Itโs said that art mirrors life. In hip-hopโs case, thereโs always been a deliberate entanglement of perception and reality. Fans demand their MCs be realโฆbut never too real. Successful hip-hop is about the hint of the danger, the tease of it, the mystique. Hip-hop is about balance.
Gucci Mane is an artist striving for that balance, volatility versus musicality. Controversy, including a feud with former collaborator Young Jeezy, has grabbed the headlines, with insufficient regard paid to his considerable mic skills, raw talent, and business acumen. Gucci is looking to wrest his name from public speculation and let his own words do the talking.
โI wish everybody well whoโs making money in this rap game,โ the Atlanta-raised rapper says, dismissing the controversy that followed him in the past. โMy own rap game is going so good, Iโve got so many things on my plate at my label, that I donโt got time for other peopleโs business.โ With a deal with Asylum Records as the boss of his own label, So Icey Entertainment, Gucci does indeed have a full schedule with no time to dwell on the past.
โI live my life with no regrets. I just wish that a lot of things never happened, but anybody can wish,โ says Gucci. Sounds like a man with his eyes on the prize. And youโd expect nothing less from an artist who ground his way to the top via the hustle of independent records. Signing to Big Cat Records in the wake of his local single โBlack Tee,โ he dropped his debut record, Trap House, in May 2005. The independent album moved an impressive 140,000 units, largely on the strength of the โIcyโ single, featuring Jeezy. Clamor over song rights sparked dispute, and the resulting rift grew.
Controversy notwithstanding, Maneโs independence was cemented: โI was on the independent scene for about two years,โ he recalls. โItโs crazy! You gotta go into your own pocket to support your craft. You need other avenues to have money coming in, to support your stuff. You might win, you might lose, and itโs a gamble out there with the independent circuit. One thing youโd better have is good music because without that, you go downhill fast in the independent game.โ
Good music firmly in hand, Gucci was fast approaching stardom when more tragedy befell him. But letโs backtrack; how did the man born Radric Davis in Bessemer, Alabama, become Gucci Mane, mouthpiece for Atlanta stuntinโ? Mane remembers little from his time in Alabama, just that it was rural, and that itโs changed dramatically since he left at the age of nine. โI gotta shout out Alabama though, because they holdinโ it down,โ he affirms. โEvery time I go there to do a show, Iโm impressed with how hip-hop culture has taken root.โ
Maneโs identity coalesced when he moved with his mother to Atlanta. โI lived all of my adolescent and adult life in Atlanta,โ he explains. โIโm from East Atlanta Zone Six; it was hard, man, it was real rough. I grew up in the Starter jacket era: theyโd take your Starter jacket, your 8Ball jacket, theyโd take your hat, your shoes. It was just no holds barred on the streets, dog eat dog. If you missed the bus, you had to be crewed up or youโd get jumped. It was wild when I came up.โ
Itโs a bleak portrait. When asked to describe his home life more vividly, Mane offers a look into his contemplative side, a side honed as a schoolyard poet. โI was just a young dude in a single parent house most of my life. I canโt complain that much. I would guess itโs like any black child growing up in a single parent household. There are a lot of people who know how that is. I didnโt have a lot coming up; but what I did have, I appreciated. I was blessed to have a caring mother to raise me right and to help me with my business ventures; sheโs been there through the whole struggle. Thereโs a lot that goes along with that; it made me who I am today.โ
A stepfather would enter the picture during Maneโs adolescence, introducing not only a male figure, but also inspiration for Maneโs unusual moniker. โMy father came in, the original Gucci Mane; thatโs what people in the neighborhood called him, and thatโs where I get my name from. From then on, I grew up the son of a hustler and a schoolteacher; it was the best of both worlds because I was educated twice.โ Drawing inspiration from a pantheon of rappers before him โBig Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, the Beastie Boys, N.W.AโMane went on to release Trap House, a lethal brew of his signature sound: โI call my music straight Gucci: going hard and whatever beats you make you for me, if Iโm feeling it, if Iโm rocking with it, Iโm gonna crush it. When you hear me, you hear a lot of pain, a lot of hood; you hear whatโs going on in the inner city in Atlanta.โ
