Freddie Gibbs & Madlib’s Bandana is a masterclass in raw lyricism and avant-garde production, released on June 28, 2019 as the follow-up to their 2014 cult classic Piñata. It’s the second installment in their planned trilogy (Piñata, Bandana, Montana) and arguably the most emotionally charged of the three.
Gibbs wrote much of Bandana while incarcerated in Austria, expecting a long sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. That urgency bleeds into the verses—his delivery is sharp, cynical, and deeply reflective. Tracks like “Education” and “Soul Right” explore systemic injustice and personal redemption with unflinching honesty.
