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.”
First Day Out Tha Feds
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swizzop
It's Gucci
Mike Will
I'm hearin' shooters loadin' pistols while I'm brushin' my teeth
I get so many death threats it's gettin' normal to me
But I bend don't break, I don't ask just take
Wake up and take a piss, I hear 'em sharpenin' knives
Main focus every day is make it out here alive
Take a shower in my boots and go to sleep in my shoes
Last night I had a dream some killers ran in my room
Tryin' to be patient but nigga I can't wait
Only chance to kill my enemies and beat my case
So when they ask me how I feel about 'em I can't say
You either with me, or against me, or you in my way
I got a pack of hungry wolves and if I don't feed 'em
Then they might turn on me, feel like I don't need 'em
I keep the best pedigree but hell I don't breed 'em
It's a lot of people scared of me and I can't blame 'em
They call me crazy so much, I think I'm startin' to believe 'em
I did some things to some people that was down right evil
Is it karma comin' back to me, so much drama
My own mama turned her back on me, and that's my mama
I lost three people close to me in one summer
Ten years later still don't know shot up my Hummer
But I bend I don't break, I don't ask I take
Black gloves and black tape, nigga it's my first day
Fuck, fuck you
Pussy
The song "First Day Out Tha Feds" by Gucci Mane is an introspective reflection on his past transgressions and the challenges he faces moving forward after being released from prison. In the first verse, Gucci describes his daily routine, which includes hearing threats of violence against him, and the constant need to be vigilant for his safety. He talks about the mindset he developed to survive, explaining that he doesn't play or pray, and that he's always ready to defend himself with black gloves and tape. Gucci expresses his mistrust of others, feeling that some people are scared of him, which he attributes to the evil things he has done in the past.
In the second verse, Gucci contemplates the consequences of his actions, questioning whether his current struggles are due to karma catching up with him. He speaks about the loss of loved ones, including his mother turning her back on him, and the unresolved anger he feels about someone shooting up his Hummer. Despite everything he's been through, Gucci remains resolute, emphasizing his determination to survive and thrive. He declares that it's his first day out of prison and he will face whatever comes his way with a sense of power and strength.
Overall, the song explores the themes of survival, redemption, and resilience. Gucci's lyrics reveal a deep sense of self-awareness and humility, as he confronts the consequences of his actions and the challenges he faces moving forward. The raw emotion and honesty in his delivery make this song a powerful statement on the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm hearing shooters loading pistols while I'm brushing my teeth
I'm so used to hearing gunshots all the time that I hear it even when I'm doing basic things like brushing my teeth.
I get so many death threats it's getting normal to me
I receive a lot of death threats, to the point that it doesn't even phase me anymore.
But I bend don't break, I don't ask just take
I'm resilient in the face of adversity and am willing to take whatever comes my way without asking for help.
Black gloves, black tape and I don't play nor pray
I dress like a criminal and have no remorse for my actions.
Wake up and take a piss, I hear 'em sharpening knives
I am always on alert because I know that there are people out there who want to harm me.
Main focus every day is make it out here alive
My priority every day is to simply make it through without getting killed or arrested.
Take a shower in my boots and go to sleep in my shoes
I am always ready for anything and don't have the luxury of getting comfortable or letting my guard down.
Last night I had a dream some killers ran in my room
Even when I'm sleeping, I am haunted by the reality that there are people out there who want to hurt me.
Trying to be patient but nigga I can't wait
I am impatient and want to take revenge on my enemies right away.
Only chance to kill my enemies and beat my case
I see killing my enemies as my opportunity to get away with my crimes.
So when they ask me how I feel about 'em I can't say
I can't express any positive feelings towards my enemies who want to harm me or those close to me.
You either with me, or against me, or you in my way
You are either on my side and helping me, against me and being a threat, or simply in the way of my goals.
I got a pack of hungry wolves and if I don't feed 'em
I have a group of followers who are loyal to me, but I need to constantly provide for them or they may turn on me.
Then they might turn on me, feel like I don't need 'em
I am aware that my followers could turn on me if I don't keep them satisfied, but I also feel like I don't truly need them to succeed.
I keep the best pedigree but hell I don't breed 'em
I have the best people working for me, but I didn't necessarily mentor or train them myself.
It's a lot of people scared of me and I can't blame 'em
I know that I am a source of fear for many people, and I don't blame them for feeling that way.
They call me crazy so much, I think I'm starting to believe 'em
People have called me crazy so often that I am starting to question my own sanity.
I did some things to some people that was down right evil
I have committed horrible acts against other people that were completely unjustifiable.
Is it karma coming back to me, so much drama
I am experiencing a lot of tumultuous and negative events, and I wonder if it's karma for the bad things I've done in the past.
My own mama turned her back on me, and that's my mama
Even my own mother has disowned me because of my actions.
I lost three people close to me in one summer
I experienced the deaths of three people who were important to me in a very short amount of time.
Ten years later still don't know shot up my Hummer
I still don't know who was responsible for shooting up my Hummer ten years ago.
But I bend I don't break, I don't ask I take
Despite everything that has happened to me, I am resilient and don't let it break me. I take what I want without hesitation.
Black gloves and black tape, nigga it's my first day
I am fully prepared to commit crimes again, and this is just the beginning of a new era for me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Radric Delantic Davis, Michael Len Williams, Asheton Terrence O Niel Hogan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dejanmitrovic4525
my man went in looking like rick Ross and came out looking like 50
@Zach_the_ripper
fr bro he hella jacked
@SENNYWAVEKID
lol
@DEDEBC4L
w
@giulioperini9782
u dont even know how much i hate this guy
@jippylude
right lol
@nordfreiheit
Remember when Gucci filmed music videos for a whole album in his house 😂
Still a legend
@daledobeck872
House arrest son
@nordfreiheit
@@daledobeck872 he's a legend for that
@markbaz4200
He a legend cause he had fans that were waiting for him, to make those videos, when he got out!