Itβs said that art mirrors life. In hip-hopβs case, thereβs always been a deliberate entanglement of perception and reality. Fans demand their MCs be realβ¦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.
βI wish everybody well whoβs making money in this rap game,β the Atlanta-raised rapper says, dismissing the controversy that followed him in the past. βMy own rap game is going so good, Iβve got so many things on my plate at my label, that I donβt got time for other peopleβs business.β 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.
βI live my life with no regrets. I just wish that a lot of things never happened, but anybody can wish,β says Gucci. Sounds like a man with his eyes on the prize. And youβd 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 βBlack Tee,β 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 βIcyβ single, featuring Jeezy. Clamor over song rights sparked dispute, and the resulting rift grew.
Controversy notwithstanding, Maneβs independence was cemented: βI was on the independent scene for about two years,β he recalls. βItβs 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 itβs a gamble out there with the independent circuit. One thing youβd better have is good music because without that, you go downhill fast in the independent game.β
Good music firmly in hand, Gucci was fast approaching stardom when more tragedy befell him. But letβs backtrack; how did the man born Radric Davis in Bessemer, Alabama, become Gucci Mane, mouthpiece for Atlanta stuntinβ? Mane remembers little from his time in Alabama, just that it was rural, and that itβs changed dramatically since he left at the age of nine. βI gotta shout out Alabama though, because they holdinβ it down,β he affirms. βEvery time I go there to do a show, Iβm impressed with how hip-hop culture has taken root.β
Maneβs identity coalesced when he moved with his mother to Atlanta. βI lived all of my adolescent and adult life in Atlanta,β he explains. βIβm from East Atlanta Zone Six; it was hard, man, it was real rough. I grew up in the Starter jacket era: theyβd take your Starter jacket, your 8Ball jacket, theyβd 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 youβd get jumped. It was wild when I came up.β
Itβs 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. βI was just a young dude in a single parent house most of my life. I canβt complain that much. I would guess itβs like any black child growing up in a single parent household. There are a lot of people who know how that is. I didnβt 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; sheβs been there through the whole struggle. Thereβs a lot that goes along with that; it made me who I am today.β
A stepfather would enter the picture during Maneβs adolescence, introducing not only a male figure, but also inspiration for Maneβs unusual moniker. βMy father came in, the original Gucci Mane; thatβs what people in the neighborhood called him, and thatβs 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.β Drawing inspiration from a pantheon of rappers before him βBig Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, the Beastie Boys, N.W.AβMane went on to release Trap House, a lethal brew of his signature sound: βI call my music straight Gucci: going hard and whatever beats you make you for me, if Iβm feeling it, if Iβm rocking with it, Iβm gonna crush it. When you hear me, you hear a lot of pain, a lot of hood; you hear whatβs going on in the inner city in Atlanta.β
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. βI learned to keep better company, watch where I go, and be mindful of my surroundings at all times,β he reveals. βWatch what I say, watch what I do and how I do it, just keep myself out of the wrong crowd.β
βI always stand up man,β he continues. βIβm one of the toughest guys I know. Itβll take a lot more than that to break me down.β Undeterred, Mane was back in the studio, preparing 2006βs 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: βThere was a bidding war going on, and I liked Atlanticβs approach. They made it known that they wanted me, they felt where I was going and that I could grow with them.β
Asylum/Atlantic Records welcomed Gucci Mane in early β07, 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 ββI got them in training; they be in the weight room, pumping iron, doing pushups, shopping at the mall, buying iceββGucci is focused on his magnum opus, Back to the Trap House. βI started working on the album, and by the third song, I was like βThis is going back to the Trap House.β 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.β
βSince I went major, I want everybody to know Iβm still keeping it street, keeping it hood,β Gucci maintains. βIβm trying to take it back to all my fans that I had when I first started my career. And at the same time, Iβm trying to open up my new album to a new fan base. So itβs a mix for everybody coming together, like my first album was.β Gucci has always prided himself on his innate ability, and his refusal to let guest appearances dictate the tone of his records. βI just want people to know Iβm a great songwriter, man,β he asserts. βIβm passionate about what I do, and itβs 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; itβs a God-given gift and I just get paid for it. It come from God, itβs like wondering what makes a bird fly. He made me a poet like the great poets of the past.β
But donβt mistake Gucciβs confidence for self-absorption. The vicissitudes of his career have dictated a longer view. Lyrics aside, heβs less preoccupied with visible means and more so with acting as an emissary from his under-repped block. βIβm not the one to glorify what goes on in the hood,β he insists. βWe have everything there, the whole range from violence to people getting on the bus and going to work. Thereβs a lot more to the hood than just drugs. Itβs a bigger story, thereβs 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. Iβm 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.β
And Gucciβs professional aims have matured as well. While other rappers stress platinum plaques, Gucci hasnβt forgotten the route he took to stardom. βI made a lot of CDs on my own. People fucked with me and supported me, and just made me the man I am today. Thatβs 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 jobβs been done.β
Fortunately for Gucci, he should be prepared to welcome an army of new fans with Back to the Trap House. But longstanding fans shouldnβt fear; theyβll recognize βFreaky Gurl,β 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 Gucciβs 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 βBird Flu,β the albumβs number two single, laced by New-York based Supa Sonics. Elsewhere, firm guest verses from Rich Boy and Pimp C of UGK round out Gucciβs regional flavor, while Bay-area producer Zaytoven (of βIcyβ renown) locks down Gucciβs 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. βIβm best known for controversy but Iβm 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. Iβll be banging them out till I canβt bang no more.β
