Radric Davis (born February 12, 1980 in Birmingham, Alabama), better known … Read Full Bio ↴Radric Davis (born February 12, 1980 in Birmingham, Alabama), better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and CEO of 1017 Brick Squad Records. In 2005 he released his independent debut album, Trap House, which featured the successful single "Icy" that he recorded with Young Jeezy. He has since released a further three albums including 2006's Hard To Kill, 2007's Trap-A-Thon and 2007's Back To The Trap House. His sixth studio album, The State vs Radric Davis, was released in December 2009, just weeks after he was sent back to prison for 12 months for violating his probation. He was released in May 2010 and will now release his seventh studio album, The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted, sometime at the end of 2010.

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.”

Close To Me
Gucci Mane Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know some killas that'll kill you, to kill ya if ya close to me
I did some thangs, that I gotta keep it close to me

I know some niggas that'll kill ya if ya close to me
I know some killas, and I gotta keep em close to me
If you a snitch, then I dont need you standing close to me
I'm my own shooter, so I keep my pistol close to me

You know what [?] me nigga, like you some ho while I be smoking weed
I dont know you nigga, you dont know me nigga so dont come close to me
I had a girl one time, we broke up, I told that bitch to leave
I dont need no nigga, I dont need no bitch try to come close to me
Get away from me nigga, you standing too close, back up a couple feet
I dont know you nigga, you dont know me nigga, but your standing too close to me
These niggas be hoes, your [?]
I love my friends but I gotta keep my enemies close to me
Close call, man I swear it was a close race
Close casket, but I'ma shoot ya in yo damn face
I got so much money, that they closed the damn case
A nigga try me, [?] hell they get away
I drop a cool code 20, make ya neck break
They say that Gucci high hid it, thats what the vet say
Bullets rain, [?]
And all legit, but still [?]
She say I'm close to crazy, that's what that bitch say
I say I'm close to wealthy, that's what my wrist say
And I'm a multi-millionaire that's what my dick say
[?]
She tryna get close to me, but I don't want no girlfriend
[?]
She ask when am I gonna stop, I say til the world end
Pearl-face rolling, roll up with the pearl Benz

I know some niggas that'll kill ya if ya close to me
I know some killas, and I gotta keep em close to me
If you a snitch, then I dont need you standing close to me
I'm my own shooter, so I keep my pistol close to me

I know some niggas that'll kill ya if ya close to me
I know some killas, and I gotta keep em close to me
If you a snitch, then I dont need you standing close to me
I'm my own shooter, so I keep my pistol close to me

See I keep a scrap, I don't play with these niggas
Rock a by baby, move jack a nigga
458 my caterpillar
One time for the real niggas
All I hang around is the real niggas
Cut throat, selling pure coke
Nigga fuck with me, murder she wrote
In a club, Frank Lucas with a minkcoat
All I need is work in a speedboat
Truck full from my amigo
Free my dogs, fuck Rico
Bitch I'm off the molly, my eyes low
Wet crew, at one time
2 times for the don game
Bricksquad, new Wu Tang
My flag [?]
[?]

I know some niggas that'll kill ya if ya close to me
I know some killas, and I gotta keep em close to me
If you a snitch, then I dont need you standing close to me
I'm my own shooter, so I keep my pistol close to me

I know some niggas that'll kill ya if ya close to me
I know some killas, and I gotta keep em close to me

If you a snitch, then I dont need you standing close to me
I'm my own shooter, so I keep my pistol close to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame's song "Close To Me" indicates the kind of lifestyle they lead and the people they surround themselves with. In the first verse, they established that they know some people that can kill anyone who comes close to them. They also admitted that they have done some things in their lives, which they don't want to disclose to anyone. They kept that secret close to them. The chorus repeats the idea that they have many killers close to them, and they don't trust anyone who may snitch or get in their way. They made it clear that they are their own shooters and they always keep a pistol close to them.

In the second verse, Gucci Mane talked about how he doesn't want anyone to come close to him when smoking weed, and he is not interested in having any girlfriend. He also talked about how he loves friends but still keeps his enemies close to him. The chorus is repeated once again to reinforce the idea that they are not to be messed with.

The overall message of the song reflects the tough and street-wise nature of Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame's lifestyles. They are surrounded by dangerous people and are always ready to defend themselves. The lyrics also highlight their paranoia and mistrust of anyone who might pose a threat to them.

Line by Line Meaning

I know some killas that'll kill you, to kill ya if ya close to me
I am associated with some ruthless killers, who would go to great lengths to eliminate any threats to me.

I did some thangs, that I gotta keep it close to me
I have indulged in a few illegal and immoral activities that I prefer to keep a secret and not disclose to anyone.

If you a snitch, then I dont need you standing close to me
I despise any person who collaborates with the authorities and provides information about my illegal activities, and I wouldn't tolerate their presence around me.

I'm my own shooter, so I keep my pistol close to me
I am my own protector and rely on my firearm for any threats or adverse circumstances, and hence, I carry my gun with me always.

I dont know you nigga, you dont know me nigga so dont come close to me
I am not familiar with you, and hence, I do not want you near me or involved in my business.

I dont need no nigga, I dont need no bitch try to come close to me
I am self-sufficient and do not require anyone's assistance, and therefore, I don't appreciate any person trying to approach me for personal gain or motive.

I love my friends but I gotta keep my enemies close to me
I value my friendships but understand the importance of keeping my enemies within sight and monitoring their moves to prevent any harm to me.

Close call, man I swear it was a close race
I almost missed out on something crucial, and it was an intense and nerve-wracking experience.

Close casket, but I'ma shoot ya in yo damn face
I will maliciously harm you to the brink of death, and that could even cost you your life.

I got so much money, that they closed the damn case
I have amassed immense wealth, which allowed me to clear any legal troubles or cases against me and get them dismissed.

I drop a cool code 20, make ya neck break
I have enough power and money to make you disappear or take care of you permanently.

She tryna get close to me, but I don't want no girlfriend
A girl is interested in me, but I am not interested in a romantic relationship with her.

She ask when am I gonna stop, I say til the world end
Someone is questioning my relentless pursuit of money and success, to which I replied that I will not stop until I perish.

I keep a scrap, I don't play with these niggas
I am always armed and never take any risks when it comes to dealing with other people.

All I hang around is the real niggas
I only associate with trustworthy people who have similar values and beliefs as me.

Nigga fuck with me, murder she wrote
Anyone who engages in conflict with me will suffer the consequences and even face death.

My flag [?]
I pledge allegiance to my group or gang and represent them to the fullest.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Juaquin James Malphurs, Rodric Davis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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