It’s said that art mirrors life. In hip-hop’s case, there’s always been a deliberate entanglement of perception and reality. Fans demand their MCs be real…but 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.
“I wish everybody well who’s making money in this rap game,” the Atlanta-raised rapper says, dismissing the controversy that followed him in the past. “My own rap game is going so good, I’ve got so many things on my plate at my label, that I don’t got time for other people’s business.” 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.
“I live my life with no regrets. I just wish that a lot of things never happened, but anybody can wish,” says Gucci. Sounds like a man with his eyes on the prize. And you’d 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 “Black Tee,” 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 “Icy” single, featuring Jeezy. Clamor over song rights sparked dispute, and the resulting rift grew.
Controversy notwithstanding, Mane’s independence was cemented: “I was on the independent scene for about two years,” he recalls. “It’s 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 it’s a gamble out there with the independent circuit. One thing you’d better have is good music because without that, you go downhill fast in the independent game.”
Good music firmly in hand, Gucci was fast approaching stardom when more tragedy befell him. But let’s backtrack; how did the man born Radric Davis in Bessemer, Alabama, become Gucci Mane, mouthpiece for Atlanta stuntin’? Mane remembers little from his time in Alabama, just that it was rural, and that it’s changed dramatically since he left at the age of nine. “I gotta shout out Alabama though, because they holdin’ it down,” he affirms. “Every time I go there to do a show, I’m impressed with how hip-hop culture has taken root.”
Mane’s identity coalesced when he moved with his mother to Atlanta. “I lived all of my adolescent and adult life in Atlanta,” he explains. “I’m from East Atlanta Zone Six; it was hard, man, it was real rough. I grew up in the Starter jacket era: they’d take your Starter jacket, your 8Ball jacket, they’d 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 you’d get jumped. It was wild when I came up.”
It’s 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. “I was just a young dude in a single parent house most of my life. I can’t complain that much. I would guess it’s like any black child growing up in a single parent household. There are a lot of people who know how that is. I didn’t 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; she’s been there through the whole struggle. There’s a lot that goes along with that; it made me who I am today.”
A stepfather would enter the picture during Mane’s adolescence, introducing not only a male figure, but also inspiration for Mane’s unusual moniker. “My father came in, the original Gucci Mane; that’s what people in the neighborhood called him, and that’s 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.” Drawing inspiration from a pantheon of rappers before him –Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, the Beastie Boys, N.W.A—Mane went on to release Trap House, a lethal brew of his signature sound: “I call my music straight Gucci: going hard and whatever beats you make you for me, if I’m feeling it, if I’m rocking with it, I’m gonna crush it. When you hear me, you hear a lot of pain, a lot of hood; you hear what’s going on in the inner city in Atlanta.”
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. “I learned to keep better company, watch where I go, and be mindful of my surroundings at all times,” he reveals. “Watch what I say, watch what I do and how I do it, just keep myself out of the wrong crowd.”
“I always stand up man,” he continues. “I’m one of the toughest guys I know. It’ll take a lot more than that to break me down.” Undeterred, Mane was back in the studio, preparing 2006’s 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: “There was a bidding war going on, and I liked Atlantic’s approach. They made it known that they wanted me, they felt where I was going and that I could grow with them.”
Asylum/Atlantic Records welcomed Gucci Mane in early ’07, 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 –“I got them in training; they be in the weight room, pumping iron, doing pushups, shopping at the mall, buying ice”—Gucci is focused on his magnum opus, Back to the Trap House. “I started working on the album, and by the third song, I was like ‘This is going back to the Trap House.’ 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.”
“Since I went major, I want everybody to know I’m still keeping it street, keeping it hood,” Gucci maintains. “I’m trying to take it back to all my fans that I had when I first started my career. And at the same time, I’m trying to open up my new album to a new fan base. So it’s a mix for everybody coming together, like my first album was.” Gucci has always prided himself on his innate ability, and his refusal to let guest appearances dictate the tone of his records. “I just want people to know I’m a great songwriter, man,” he asserts. “I’m passionate about what I do, and it’s 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; it’s a God-given gift and I just get paid for it. It come from God, it’s like wondering what makes a bird fly. He made me a poet like the great poets of the past.”