Unfortunately, Trap House was ill timed; the month of its release, Gucci was accused of murder and jailed for two days. Eventually deemed to be acting in self-defense, and without sufficient evidence to hold him, Mane was exonerated. But the ordeal left an indelible imprint on the man. โI learned to keep better company, watch where I go, and be mindful of my surroundings at all times,โ he reveals. โWatch what I say, watch what I do and how I do it, just keep myself out of the wrong crowd.โ
โI always stand up man,โ he continues. โIโm one of the toughest guys I know. Itโll take a lot more than that to break me down.โ Undeterred, Mane was back in the studio, preparing 2006โs eerily apropos Hard To Kill. The buzz from Hard To Kill vaulted Gucci Mane from regional commodity to national treasure, and major labels responded accordingly: โThere was a bidding war going on, and I liked Atlanticโs approach. They made it known that they wanted me, they felt where I was going and that I could grow with them.โ
Asylum/Atlantic Records welcomed Gucci Mane in early โ07, granting him his own imprint, So Icey Entertainment. With it comes an entire stable of artists, the So Icey Boyz. As the Boyz ready for their own exposure โโI got them in training; they be in the weight room, pumping iron, doing pushups, shopping at the mall, buying iceโโGucci is focused on his magnum opus, Back to the Trap House. โI started working on the album, and by the third song, I was like โThis is going back to the Trap House.โ I started feeling the same way I did when I made my first album. It had the same feel to it, the same freshness. And I had the same hunger and desire I had when I first started rapping.โ
โSince I went major, I want everybody to know Iโm still keeping it street, keeping it hood,โ Gucci maintains. โIโm trying to take it back to all my fans that I had when I first started my career. And at the same time, Iโm trying to open up my new album to a new fan base. So itโs a mix for everybody coming together, like my first album was.โ Gucci has always prided himself on his innate ability, and his refusal to let guest appearances dictate the tone of his records. โI just want people to know Iโm a great songwriter, man,โ he asserts. โIโm passionate about what I do, and itโs choreographed strategically when I do it. I bring a lot of experience, creative wordplay, and a crazy style. And my albums, I record most of the songs without writing them down; itโs a God-given gift and I just get paid for it. It come from God, itโs like wondering what makes a bird fly. He made me a poet like the great poets of the past.โ
But donโt mistake Gucciโs confidence for self-absorption. The vicissitudes of his career have dictated a longer view. Lyrics aside, heโs less preoccupied with visible means and more so with acting as an emissary from his under-repped block. โIโm not the one to glorify what goes on in the hood,โ he insists. โWe have everything there, the whole range from violence to people getting on the bus and going to work. Thereโs a lot more to the hood than just drugs. Itโs a bigger story, thereโs a big picture. I went to school in that neighborhood, I worked there, I trapped there, I hustled there, and I got my name there. Iโm proud to be from East Atlanta Zone Six, and I claim there. I hold that on my back and carry that, to be the first one from there to really rock.โ
And Gucciโs professional aims have matured as well. While other rappers stress platinum plaques, Gucci hasnโt forgotten the route he took to stardom. โI made a lot of CDs on my own. People fucked with me and supported me, and just made me the man I am today. Thatโs my blueprint right there, and I stay mindful of it. So now, my only concern is that people feel my music; at the end of the day, I do it for people to feel it. If one person feel it, two people feel it, I feel like my jobโs been done.โ
Fortunately for Gucci, he should be prepared to welcome an army of new fans with Back to the Trap House. But longstanding fans shouldnโt fear; theyโll recognize โFreaky Gurl,โ reprised from its previous appearance from Hard To Kill. Luda, upon hearing the joint, asked for a guest spot on the remix. Said remix now appears as the lead single on Back to the Trap House, following in Gucciโs theme of mating old and new. Over a bouncing, meandering beat from Cyber Sapp, the two cook up the requisite concoction of whips, chips, and chicks. Also look out for โBird Flu,โ the albumโs number two single, laced by New-York based Supa Sonics. Elsewhere, firm guest verses from Rich Boy and Pimp C of UGK round out Gucciโs regional flavor, while Bay-area producer Zaytoven (of โIcyโ renown) locks down Gucciโs West Coast appeal.
