Freddie Gibbs might as well be called “The People’s Rapper.” He’s mostly given away almost all of his recorded output on the internet, and his raps are most devoid of the typical, tired, stories of bling, women, and things that just don’t generally happen to the average American. His latest – the Str8 Killa EP – is mostly a compilation of the best cuts from his Str8 Killa No Filla mixtape, but this eight-track offering is the perfect formal introduction to the Gary, Ind. born rapper.

His delivery has been compared to that of the late, great Tupac Shakur, but his flow deserves to be approached without any expectations. In fact, he really only resembles ‘Pac in terms of subject matter. Even though “Rep 2 Tha Fullest” opens with Gibbs telling the listener that that “he’s really out here in the streets,” Gibbs seems less focused on flaunting his street cred, and more interested in bringing light to the struggles he’s seen during his nearly 30 years on the planet.

He describes being ambitious but blinded by his huger on “National Anthem (Fuck The World)” – a solemn cut that finds Gibbs using a breakneck speed delivery to tell stories of “dope fiend mommas” and friends falling to drugs — and the difference between Gibbs and other “gangsta” acts like 50 Cent and even N.W.A. is that he doesn’t seem like he wants to make the life of crime seem glamorous at all.

“Rock Bottom” finds the 28-year-old rapping, “I’m a get up on a motherfuckin’ sack and a big ass bottle to solve all my problems,” and who could blame him. He criticizes himself not being able to put food on the table, gas in his car, and tells a heartbreaking story about his dead friend's mom’s looking at him with disgrace in her face. He sounds most despondent on the track, and his evident sadness is enough to make you wish that his wish to sell some ringtones, go platinum on iTunes, get his baby momma some bread, and pay off his probation comes true sooner than later.