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.”
Act Up
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I mean, you know you had a
You gotta turn up this shit a lil' louder, you feel me?
Gucci Mane, scream, scream
I ain't never won a Grammy, I ain't never been a nominee
Bees in my Hummer V, thirty grand for one of these
I don't like these pussy ass niggas just like Chief Keef
Bishop think, capish pish
Keep her on a short leash
Half people deceased
'Cause they know they dead meat
Toes out, top off, grinding my freak G
You came to the game but you way in the cheap seat
I swear they don't want me to succeed
But I'm not letting them leave until I stop 'em from breathing
I ain't fucking 'round
Don't let 'em get you down
Man, it will make a nigga really wanna act up
'Cause I'ma do what I'ma do, in my new Cadillac truck
What about you? But I ain't fucking 'round
Don't let 'em get you down
I got killers on my payroll, moving when I say so
These hoes don't really love me, they just love I got a bank roll
My plug, he just keep sending blow, he ain't never said no
He mixing on the hat they broke and I can't understand folk
I'm talkin to you, pussy ass nigga, you'd better listen
Stepped, is that so hard? With that pistol he paid attention
Jump out with them K's, start hittin' 'cause they were snitchin'
Tell the ambulance, "Hey, no need to rush, 'cause shorty twisting"
Swear they don't want me to succeed
But I'm not letting them leave until I stop 'em from breathing
I ain't fucking 'round
Don't let 'em get you down
Man, it will make a nigga really wanna act up
'Cause I'ma do what I'ma do, in my new Cadillac truck
What about you? But I ain't fucking 'round
Don't let 'em get you down
These niggas talkin' 'bout they givin' niggas the whole summer, right?
Hahahaha, it's all good my nigga
We playin' baseball 'round this muhfucka', man
Shouts out dog DJ Ace, nigga DJ Scream
We playin' cleanup nigga, take off
In Gucci Mane's song Act Up, he talks about his success and how he's not going to let anyone bring him down. He mentions how he's never won a Grammy or been a nominee, but he still has thirty grand for one of his Hummer V's. He also talks about how he doesn't like "pussy ass niggas" just like Chief Keef. Gucci Mane continues to rap about his success and how he's going to keep moving forward in his new Cadillac truck.
The lyrics also mention his control over his killers and how he's not messing around when it comes to people trying to bring him down. He mentions the importance of listening and paying attention when he's talking, and how he's not afraid to use violence if necessary. Gucci Mane continues to emphasize that he is not messing around and won't let anyone bring him down.
Overall, the song Act Up is a message to those who doubted Gucci Mane and tried to bring him down. It's a testament to his success and how he will continue to rise above his critics.
Line by Line Meaning
See this right here, that real boss music, you know
This song is a boss anthem that exudes confidence and power.
I ain't never won a Grammy, I ain't never been a nominee
Despite not receiving mainstream recognition, Gucci Mane is wealthy and influential.
Bees in my Hummer V, thirty grand for one of these
Gucci Mane boasts about his expensive and luxurious Hummer V vehicle.
I don't like these pussy ass niggas just like Chief Keef
Gucci Mane dislikes weak and cowardly people, just like fellow rapper Chief Keef.
Bon appétit, when I eat, nigga feast, feast
Gucci Mane enjoys the spoils of his success and his followers can feast with him.
Bishop think, capish pish
Gucci Mane mimics the sound of a gun and references his violent background and behavior.
Keep her on a short leash
Gucci Mane controls and restricts the freedom of his romantic partner.
Half people deceased
Gucci Mane has caused people to die or be killed due to his violent lifestyle.
'Cause they know they dead meat
The people who oppose Gucci Mane are aware they will face severe consequences if they cross him.
Toes out, top off, grinding my freak G
Gucci Mane enjoys a luxurious lifestyle and is sexually promiscuous with women ('freak G').
You came to the game but you way in the cheap seat
Gucci Mane is a successful and elite rapper, while others are insignificant and low-profile ('cheap seat').
I swear they don't want me to succeed
Gucci Mane believes that there are people who want him to fail in his career and life.
But I'm not letting them leave until I stop 'em from breathing
Gucci Mane is willing to use violence to eliminate his enemies and protect himself.
I ain't fucking 'round
Gucci Mane is serious and determined in his actions and words.
Don't let 'em get you down
Gucci Mane advises his followers to ignore negative comments and criticism aimed at them.
I got killers on my payroll, moving when I say so
Gucci Mane has people who work for him and will carry out his orders, even if it involves murder ('killers').
These hoes don't really love me, they just love I got a bank roll
Gucci Mane feels that women he associates with are attracted to his wealth rather than his personality.
My plug, he just keep sending blow, he ain't never said no
Gucci Mane has a drug supplier ('plug') who provides him with cocaine ('blow') regularly without question.
He mixing on the hat they broke and I can't understand folk
Gucci Mane's supplier is mixing different drugs together and he doesn't trust or understand this behavior ('folk').
I'm talkin to you, pussy ass nigga, you'd better listen
Gucci Mane delivers a direct message to a person who he perceives as weak and cowardly.
Stepped, is that so hard? With that pistol he paid attention
Gucci Mane shows that he is capable of using firearms to intimidate and command respect.
Jump out with them K's, start hittin' cause they were snitchin'
Gucci Mane will use his gang and weapons to attack and punish people who betray him ('snitchin').
Tell the ambulance, 'Hey, no need to rush, 'cause shorty twisting'
Gucci Mane boasts that his violent actions will cause his victim to suffer and die ('shorty twisting').
These niggas talkin' 'bout they givin' niggas the whole summer, right?
Gucci Mane is addressing other rappers who claim they will dominate the music scene during the summer.
We playin' baseball 'round this muhfucka', man
Gucci Mane and his crew are competing and dominating the rap game in a similar manner to how baseball teams play each other.
Shouts out dog DJ Ace, nigga DJ Scream
Gucci Mane is giving shoutouts to his friends and collaborators, DJ Ace and DJ Scream.
We playin' cleanup nigga, take off
Gucci Mane and his crew are at the top of the rap game and are set to clean out all competition ('playin' cleanup').
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Radric Davis, Faheem Rasheed Najm
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lyfestyle17
Driving around music ..
@Teh0nlyMessiaH
on the real!
@Luminosity12445
T-Pain is one of the most underrated rappers of all time tbh
@TheSk8boyjay
Damn I’m bumpin this 2018 I’m high asl 😂
@lytoyalee1853
2022!
@codizzle0036
such a good song i wish it was longer
@MizzMikey
can't wait till i get my system hooked up in the cadi...
@HASSAN_SMITH_made_in_AMERICA
T-pain killd dis bih!!
@adamk1234
2020 still bumpin
@mrboss20ten
2020 still underrated