Gucci Mane has something for everyone, and with the struggles of the past in his rearview, Gucci is settled in for his ride to the top. โIโm best known for controversy but Iโm trying to gain respect as a songwriter and entertainer. I plan to hit them so hard with this album; who knows what the future will bring. Iโll be banging them out till I canโt bang no more.โ
16 Fever
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm charging 16 fever, 16 fever, nigga my price cheaper, 16 fever
[Chorus x2]
16 fever coke-I-ina, X pills bubble kush mid grade reefa
Hoes ridin' vics dog but I ride beemurs
I swear da red chain'll cost 16 fever
16 5-0, there go 5-0
I'm up 2-5 but I need 4 more
I got uncles blowin bundles, mine do numbers while I drive lambo
Off white yayo digital scale, fish scale sending my pigeons by mail
Bring in my drain folk, especially them white folk
Just bring me that cane folk
Gucci got good dope pillz purp and sizzurp, my workers don't move nothing less than a bizzurd
Gucci got good dope pillz purp and sizzurp, my workers don't move for nothing less than a bizzurd
[Chorus x2]
[Verse 2]
Bricks can't keep em 16 fever, bemmur speakers, geek-a-meters
Misdemeanors several subpoenas, see I'm gone drink up cause we just linked up
The squad been teamed up we cutting off fingers, it's 16 fever and that's since April
My corvette paid for my old school paid for, the hummer roll up that means you assed out
And you didn't cash out see this my traphouse I slam fiends backs out we push white sacks out
See this my traphouse I slam fiends backs out we push white sacks out, them backs get pushed out
[Chorus x2]
[Verse 3]
I'm scraping the bowl up, I'm whipping up cake mix
But this ain't red velvet don't eat it, ya smoke it
Your options are open, you even can snort it
3 dollar sacks so you know you can score it, say you can't afford it
Yo I can ignore it, well don't call them dope boys you know you feel boring
You know that you feenin' you know that you need it, it's Gucci I'm greedy, my niggas stay eating
[Chorus x2]
The lyrics to Gucci Mane's song "16 Fever" depict the rapper's experience in the drug world, where the number 16 refers to the price of his product, ranging from cocaine to marijuana. The bridge asserts that Gucci is charging 16 fever, making his price cheaper than others. The chorus repeatedly highlights the various drugs he sells and the lavish lifestyle that comes with it. Gucci raps about his "uncles" who handle large drug deals, while he enjoys the fruits of his labor by driving a Lamborghini and owning multiple vehicles. His lyrics also suggest that he is not afraid of the law, as seen in the reference to 5-0, implying that he is aware of police presence, but continues to break the law regardless.
The second verse introduces the theme of loyalty among Gucci's team, where they work together to "cut off fingers" and "push white sacks out." He mentions his traphouse, where he trades drugs and adds that his workers only sell top-quality merchandise. The final verse portrays Gucci's arrogance, suggesting that he has a hold on his buyers, and that they will always need his product. He conveys this with the line "'cause we just linked up," implying that he has a loyal customer base as well.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm charging 16 fever, 16 fever, nigga my price cheaper, 16 fever
Gucci Mane is charging a price of $16 for his drugs, which he claims is a cheaper price than his competitors.
16 fever coke-I-ina, X pills bubble kush mid grade reefa
Gucci Mane is selling various types of drugs such as cocaine, X pills, bubble kush, and mid grade reefer for $16.
Hoes ridin' vics dog but I ride beemurs
While the women Gucci Mane is involved with ride police cars, he prefers to drive luxury BMW vehicles.
I swear da red chain'll cost 16 fever
Gucci Mane claims that his red chain jewelry is worth $16.
