Freddie Gibbs

Sports is one of the keys to my life. It definitely kept me out of a lot of trouble and gave me a lot of discipline.

I wasn't fully aware of the things that Madlib did musically, but my manager put me up on game. I'm not gonna act like I was a Madlib head when I wasn't. I didn't understand a lot of it at first. But it opened my mind to some things, and it's me bringing that gangster element to things that he does. It's like a perfect marriage.

Everything don't work out for the best. You have to use a lot of those things as lessons in order to build yourself up.

I just have to go against the grain. I mean, I can be objective and do what I need to do, handle my everyday living, follow directions, etc. But there's something that's always been attracted to that taboo. It's been like that since I was a child.

The things I rap about are 100 percent real. But at the same time, I don't rap about those things to tear my city down. I give you the reality of what it is and what I been through and how it is living in those conditions in Gary, Ind.

I feel like I influence more than just rap.

He's been my number one influence. If you say Tupac didn't influence you, then you don't really need to be rapping because nobody evokes that kind of emotion on a track like Tupac does.

I had a nightmare that I was mopping floors and that this Freddie Gibbs thing was all a dream.

Probably dancing to Cassie's 'Me & U' - That's my guilty pleasure.

I ain't on no major. Everything independent. Either way it goes, I am doing me, and I am doing Freddie Gibbs.

I don't mind travelling. I'm independent, so I gotta get on the grind.

I'm cool with doing shows with 2,000 people. I don't have to rap in a stadium. As long as I can provide for my family and my art and live comfortably and live well, then I'm good.