But don’t mistake Gucci’s confidence for self-absorption. The vicissitudes of his career have dictated a longer view. Lyrics aside, he’s less preoccupied with visible means and more so with acting as an emissary from his under-repped block. “I’m not the one to glorify what goes on in the hood,” he insists. “We have everything there, the whole range from violence to people getting on the bus and going to work. There’s a lot more to the hood than just drugs. It’s a bigger story, there’s 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. I’m 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.”
And Gucci’s professional aims have matured as well. While other rappers stress platinum plaques, Gucci hasn’t forgotten the route he took to stardom. “I made a lot of CDs on my own. People fucked with me and supported me, and just made me the man I am today. That’s 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 job’s been done.”
Fortunately for Gucci, he should be prepared to welcome an army of new fans with Back to the Trap House. But longstanding fans shouldn’t fear; they’ll recognize “Freaky Gurl,” 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 Gucci’s 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 “Bird Flu,” the album’s number two single, laced by New-York based Supa Sonics. Elsewhere, firm guest verses from Rich Boy and Pimp C of UGK round out Gucci’s regional flavor, while Bay-area producer Zaytoven (of “Icy” renown) locks down Gucci’s 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. “I’m best known for controversy but I’m 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. I’ll be banging them out till I can’t bang no more.”
911 Emergency
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Call 911 send Emergency
Tell the swat team to please respond wit urgency
Cause Gucci stole my girl grand larceny his bars too hot that an arson
I walk in and start str8 ballin'
Parody me be I just came to party shawty lookin at me all retarted tarted
I'm standin' in the very important overseas kush import
Camera phone its time to take a portrait (portrait)
me and you together that's gorgeous (gorgeous)
She like my swag and I'm recordists
She said her ex man was to boring
I'm the doctor if you got insurance (insurance)
First get the testin' your endurance (endurance)
I got a sick side effect you cant cure it (cure it)
I have you thinkin' about me 24/7 if you want to take a flick
Use caution if you legal and single we talkin' (talkin')
Call 911 send Emergency
Tell the swat team to please respond wit urgency
Cause Gucci stole my girl grand larceny
His bars too hot so that arson
I'm about to steal your girl like a burglary yea I'm convict
But girls still want to fuck with me I got that glue game
Bad hoes stick to me I'm in that new thang so I got your bitch wit me
So when Gucci man call it ain't no mystery
She kno' she kidnap but she ain't even trippin
So when Gucci mane call it no mystery
She kno' she kidnap she ain't even trippin'
Her brain is super she for Mr. Birds
I'm from east Atlanta but we move them 30 birds
Do I know you if I owe you pay you on the thirty third
Got your girlfriend clueless starin' she cant say a word
You alert its a flirt in the club want to jerk in her skirt
Wit' her purse she remind of my work keyed my vert know it
Hurt want to murk cause I smirk its berserk
How she jerk passin' purp like a Nerf Gucci!
Call 911 send Emergency
Tell the swat team to please respond wit urgency
Cause Gucci stole my girl grand larceny
His bars too hot so that arson
I'm about to steal your girl like a burglary yea I'm convict
But girls still want to fuck with me I got that glue game
Bad hoes stick to me I'm in that new thang so I got your bitch wit me
So when Gucci man call it ain't no mystery
She kno' she kidnap but she ain't even trippin'
So when Gucci mane call it no mystery
She kno' she kidnap she ain't even trippin'
I really don't come off that often
Got a sick sound effect its not coughin' (ugh ugh ugh)
I toss racks out and I like tossin'
I got shinin' problem I just like flossin' (bur!)
Sorry babe icy like gorgeous
Maybe I can pay your mortgage came up bouldercrest morland
I rock a real chain like Mike Jordans!
Call 911 send Emergency
Tell the swat team to please respond wit urgency
Cause Gucci stole my girl grand larceny
His bars too hot so that arson
I'm about to steal your girl like a burglary yea I'm convict
But girls still want to fuck with me I got that glue game
Bad hoes stick to me I'm in that new thang so I got your bitch wit' me
So when Gucci man call it ain't no mystery
She kno' she kidnap but she ain't even trippin'
So when Gucci mane call it no mystery
She kno' she kidnap she ain't even trippin'
In Gucci Mane's song 911 Emergency, he raps about a man calling the police after Gucci stole his girlfriend. The man is urgent, and asks the SWAT team to respond immediately. Gucci, on the other hand, boasts about his charm and ability to attract women. He refers to himself as a convict, but claims that girls still want to be with him. He also talks about his luxurious lifestyle and the wealth he has acquired.
