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.”
Extacy Pill
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Automatic, big as a wheel, 4-door 'Rari
Nigga play with sticks in them chicks, we like bodies
Everybody 'round me got m's, like the Cosbys
Pussy niggas know that I dare 'em
Thugga, these niggas know that you dare 'em
I treat her good cause I know that she care
I paint her face just like fuckin' mascara
All my niggas talk realistic, all my niggas play with digits
All my niggas fuckin' friends-es, all my niggas fuckin' titties
Shit, all my niggas' finger itchin'
All my niggas pass a chrome hard, you know all the windows tinted
I come through yo' block and make a fuckin' mess
In big white minivan with choppers and TECs
These bitches know I got now, fuck who got next
I pay her attention, she pay me with sex
Your bitch is a mag, I call her Complex
My kush out the grass, it's tall as a leg
I just be like "uh" like her name Alexis
I be leanin' like a Texas
Ecstasy pill, Miley Cyrus
Automatic, big as a wheel, 4-door 'Rari
We just play with sticks in them checks, we like bodies
Everybody 'round me got m's, like the Cosbys
Pussy niggas know that I dare 'em
I swear these pussy niggas know that I dare 'em
I treat her good cause I know that she care
I paint her face just like fuckin' mascara
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Lil mama put a couple poles in her throat
I'm tryna save her like a float on a boat
Her mama muggin' cause I fucked all her folk
I'ma put a hundred bands in her pants like "I wish a nigga would"
I ain't talking 'bout no toilet but you know she from the hood
I ain't buying no stilettos, red bottom with the wood
Getting head while sitting at the bottom with the woods
Gotta give it to you bad, why the fuck I wouldn't? Why the fuck I couldn't?
God damn, that head like a golden spoon, just for my pudding
I'ma buy that bitch a Benz with the top gone, let me feel this breeze
You know I'll buy that bitch a new whoadie
I got a fo' of Act' inside my styrofoam, who wanna lean?
This nat nat know I'm not big Rocko
But you know I got nachos, nachos, nachos!
Ecstasy pill, Miley Cyrus
Automatic, big as a wheel, 4-door 'Rari
Nigga play with sticks in them chicks, we like bodies
Everybody 'round me got m's, like the Cosbys
Pussy niggas know that I dare 'em
Thugga, these niggas know that you dare 'em
I treat her good cause I know that she care
I paint her face just like fuckin' mascara
The lyrics to Gucci Mane and Young Thug's hit song "Ecstasy Pill" are full of drug references and references to luxury lifestyles. The song's theme centers on the use of ecstasy, specifically making a reference to Miley Cyrus, who is popular for her association with the drug. The song is highly sexual and somewhat vulgar, referencing explicit sexual acts, drug use, and luxury cars. The line " Pussy niggas know that I dare 'em" implies that the singers are confident and unafraid of consequences. The chorus repeats the line "Everybody 'round me got m's, like the Cosbys," claiming that everyone around them has money in abundance like the wealthy Cosby family. Additionally, the line "I paint her face just like fuckin' mascara" is likely a reference to the way Gucci Mane enjoys dominating women.
One interesting fact about this song is that it is part of Gucci Mane's Trap God 2 mixtape, a collaboration with multiple rappers. Another fun fact is that the song has over three million listens on Spotify alone. Gucci Mane and Young Thug have collaborated on multiple songs, including "1017 Thug" and "Again." The song's beat was produced by Dun Deal, a popular music producer, composer, and songwriter who has worked with artists like T.I. and 2 Chainz. Based on the lyrics, it is clear that this song is intended for an adult audience due to its explicit talk of sex and drug use. Gucci Mane has a reputation as a prolific rapper, releasing dozens of albums and mixtapes over his career.
As for the chords, it is unclear what they are since this song is primarily electronic in nature. It features a heavy bass and drumbeat, making it more suited for dancing than playing instruments. Regardless, the song has proven popular in nightclubs and at parties, with its catchy chorus and club-ready beat. Overall, "Ecstasy Pill" is a fast-paced, highly sexual club banger that makes use of drug references and bragging about wealth to create a high-energy, highly addictive song.
