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.”
Excuse Me
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please pardon please pardon me im sorry im so sparkly, I don't say this normally but please excuse my ornaments, excuse me excuse me please let me floss my jewelry, Gucci mane aint iced out haha ya must be kiddin me
I pull up in a Zonda, he pulls up in Honda, thang short as a garden snake but mines an anaconda, wrists like da arctic my neck is like da jungle, wardrobe full of animals my closets like da Congo, motor is a monster trunk is a gorilla, ask me where my top is at I left it wit da dealer, ballin in the VIP they standin in the line, my watch so stupid icy I cant even tell da time, my necklace full of diamonds, his piece gave him a rash, he bought it from tha Texaco cuz he didn't save his cash, tryna be like Gucci mane but he don't hav a swag, he needs to take his jewelry off and throw it in da trash
Chorus
Chorus
In the song Excuse Me by Gucci Mane, the rapper boasts about his wealth and extravagant lifestyle. He starts by describing how he is always surrounded by women who are strong and assertive. They keep him busy and entertained, but he enjoys their company even when it leaves him feeling exhausted. Gucci then goes on to talk about his success, explaining that he has always had a talent for rapping and that he deserves all the attention he gets. He criticizes haters who wish he would fail and dismisses their opinions since they cannot match his talent or his style.
He then turns his attention to his jewelry, which he refers to as his "ornaments." Gucci explains that anyone who doubts the value of his jewelry must be joking since he is always iced out. He jokes that he needs to apologize for his sparkling demeanor and for being so flashy, but he enjoys it nonetheless. Gucci contrasts his riches with those he considers to be inferior to him, pointing out that he drives a Zonda while others drive Hondas. He also compares the size and quality of his jewelry to that of his competition, emphasizing that he is always a step ahead.
Gucci ends the song by reaffirming his superiority and his worth, claiming that he is too busy making money to worry about others. He brags about being so in-demand that he charges $30,000 a feature and does not have time for negotiating. Gucci is confident in himself and his ability to succeed, and he doesn't care what anyone else thinks.
Line by Line Meaning
Gucci so flossy, all my broads are bossy
Gucci is very flashy and his women are very confident and assertive.
head til im nauseous, they keep me exhausted
His women are so amazing in bed that it leaves him feeling dizzy and drained.
niggas wanna get it, Gucci went and bought it
Gucci can afford to buy anything that he desires.
my flow had been frostbit, haters wish I lost it
Despite the criticism from haters, Gucci's flow remains as sharp as ever.
traded like a foster ever since a youngster, my lines have been bonkers
Even from a young age, Gucci has had incredible talent when it comes to writing lyrics.
I deserve an encore, I heard that she dumped ya chose me then I dumped her
Gucci knows how amazing he is and that he is better than anyone else she could choose.
stanky like a dumsper funky as an oyster
Gucci's style is so unique and fresh that it can be compared to an oyster.
used to say he bore me I think he divorced her
Even though they are separated, he still feels like his ex is boring.
he said he adored her but he couldn't afford her
Gucci thinks that his ex was only with him for his money.
I don't have to bore her financially support her, he do all dat lame stuff I just keep it gangsta
Gucci doesn't have to financially support his women, he just keeps it real.
Please pardon please pardon me im sorry im so sparkly
Gucci apologizes for being so flashy and causing a scene.
I don't say this normally but please excuse my ornaments
Gucci doesn't usually apologize for his style, but in this case he is making an exception.
excuse me excuse me please let me floss my jewelry
Gucci just wants to show off his jewelry and be left alone.
Gucci mane aint iced out haha ya must be kiddin me
Anyone who thinks Gucci doesn't have a lot of jewelry is clearly mistaken.
I pull up in a Zonda, he pulls up in Honda
Gucci always arrives in style, while others settle for less.
thang short as a garden snake but mines an anaconda
Compared to Gucci's car, his competition's vehicles are small and weak.
wrists like da arctic my neck is like da jungle
Gucci's jewelry collection is diverse and unique.
wardrobe full of animals my closets like da Congo
Gucci's wardrobe is full of exotic and rare items.
motor is a monster trunk is a gorilla
Gucci's car is powerful and intimidating.
ask me where my top is at I left it wit da dealer
Gucci is so rich and successful that he doesn't need to worry about minor things like forgetting his car's top.
ballin in the VIP they standin in the line
Gucci always gets to party in the VIP section, while others wait outside.
my watch so stupid icy I cant even tell da time
Gucci's watch is so encrusted with diamonds that it is hard to read.
my necklace full of diamonds, his piece gave him a rash
Gucci's jewelry is so high-quality that others cannot compare.
he bought it from tha Texaco cuz he didn't save his cash
Others have to settle for cheap jewelry because they cannot afford anything better.
tryna be like Gucci mane but he don't hav a swag
Others may try to replicate Gucci's style, but they will never be as cool as he is.
he needs to take his jewelry off and throw it in da trash
Others should stop trying to look like Gucci and just be themselves.
Im in the bank makin d4s while yall be getting repoed
Gucci is making a lot of money while others are struggling financially.
zero zero zero comma zero afta zero
Gucci is making so much money that his earnings are difficult to quantify.
my jewelry game sick I think my jeweler need chemo
Gucci's jewelry collection is so impressive that it is almost overwhelming.
Wonder Woman bracelet on but im no superhero
Gucci may have expensive jewelry, but he does not believe that he is invincible.
cocky as im rockin dis cuz aint nobody hot as dis
Gucci is confident in his appearance because he knows that nobody else can look as cool as he does.
so hot as hot lava gets and im not on that modest shit
Gucci is so hot and stylish that he does not need to be modest.
poppin cris think that I need alchohol anonymous
Gucci drinks expensive champagne so often that he may need help with alcoholism.
45 in da club I could kill a hippopotamus
Gucci feels so powerful and unstoppable that he could take on even the largest creatures in the animal kingdom.
office chick college chick I game for any chick
Gucci is open to dating women from all walks of life.
I hang out with stars you would im an astrologist
Gucci spends time with a lot of famous people and can tell that he is destined for greatness.
they should pay me back for all this fuckin game they borrowin
Others should be grateful for all of the wisdom and knowledge that Gucci has shared with them.
30 grand a feature and I don't got time for bargaining
Gucci's time is too valuable to waste on negotiating prices for his music.
Chorus
Repeating the title of the song.
Contributed by Lucas N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.