(AllHipHop News) Freddie Gibbs is one of the most critically acclaimed emcees of this era. His studio albums – ESGN, Piñata, and Shadow of a Doubt – have been scored as some of the best efforts in the genre over the last five years. But does the Gary, Indiana native get passed over too often in the conversations about the best emcees in the game at the moment?

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During an extensive interview with NPR’s Microphone Check, Gibbs expressed his irritation that he is not mentioned being at the same skill level as platinum selling artists such as Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole.

“I don’t feel like I get the recognition for being as innovative that I am musically, you know what I mean? I don’t think that I get put up there with the J. Coles and the Kendrick Lamars and guys of that nature when I definitely think that I’m rapping on their level and definitely higher,” said Gibbs.

However, the “Extradite” rapper believes his independent grind will eventually pay off with a bigger fan base. Gibbs relayed to hosts Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Frannie Kelley that having creative control is a great tool to achieve success in his career.

“It’s just a matter of just me sticking to my guns and doing it the way I want to do it. And I’m at that point now where I can put out music when I want to, shoot a video when I want to, just basically have total control, so it’s like, I can sway more people in my direction than ever now,” added Gibbs. “But I still don’t think that I get the credit that I deserve, like I said, for being an innovator.”

[ALSO READ: Ali Shaheed Muhammad Talks Working On NPR’s “Microphone Check” + Interviewing J. Cole & Rick Ross]

Listen to Freddie Gibbs interview below.

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