Who?

Born Freddie Tipton, Freddie Gibbs is heavily tipped to be hip-hop's next big thing. Part of a wave of artists that were mishandled by major labels before finding success on the mixtape circuit, Gibbs has been inescapable this past year if you've been following underground hip-hop. After spending several years under contract with Interscope (as well as a mysterious ghostwriting gig at Sony), Gibbs burst onto the scene last year with his first mixtape, The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs, featuring a flow that owed more to '90s hip-hop than his contemporaries while still speaking to today's audience. After much anticipation, Gibbs' first proper release, the Str8 Killa EP, finally came out this week.

And I Care Because?

- Not quite gangster, not quite underground. Though his style has drawn comparisons to rappers like 2Pac and T.I., it's evident that Gibbs has drawn equal inspiration from forward-thinking southern hip-hop like UGK and OutKast, creating his own potent concoction that, despite his current underground status, is poised to be the next big thing.

- He's repping Indiana. Hip-hop extending its boundaries is nothing new, but few - if any - people would think Indiana had a solid hip-hop scene. Regardless, Gibbs is the first breakout from the growing scene in Gary, Indiana, an impoverished area that he finds his inspiration in while still managing to make it universal.

- All Killa, no filler. On his first official studio release, Gibbs doesn't make a single misfire, instead creating track after track of solid, catchy hip-hop, anchored by the single "National Anthem (Fuck the World)." Already featuring co-signs on the EP from both Bun B and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, it's astounding to think this is just an appetizer before the main course arrives.

Stream Str8 Killa, buy his albums, and download his outstanding Str8 Killa companion mixtape for free.