since the old days,

I promise I done seen everything but old age.

Pray my demons never catch from my old ways

Keep the heat cos' I was going through a cold phase"

He then reflects on his father who was a crooked cop, oh the irony...

"A life of crime is all we shared from then to now

And I'm a crook and you crooked, that's all we got in common

He chucked the deuce to my mama, so much family bonding"

There is the mandatory diss track aimed at Young Jeezy. I'm not gonna talk about its merits (I definitely side with Gibbs) but it's another prime example of Gibbs keeping it extremely G while maintaining the staples of a great rapper - lyrics and flow. #snowmankilla

If you're looking for some guest appearances that do nothing to take away from Freddie's ability, actually add to the track and fit perfectly in to the theme of the album, then Pinata won't let you down. Gibbs gets support from Scarface on 'Broken' as well as Raekwon on 'Bomb' which serves as a testament to not only the direction of the album but also a passing of the torch to some extent.

Who else would you get to feature on a track about getting high on a vast array of drugs? Danny Brown of course who is an acquired taste (you warm to him) but his hyperactive rhymes make for a entertaining listen on 'High'. There is also appearances from Odd Future's Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt on 'Robes' which, despite it's slower tempo displays why many are excited about the future of hip hop. The two OFWGKTA youngsters let their lyricism do the work with Gibbs doing his veteran thang at the end.

. BJ the Chicago Kid provides a smooth as silk hook on 'Shame' which serves as the album's song regarding the perks of being a rapper - sex with some hot as girls.

If you're looking for a song to really sink your teeth in to then the title 'Pinata' is a pretty awesome tune, showcasing the abilities of a host of rappers. Domo Genesis, G-Wiz, Casey Veggies, Sulaiman, Deechy Marko and Mac Miller along with Freddie all spit some high quality bars over a dangerous beat from Madlib. Peep the hardest exorcist scream sample ever used.

Overall, I'm predicting this to be the best album of the year. Boom. I said it. It's fucking awesome really. Any hip-hop lover knows what to expect when Madlib is on board and Pinata has his signature all over it. Partner that with Freddie Gibbs who is the face of today's gangsta rap, where all the aspects of great rappers - lyrics, story telling, flow and brashness are combined with someone who has experienced all types of shit. Something definitely worth getting your hands on.