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.”
Alligators
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smokin on the Cali
The way a nigga valet, you think i'm doin ballet
Live my life ruthless, feelin real coupe-ish
Yellow feet, yellow Vette, and that bitch roofless
Suede guts in the Benz same color Scooby
Bracelet like 'I'm him' Jacob sayin 'Who he?'
Ring sayin 'What's up' Chain sayin 'Oohwee'
Underwear Burberry, Favorite fragrance Wall Street
Type of girl? Real thick, favorite color money green
Candlelight dinner gave her Cristal & x-pill
Wake up in the morning give her crab legs and oatmeal
Lobster tail and cheese grits, you ain't never seen this
Money tall like skyscrapers and i really mean this
Lobster tail and cheese grits, you aint' never seen this
Money tall like skyscrapers and i really mean this
Long paper, tall paper
Stick to skrill like flypaper
Car look just like now and later
Shoes right there are alligators
Goin to my old school from bumper to bumper fool
Chunk a hundred stacks now we got more than ?!?!? school
Just like my diamonds my car is so colorful
Rims pimped out, what the fuck I need Xzibit for?
I change lanes and i change hues from lime green to dark blue
Had it paint chameleon so they swang and they change too
Shine harder, grind harder, air ones look like tapwater, chrome rims look like silver quarters, got a see through top like bathwater
Dark green donks and the rims look like pickle juice
Twentysix inches sittin on the ??
Sittin in the hottub with the shawty off the Bentley Coupe
Paint look like bloodred and the guts look like tomato soup
Long paper, tall paper
Stick to skrill like flypaper
Car look just like now and later
Shoes right there are alligators
Big ol' chain, and a big ol' Range
My '74 Olds got a big ol brain
Yellow vette same color as the Dom champagne
2007 centerfielder Gucci Mane
Damn Gucci Mane your car so clean, got 5 girlfriends like a b-ball team
Got a gasoline catalina listerine, got a clearcoat Chevy call that bitch chlorine
Wall street cologne cost $3000 bucks, on my first date went and got my dick sucked
Goddamn Gucci Mane you too damn much, lockin down the brake and i'm holdin the clutch
In "Alligators," Gucci Mane details his lavish lifestyle, describing the opulent items he owns and the extravagant things he likes to do. The lyrics describe how Gucci Mane spends his days smoking on the Cali and enjoying his luxe cars, such as his yellow Vette that's roofless with suede guts. While he enjoys fine things like Cristal and lobster tail, he also has a taste for gritty and street things, such as dark green donks with rims that "look like pickle juice." Gucci Mane boasts about his money and his status, wearing a bracelet that exclaims "I am him" and rings that ask "what's up" as well as "oohwee." He also speaks about his love for Burberry underwear, his favorite scent being Wall Street cologne, and his type of girl being thick and loving money green.
The song paints a picture of Gucci Mane's luxurious lifestyle, juxtaposing his streetwise tendencies with a taste for fine things. The lyrics are a declaration of his wealth and status, displaying confidence in his ability to command attention and respect. The chorus repeats that Gucci Mane has "long paper, tall paper," meaning that he has real money and lots of it. The lyrics also describe his cars as looking like now and laters, a popular candy that comes in many different colors and flavors, and his shoes being made of alligator skin.
Line by Line Meaning
Weighin it with the balance
Assessing my life and priorities with a critical eye
Smokin on the Cali
Smoking marijuana from California, a high-quality strain
The way a nigga valet, you think i'm doin ballet
I am so smooth and graceful when driving my car that it looks like I am dancing ballet to the valet
Live my life ruthless, feelin real coupe-ish
I am living a ruthless lifestyle and feeling like a luxury coupe car
Yellow feet, yellow Vette, and that bitch roofless
My feet are adorned in yellow diamonds, my Corvette is also yellow and does not have a roof
Suede guts in the Benz same color Scooby
The interior of my Mercedes-Benz is lined with high-quality suede in the same color as Scooby-Doo
Bracelet like 'I'm him' Jacob sayin 'Who he?'