Back in 95
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wasn't moving keys I was buying 1.5
I started comin up junkies recognized my face
Payed a quarter million dollars just to beat a murder case
When I first started back in 1995
I wasn't moving keys I was buying 1.5
I started comin up junkies recognized my face
When I first started back in 1995
I wasn't moving keys I was buying 1.5
I started comin' up junkies recognized my face
Payed a quarter million dollars just to beat a murder case
They used to run up on me be like Gucci what you know
I told 'em get this glass and get da fuck away from me hoe
And every where I go it became an instant cut
'Cause they knew I had them 20s and dem big fat monkey nuts
Cant be scared of a dog when you come from Monten Park
Shootin' dice and playing cards selling blow all at the park
Had it fresh on yo sister but I used to serv ya momma
Breaking 50s down to dimes was my job for da summer
And my job for the winter cookin bricks all in da kitchen
Junkies dead at the carwash cause I heard dat dey was snitchin'
Dope jumpin' out da gym man it helped me buy my tims
Dope fiend willy used to finger fuck my rims
Smokers didn't know my name so they used to call me black
If ya beat me for a twenty betcha ima call you back
She on da dope mans dick 'cause I'm a nigga with a sack
I'm the hustler of the year and I know that for a fact
When I first started back in 1995
I wasn't moving keys I was buying 1.5
I started comin' up junkies recognized my face
Payed a quarter million dollars just to beat a murder case
They used to run up on me be like Gucci what you know
I told 'em get this glass and get da fuck away from me hoe
And every where I go it became an instant cut
'Cause they knew I had them 20s and dem big fat monkey nuts
Prices so low that they call me thrift store
Standing at the store while I'm selling yayo
Bought a brick yesterday gotta four way to go
On the five way everything gotta go
Fifty on the table hundred on da floor
Middle of da summer but I'ma make it snow
Like a chia pet my money gone grow
Still servin niggas through my burglar bar door
Jordans jeans and a little afro
8 ball jacket and a pair of stash slips
I don't give credit that's how a nigga get killed
And if you got a tilt ya car get peelt
17 going to da 559
Like a blind man I don't see know lines
Thirteen when a nigga did his first crime
Eighteen when a nigga bought his first nine
Lyin' I'm frying and I sure aint flying
Cookin' up dope cause the Jays keep buyin'
Robbing crew lurking I know they trying
Try Gucci man they ass be dying
Let me take you back in time
Let Gucci man refresh your mind
I'ma dope boy stay on my grind
A good plug is so hard to finddd
When I first started back in 1995
I wasn't moving keys I was buying 1.5
I started comin' up junkies recognized my face
Payed a quarter million dollars just to beat a murder case
They used to run up on me be like Gucci what you know
I told 'em get this glass and get da fuck away from me hoe
And every where I go it became an instant cut
'Cause they knew I had them 20s and dem big fat monkey nuts
The lyrics to Gucci Mane's "Back in 95" paint a picture of the rapper's early days as a drug dealer in his hometown of Atlanta. He reminisces about a time when he wasn't yet the big-time kingpin he would later become, but was still hustling hard to make a name for himself. He talks about his humble beginnings, buying and dealing small amounts of drugs, before eventually becoming well-known among junkies and dealers alike.
Gucci Mane speaks candidly about his run-ins with the law, including a murder case that he paid a quarter of a million dollars to beat. He also addresses the danger of his chosen profession, acknowledging that he's been robbed and that there are always rival crews lurking, trying to take him down. Despite these challenges, he remains resolute, calling himself the "hustler of the year" and admitting that he's addicted to the game.
Overall, the lyrics to "Back in 95" offer a gritty and authentic look at the world of drug dealing and the harsh realities that come with it. It's a powerful and unflinching snapshot of Gucci Mane's early life and the experiences that shaped him as an artist.
Line by Line Meaning
When I first started back in 1995
Referring to the year 1995, when the singer started his drug business
I wasn't moving keys I was buying 1.5
The singer was not selling large quantities of drugs, but was buying 1.5 grams at a time
I started comin' up junkies recognized my face
The singer began to gain popularity among drug users and became recognizable to them
Payed a quarter million dollars just to beat a murder case
The artist spent $250,000 to avoid conviction for a murder charge
They used to run up on me be like Gucci what you know
People would approach the artist asking for his involvement in drugs
I told 'em get this glass and get da fuck away from me hoe
The singer politely declined to speak further on the topic, telling them to leave him alone
And every where I go it became an instant cut
The singer's presence alone would attract drug users and the opportunity to buy drugs from him
Cause they knew I had them 20s and dem big fat monkey nuts
People recognized the artist's reputation for selling large quantities of drugs
Prices so low that they call me thrift store
The artist's drug prices were so low that he was nicknamed after a discount store
Standing at the store while I'm selling yayo
The artist sold drugs at the store while standing outside
Fifty on the table hundred on da floor
The singer had a large amount of money on hand for drug transactions
Robbing crew lurking I know they trying
The artist was aware of potential theft attempts by other criminals
Let me take you back in time
The singer is reflecting and reminiscing on his past experiences with drugs and crime
Let Gucci man refresh your mind
The singer, Gucci Mane, is reminding listeners of his earlier days as a drug dealer
A good plug is so hard to finddd
The singer emphasizes the difficulty of finding a reliable source for drugs
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Get it how you live 2.
2022 still π₯π₯π₯#Classic
WARZOVID
Old Gucci legend
Ryantheman21
@WARZOVID they didnβt know my name so they use to call me black
Dummy Acc
Bet
Young Jojo305
2023 this shit still fire π₯
Scott Premo
Imma bump this when im 80 and im 30 rn fym lol
Young Jojo305
@Scott Premo shitttt, they better okay that shit at my funeral πππππ
Scott Premo
@Young Jojo305 lmao
Deal Done
2022 still got it on repeat πππ¨π¨
Frankquavius Roberson
Shit still hit the same πͺπΎ just like βStill Servinβ π€πΎπ―