Line by Line Meaning
Ecstasy pill, Miley Cyrus
Taking ecstasy pills like Miley Cyrus
Automatic, big as a wheel, 4-door 'Rari
Driving a car with automatic transmission and big size like a wheel, Lamborghini four-door car
Nigga play with sticks in them chicks, we like bodies
Hitting women with sticks and getting turned on
Everybody 'round me got m's, like the Cosbys
Everyone around me has lots of money, like the Cosby family
Pussy niggas know that I dare 'em
I challenge weak fake men
Thugga, these niggas know that you dare 'em
Young Thug is also challenging weak men
I treat her good cause I know that she care
I treat my woman well because I know she cares for me
I paint her face just like fuckin' mascara
I emotionally manipulate and control my woman
All my niggas talk realistic, all my niggas play with digits
All my friends are practical and financially successful
All my niggas fuckin' friends-es, all my niggas fuckin' titties
All my friends have promiscuous sexual relationships
Shit, all my niggas' finger itchin'
All my friends crave violence
All my niggas pass a chrome hard, you know all the windows tinted
All my friends carry a gun, and their car windows are darkly tinted
I come through yo' block and make a fuckin' mess
I cause destruction when I come through your neighborhood
In big white minivan with choppers and TECs
Riding in a large white van equipped with weapons like AK-47s and TEC-9s
These bitches know I got now, fuck who got next
These women know I'm successful and don't care who comes after me
I pay her attention, she pay me with sex
I give my woman attention, and she rewards me with sex
Your bitch is a mag, I call her Complex
Your woman is a magazine, and I refer to her as Complex
My kush out the grass, it's tall as a leg
My marijuana is grown outdoors and is very tall
I just be like "uh" like her name Alexis
I express excitement like saying "uh" when I think of a woman named Alexis
I be leanin' like a Texas
I am heavily influenced by the drug lean, popular in Texas
Lil mama put a couple poles in her throat
A young woman performed oral sex on me
I'm tryna save her like a float on a boat
I'm trying to keep this woman interested in me
Her mama muggin' cause I fucked all her folk
Her mother is unhappy with me because I had sexual relations with her family members
I'ma put a hundred bands in her pants like "I wish a nigga would"
I'm going to give her a lot of money to show my power and dominance
I ain't talking 'bout no toilet but you know she from the hood
I'm not talking about a toilet, but her behavior is indicative of growing up in a lower-income area
I ain't buying no stilettos, red bottom with the wood
I don't buy high heels, but rather ones with red bottoms and wooden platforms
Getting head while sitting at the bottom with the woods
Receiving oral sex while in a secluded area
Gotta give it to you bad, why the fuck I wouldn't? Why the fuck I couldn't?
I have to give you my best sexually, why wouldn't I or couldn't I?
God damn, that head like a golden spoon, just for my pudding
The oral sex is amazing like a golden spoon and only for me to enjoy
I'ma buy that bitch a Benz with the top gone, let me feel this breeze
I'm going to buy her a high-end car without a roof, so we can enjoy the wind while driving
You know I'll buy that bitch a new whoadie
I'll buy her a new partner
I got a fo' of Act' inside my styrofoam, who wanna lean?
I have cough syrup mixed with soda in a cup, and who wants to drink it?
This nat nat know I'm not big Rocko
This girl doesn't know that I'm not as successful as Rocko
But you know I got nachos, nachos, nachos!
But you know I have money, money, money!
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes
Written by: RADRIC DAVIS, CARLTON MAYS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tkp torrinphillips1017
Thug need to get back on this flow still slappin in '21 🔥
BigPapi Cheek
best song he ever made hands down
shakur laflare
Real real
c. Rob
OML
Ннн
True
jay the truth teller
I wish he would have stuck with this formula because he was raw as hell around this time and not to mention Gucci had just signed him to the Label i Don't know what the fuck happened to thug but i wish he would had just stuck with this style and not changed it up
christian calderon
Shit gave me extra strength at the gym
J M
christian calderon haha
Isaac Schmitt
ONE OF THUGS BEST SONGS......LISTEN HARDER IF U DONT AGREE
Stubbo242
Such ignorant music. I love it.