My shiny bracelet implies that I am an important person, while Jacob (a luxurious brand) wonders who I am
Ring sayin 'What's up' Chain sayin 'Oohwee'
The ring on my finger greets people with a casual "What's up", while my chains express excitement and awe with an "Oohwee"
Grill say 'Drugged up' Tats say 'So street'
My gold grill communicates that I am under the influence of drugs, while my tattoos prominently display my street credentials
Underwear Burberry, Favorite fragrance Wall Street
My underwear is made by the luxury brand Burberry, and my favorite scent is called "Wall Street"
Type of girl? Real thick, favorite color money green
I prefer physically attractive women with a curvaceous figure and who appreciate wealth, as evidenced by their love for the color green
Candlelight dinner gave her Cristal & x-pill
I treated my date to a fancy dinner lit by candles and gave her a bottle of Cristal champagne and ecstasy (x-pill)
Wake up in the morning give her crab legs and oatmeal
I served my date a breakfast of crab legs and oatmeal in the morning
Lobster tail and cheese grits, you ain't never seen this
I prepared a lavish meal of lobster tail and cheese grits, which my date had never experienced before
Money tall like skyscrapers and i really mean this
I am extremely wealthy, as tall as a skyscraper, and not exaggerating
Long paper, tall paper
I have a lot of money, both in terms of quantity and value
Stick to skrill like flypaper
I am very careful with my money and hold onto it tightly, like it is stuck to flypaper
Car look just like now and later
My car is shiny and colorful, like the candy Now and Later
Shoes right there are alligators
My shoes are made of alligator leather, a high-end and luxurious material
Goin to my old school from bumper to bumper fool
I am driving my car from the front bumper to the rear bumper, showing it off to everyone at my old school
Chunk a hundred stacks now we got more than ?!?!? school
I threw $100,000 cash down and now we have more money than the entire school combined
Just like my diamonds my car is so colorful
My car is as colorful and vibrant as my diamonds
Rims pimped out, what the fuck I need Xzibit for?
I have already made my car rims as luxurious and flashy as possible, so I do not need help from the celebrity car customizer Xzibit
I change lanes and i change hues from lime green to dark blue
As I change lanes while driving, my car's color changes from lime green to dark blue
Had it paint chameleon so they swang and they change too
I had my car painted with a chameleon effect, so when I am driving, onlookers feel like they themselves are changing colors
Shine harder, grind harder, air ones look like tapwater, chrome rims look like silver quarters, got a see through top like bathwater
I need to work hard to maintain my wealth and reputation. My Air Jordan shoes look insignificant and unimportant, while my chrome rims look valuable and my car's see-through top looks like clear bathwater
Dark green donks and the rims look like pickle juice
My dark green car's rims are so shiny that they look like pickle juice
Twentysix inches sittin on the ??
I have 26-inch rims on my car, and they are sitting on something unstated
Sittin in the hottub with the shawty off the Bentley Coupe
I am relaxing in a hot tub with a beautiful woman who arrived in my Bentley Coupe
Paint look like bloodred and the guts look like tomato soup
The exterior paint of my car is a bloody red color, while the interior looks like tomato soup
Big ol' chain, and a big ol' Range
I have a large chain necklace and a Land Rover SUV
My '74 Olds got a big ol brain
My 1974 Oldsmobile car is old but still valuable and intelligent
Yellow vette same color as the Dom champagne
My yellow Corvette car is the same color as Dom Perignon champagne
2007 centerfielder Gucci Mane
I am the star player of my team, like a centerfielder in baseball, and this is in 2007
Damn Gucci Mane your car so clean, got 5 girlfriends like a b-ball team
People are impressed by my clean and luxurious car, and I have multiple girlfriends like a basketball team has players
Got a gasoline catalina listerine, got a clearcoat Chevy call that bitch chlorine
I purchased a high-end car gasoline named Catalina Listerine, and covered my Chevrolet car with a clear coat to make it look like chlorine
Wall street cologne cost $3000 bucks, on my first date went and got my dick sucked
My cologne is the expensive and prestigious brand 'Wall Street' and on my first date I received oral sex
Goddamn Gucci Mane you too damn much, lockin down the brake and i'm holdin the clutch
People are amazed by my wealth and lavish lifestyle, and I show off by locking my brakes while driving and holding onto the clutch
Contributed by Jason I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Big Black Balls
Gucci + Zay = The most creative duo in trap history
Waka + Lex = Hardest most bangingest music
Soulja Boy + Tell Em = Soulja Boy Tell Em
Riz P
Still bumping 2019
TcVideoHosting
I used to play this every time I woke up an aint wanna get outta bed. This used to get me going fr fr
Mike Luke
Still 🔥🔥🔥when gucci was gucci
whereisguccimane
THIS WAS MY SHITTT
THE HOLY SKYGOD
Memories!
Stubbo242
One of the first songs I heard from Gucci besides Icy and Freaky Girl
Memphi5Made 901
Add it up and the truth for me
acai
classic
bakedz1ti
gucci and zay, a legendary combo