The lyrics of this song are a clear example of hip-hop culture, where rappers often brag about their wealth, power, and appeal to the opposite sex. Gucci's lyrics have a playful tone, and he often uses puns and wordplay that makes it enjoyable for audiences. However, the song is also a commentary on the obsession with materialism and the treatment of women as objects.
Line by Line Meaning
Call 911 send Emergency
Asking for immediate response as Gucci has taken his girl
Tell the swat team to please respond wit urgency
Urging the authorities to take action as soon as possible
Cause Gucci stole my girl grand larceny
Referring to Gucci Mane as a thief
His bars too hot so that arson
Gucci Mane's lyrics are too good to go unnoticed
I'm about to steal your girl like a burglary yea I'm convict
Admitting to being a criminal when it comes to women
But girls still want to fuck with me I got that glue game
Girls are attracted to him and can't help but stick with him
Bad hoes stick to me I'm in that new thang so I got your bitch wit me
Gucci's impressive lifestyle and status attracts women to him
So when Gucci man call it ain't no mystery
Girls know what they are getting into when they are with Gucci
She kno' she kidnap but she ain't even trippin'
Girls willingly become a part of Gucci's world
Her brain is super she for Mr. Birds
Referring to a girl who is intelligent and capable of pleasing her partner
I'm from east Atlanta but we move them 30 birds
Referring to his background and illegal activities
Do I know you if I owe you pay you on the thirty third
Not giving importance to those who demand payment from him
Got your girlfriend clueless starin' she cant say a word
Girls are attracted to him and can't help but stare, causing their boyfriends to feel insecure
Maybe I can pay your mortgage came up bouldercrest morland
Implying his wealth and ability to take care of his partner
I rock a real chain like Mike Jordans!
Proudly showing off his luxury items
I really don't come off that often
Does not make appearances often
Got a sick sound effect its not coughin' (ugh ugh ugh)
Referring to his unique music style
I toss racks out and I like tossin'
Not afraid to spend money
I got shinin' problem I just like flossin' (bur!)
Enjoys flaunting his wealth and success
Sorry babe icy like gorgeous
Apologizing for being so good-looking
Me and you together that's gorgeous (gorgeous)
Implying that he would look great with his partner together
She like my swag and I'm recordists
Girls are attracted to his style and music
She said her ex man was too boring
Implying that he is more exciting than her previous partner
I'm the doctor if you got insurance (insurance)
Referring to himself as someone who can take care of his partner
First get the testin' your endurance (endurance)
Indicating that he tests the commitment of his partner
I got a sick side effect you cant cure it (cure it)
Referring to his irresistible charm
I have you thinkin' about me 24/7 if you want to take a flick
Indicating that he is constantly on his partner's mind
Use caution if you legal and single we talkin' (talkin')
Advising women to be careful if they are legal and single as he may be interested in them
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER GHOLSON, CHRISTOPHER JAMES GHOLSON, RADRIC DAVIS, RADRIC DELANTIC DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raining_96
Gucci killed this I like the flow he used here. He got his wife with him they lit❤👌
Wesley Soden
Me too, the beat is different, but this song slapppps
J
Looking back on this it’s amazing! You never know when you’re going to cross paths with your soulmate!
jsunshyne87
So true
Cat Shena
I love this cut off of the Burrprint 2! I think Gucci man's music is very good, it really is fun music and I think if you pay attention to his lyrics u can appreciate the points! Sometimes he is pure comedy and other times pointing out real situations in life ppl go thru. It takes hard work to walk the fine line between flossing/speaking the truth on records and he does this well. I must say when I buy a Gucci CD, recent or previous work, it is well done! Thanks Gucci!
Andrew
I used to listen to this daily when it came out, #FreeGucci
Ken Hunter
FrontLineRadio he out now wtf
FrontLineRadio
WORD
Izzy Segura
Same 😊.."I gotta shinin problem I just like flossin" #Burrrrrr ❄️🐥💎
Wassup
He wasn’t playing about her wasn’t taking no for an answer 💯