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.”
Bring It On
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two bad bitches, tell them, "bring it on!"
Bring it on (bring it on)
Bring it on (bring it on)
Bring it on (bring it on)
What′s that?
Grew up in this bitch, I got it going on,
That's your girlfriend′s number in my cell phone!
Bring it on, nigga what?
Got my tall truck lined out, all summer long
Bad bitch [?] keep your panties on,
Keep your panties on,
Fuck her while you hunk!
Call me Mr. On!
Chilling in the club with these rollie on
Two bad bitches, tell them, "bring it on!"
Bring it on (bring it on)
Bring it on (bring it on)
Bring it on (bring it on)
What's that?
Grew up in this bitch, I got it going on,
That's your girlfriend′s number in my cell phone!
Cell phone, (cell phone) tell her bring it on!
Bring it on, nigga what?
You don′t like Gucci, but your bitch do (bitch!)
And you ain't even paid me for that shit I find at you (what′s that?)
And you can even be the grew up if you want me to (wow!)
Bitches over you, but that's the shit that money do!
These snitches like the lobsters, man, they′re just lasagnas
I heard they're throwing on folks, I just spit twenty in your eyes
Them folks they′re throwing rocks at us, I know they got innocuous
Tell them that the Bentley that I got cost like a four hundred bucks.
A million kiss to shut you up, birthday [?]
With foreign bitches smoking weed
I know the [?] will never land
A scratch them all, we're smoking weed,
I cook her key, I ask her key
That's less for you, but more for me,
I′m only [?] but blessed to be.
Chilling in the club with these rollie on
Two bad bitches, tell them, "bring it on!"
Bring it on (bring it on)
Bring it on (bring it on)
Bring it on (bring it on)
Bring it on (bring it on)
What′s that?
Grew up in this bitch, I got it going on,
That's your girlfriend′s number in my cell phone!
Cell phone, (cell phone) tell her bring it on!
Bring it on, nigga what?
In Gucci Mane's song "Bring It On," the lyrics depict the rapper chilling in the club with his Rolex watches on and two bad women at his side. He boasts about having it going on because he grew up in the scene, and confidently reveals that he has his girlfriend's number in his cell phone. Gucci Mane refers to himself as Mr. On, insinuating that he is always ahead of the game and winning. He tells his crew to bring it on and reiterates this phrase several times throughout the song.
The lyrics also contain some sexual references, as Gucci Mane talks about keeping a bad woman's panties on while having sex and that "bitches" prefer him over other men. He also calls out those who don't like him but their girlfriends do, and that he's paid to "find shit" on them. He refers to his money and power, saying that it's what makes people want to be around him, and that he can afford expensive cars and luxury items.
Overall, the song is a representation of Gucci Mane's confidence and bravado, showcasing his dominance and superiority in the club scene. The lyrics could also be seen as a nod to the rapper's come up and success in the music industry, as he references his wealth and the attention he receives from women.
Line by Line Meaning
Chilling in the club with these rollie on
I am relaxing in the club while wearing expensive Rollie watches.
Two bad bitches, tell them, 'bring it on!'
I am confident in my abilities to attract and satisfy two attractive women, and welcome them to approach me.
Bring it on (bring it on)
I am excited for the challenge or opportunity presented to me.
What′s that?
I am curious and interested in learning more about the situation or conversation.
Grew up in this bitch, I got it going on
I am familiar with and successful within this environment, and confident in my abilities to navigate and thrive in difficult situations.
That's your girlfriend′s number in my cell phone!
I have been intimate with or have the potential to be intimate with the partner of someone else.
Cell phone, (cell phone) tell her bring it on!
I am using technology to facilitate or encourage sexual encounters with multiple partners.
Bring it on, nigga what?
I am actively seeking out new challenges and opportunities, and questioning the hesitation of those around me.
Got my tall truck lined out, all summer long
I have purchased a large and impressive truck, and plan to display it prominently throughout the summer months.
Bad bitch [?] keep your panties on
I am requesting that an attractive woman who is interested in me refrain from removing her undergarments until I am ready to engage in sexual activity.
Fuck her while you hunk!
I am encouraging sexual activity while blasting the horn of my vehicle.
Call me Mr. On!
I am asserting my dominance or authority within a particular situation or group.
You don′t like Gucci, but your bitch do (bitch!)
While you may not appreciate my music or persona, your partner is likely a fan and interested in me.
And you ain't even paid me for that shit I find at you (what′s that?)
You owe me money for a service or product that I have not yet received payment for.
And you can even be the grew up if you want me to (wow!)
I am willing to dominate and humiliate you to assert my power and control over you.
Bitches over you, but that's the shit that money do!
Despite your personal qualities, I am more desirable to women due to my wealth and status.
These snitches like the lobsters, man, they′re just lasagnas
Those who provide information or gossip about me are trivial and insignificant, and are easily manipulated or controlled.
I heard they're throwing on folks, I just spit twenty in your eyes
I am unconcerned with the actions of those who may be trying to harm me, and am willing to use violence or intimidation to defend myself.
Them folks they′re throwing rocks at us, I know they got innocuous
Those who are attempting to harm me are not truly dangerous or significant, and pose no real threat to me.
Tell them that the Bentley that I got cost like a four hundred bucks.
I am implying that my wealth and possessions are so vast that spending large amounts of money is insignificant to me.
A million kiss to shut you up, birthday [?]
I am willing to engage in sexual activity as a means of obtaining power or leverage over someone.
With foreign bitches smoking weed
I am engaging in drug use and sexual activity with women from other countries.
I know the [?] will never land
I am confident in my ability to avoid legal or criminal consequences for my actions.
A scratch them all, we're smoking weed
I am engaging in drug use with others, likely in a casual or relaxed setting.
I cook her key, I ask her key
I am engaging in drug use and sexual activity with a partner.
That's less for you, but more for me
I am prioritizing my own desires and needs over the needs of others.
I′m only [?] but blessed to be
Despite any flaws or negative qualities I may possess, I am grateful for my successes and blessings.
Writer(s): Charles Stephens Iii
Contributed by Colton W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.