16 5-0, there go 5-0
Gucci Mane is referring to the police with the term '5-0', and he is saying that police are present in the area.
I'm up 2-5 but I need 4 more
Gucci Mane currently has 25 ounces of drugs, but he needs 4 more ounces to make a total of 29 ounces.
I got uncles blowin bundles, mine do numbers while I drive lambo
Gucci Mane's uncles are selling drugs in large quantities, while he himself makes a lot of money driving a Lamborghini.
Off white yayo digital scale, fish scale sending my pigeons by mail
Gucci Mane is using digital scales to weigh his drugs that are of off-white color, and he is using pigeons to deliver them by mail.
Bring in my drain folk, especially them white folk
Gucci Mane is asking for his drug suppliers to bring in more white customers.
Just bring me that cane folk
Gucci Mane is asking for his drug suppliers to bring him more cocaine.
Gucci got good dope pillz purp and sizzurp, my workers don't move nothing less than a bizzurd
Gucci Mane's drugs are of good quality, and his workers will not move any drugs that are not potent enough.
Bricks can't keep em 16 fever, bemmur speakers, geek-a-meters
Gucci Mane's drug customers are very eager to buy his products, as they are willing to pay $16 for them. People are playing music loudly on expensive speakers and monitoring their drug use using measuring devices.
Misdemeanors several subpoenas, see I'm gone drink up cause we just linked up
Gucci Mane has been charged with minor crimes and has received several legal notices. However, he is unconcerned about them because he has just met up with his drug associates.
The squad been teamed up we cutting off fingers, it's 16 fever and that's since April
Gucci Mane's associates are working together well, and they are willing to harm people who interfere with their business. They have been charging $16 for their drugs since April.
My corvette paid for my old school paid for, the hummer roll up that means you assed out
Gucci Mane has fully paid for his Corvette and his old car, and if you see him drive by in a Hummer, it means you missed out on a business opportunity.
And you didn't cash out see this my traphouse I slam fiends backs out we push white sacks out
If you did not take advantage of the opportunity to buy drugs from Gucci Mane, you missed out because he has a drug-selling location where he aggressively markets to his customers.
I'm scraping the bowl up, I'm whipping up cake mix
Gucci Mane is using a spoon to gather the remaining residue of drugs from a bowl, and he is mixing it with other ingredients to create more drugs.
But this ain't red velvet don't eat it, ya smoke it
The drugs that Gucci Mane is making look like the dessert Red velvet cake, but they are for smoking and not for eating.
Your options are open, you even can snort it
Gucci Mane is informing his customers that they have multiple ways to consume his drugs, including snorting them.
3 dollar sacks so you know you can score it, say you can't afford it
Gucci Mane is selling small amounts of drugs for $3, so anyone can afford to buy them. If someone says they can't afford it, he can ignore them.
Yo I can ignore it, well don't call them dope boys you know you feel boring
Gucci Mane can ignore customers who can't afford to buy his drugs. He is urging people to buy his drugs to feel more exciting.
You know that you feenin' you know that you need it, it's Gucci I'm greedy, my niggas stay eating
Gucci Mane's customers are addicted to his drugs and they need them. He is making a lot of money by selling these drugs, and his associates are benefiting from it as well.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHARIF EMIL SLATER, RADRIC DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Humbled Assholes ENT
One of the hardest and most slept on Gucci songs
Azarias Ellis
Gucci Mane Saves Trap Music type beat ๐ฅถ
Chris Ishida
fr fr
Seth TrapLife GLO999
This beat is something special man all these years later still insane
Metallic Boutique
Was that zaytovan?
Street__Tmz
Metallic Boutique yea
Nathan Bibeau
Man u aint lying i listened to so much gucci back then i started listening to every different sound in every damn beat. Shit was way before its time back then.
bursty
Nathan Bibeau listen to old Chief Keef his beats he used slap
Robert Mack
Yep the speakers go insane (Low Pass)๐
Anthony Massey
Idk why this song literally just popped up in my head. That beat go so hard ๐ฅ