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.”
Iced Up
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I pull up to club valet park my coupe/I'm lookin on the ground kuz I lost my damn roof
I can sit real high but I'm squatin real low/In a 07' lambo same color smoke
Yo girl in my ride,can ya drive a stick?/10 grand in my pocket like I sold a half a brick
Red monkeys on my ass,gucci's on my face,pradas on my feet,on my wrist i got that Jac
Don't ya like my chain don't ya like my grill/Aint I fresh aint I fly baby girl just keep it real
Wit my paint like snot wit them green booger guts/I blow my nose wit hunneds I don' give a flyin fuck
Gucci mane la flare AKA zone 6 shawty/hunned pack of pills turned the club into a block party
Chorus:
I'm a roll me a blunt,Pour me a cup,Pull up to the club lift both doors up,Gucci so iced up,Gucci so iced up
I'm a roll me a blunt,Pour me a cup,Pull up to the club lift both doors up,Suga Suga so iced up,Suga Suga so iced up
Verse 2(Suga Suga)
Everythings new fresh out of the wraper/pull fresh out off of the lot wit them thangs in a wraper..hold on
Push button doors go up at the same time/Kush burnin now i'm flushin know its game time
I'm ridin down campbellton wit both doors up/perssae in the changer wit the dro rolled up
Spent 10 thousand in a day thats off a blunt in a row/200 thousand in a safe I bout to stunt on a hoe
She like don't leave me,bitch you better get you a passport
Believe me hoe we carry straps like the task force
Its easy practice like you takin a crash course/you down to yo final hour you makin yo last choice
I pull up to the club smokin on a kush pack/I walk off in the front and get the whole line pushed back
Give ya boy a chance get yo whole life fucked up/Do it wit no hands now i'm so fuckin iced up
Chorus
I'm a roll me a blunt,Pour me a cup,Pull up to the club lift both doors up,Gucci so iced up,Gucci so iced up
I'm a roll me a blunt,Pour me a cup,Pull up to the club lift both doors up,Suga Suga so iced up,Suga Suga so iced up
In the "Iced Up" song, Gucci Mane and Suga Suga are boasting about their wealth and success as they pull up to the club in a Lamborghini with both doors up. They both have a lot of cash, as evident from Gucci’s 10 grand in his pocket and iced-out jewelry, including a Jac watch and chains. Gucci Mane shots out his designer clothes, red monkey jeans, Gucci shades, Prada shoes, and fresh chain that makes him look fly. Suga Suga also talks about his flashy lifestyle with fresh wrappers on his car tires and Kush in his system. They are both living the high life with an entire hundred thousand dollars in cash saved as a spare.
The two musicians both enjoy the moments of glory at the club, showing love to the DJ and making it rain on the freeway before going home. They are Gangsters who are not afraid to take action when someone steps out of line. They also talk about their love for women who match their lifestyle and make it clear to the listeners that their iced-up lifestyle is here to stay.
In summary, the "Iced Up" song is about Gucci Mane and Suga Suga's lavish lifestyle, with a focus on their iced-out jewelry, designer clothes, flashy car, and large amounts of cash. Gucci Mane and Suga Suga treat themselves to luxury while ignoring the public's criticism that is only inspiring them to keep succeeding in the rap game.
Line by Line Meaning
I pull up to club valet park my coupe/I'm lookin on the ground kuz I lost my damn roof
I arrive at the club and hand over my sports car to the valet, but I'm anxious because I can't find the roof.
I can sit real high but I'm squatin real low/In a 07' lambo same color smoke
I have a Lamborghini from 2007 with smoke grey color scheme that I can adjust to sit high or low.
Yo girl in my ride,can ya drive a stick?/10 grand in my pocket like I sold a half a brick
I have my girlfriend in the car with me and I'm carrying $10k in cash like a drug dealer.
Red monkeys on my ass,gucci's on my face,pradas on my feet,on my wrist i got that Jac
I'm wearing designer clothing and accessories such as red monkey jeans, Gucci sunglasses, Prada shoes, and a Jacob & Co. watch.
Don't ya like my chain don't ya like my grill/Aint I fresh aint I fly baby girl just keep it real
I'm flaunting my jewelry, including my chain and grill, and asking a girl if she thinks I look stylish.
Wit my paint like snot wit them green booger guts/I blow my nose wit hunneds I don' give a flyin fuck
My car paint looks like snot, but it has green interior. I'm so rich that I use hundred dollar bills to blow my nose without any concern for their value.
Walked through the club showed love to the DJ/left went home and made it rain on the freeway
I greet the DJ at the club and then leave, but later make it rain (throwing money in the air) while driving on the freeway
Gucci mane la flare AKA zone 6 shawty/hunned pack of pills turned the club into a block party
I'm a rapper known as Gucci Mane, also known as Zone 6 Shawty. I came to the club with a hundred pills and turned it into a fun block party.
I'm a roll me a blunt,Pour me a cup,Pull up to the club lift both doors up,Gucci so iced up,Gucci so iced up
I'm going to smoke a blunt, pour a drink, and arrive at the club in style with both of my car doors lifted up - showing off how much ice (jewelry) I'm wearing.
Everythings new fresh out of the wraper/pull fresh out off of the lot wit them thangs in a wraper..hold on
All my belongings are new and still wrapped in packaging, including my car that I just drove off the lot with.
Push button doors go up at the same time/Kush burnin now i'm flushin know its game time
My car doors lift up with the press of a button and I'm smoking weed, feeling excited and ready for a good night out.
Spent 10 thousand in a day thats off a blunt in a row/200 thousand in a safe I bout to stunt on a hoe
I spent $10k in one day just from smoking blunts, and I have $200k cash in a safe that I'm going to use to show off to a girl.
She like don't leave me,bitch you better get you a passport/Believe me hoe we carry straps like the task force
A girl wants me to stay with her, but I warn her to get her passport ready if she wants to come with me. I also warn her that my crew carries guns like the police.
Its easy practice like you takin a crash course/you down to yo final hour you makin yo last choice
Making a decision to be with me is easy like taking a crash course, but it's your final hour to choose what you want in life.
I pull up to the club smokin on a kush pack/I walk off in the front and get the whole line pushed back
I arrive at the club smoking weed and with such style that I immediately become the center of attention and push everyone behind me.
Give ya boy a chance get yo whole life fucked up/Do it wit no hands now i'm so fuckin iced up
If you give me a chance, be ready for your life to change - and I can still pull off looking stylish without even using my hands.
I'm a roll me a blunt,Pour me a cup,Pull up to the club lift both doors up,Suga Suga so iced up,Suga Suga so iced up
Same as before, confident and flashy, arriving at the club in a fancy car, smoking and drinking before walking in and continuing to show off how much ice I have.
Contributed by Christopher O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bcdakid414
Juice said “ this a nice song Gucci but let me make it a classic “😂
@lionyleftwich4418
Oj made it a classic but Gucci Mane version is better when i'm just being honest.Plus i'm more of Oj da Juiceman fan than I am of Gucci's if you think im lying and trying to vouch for Gucci.Plus OJ got WAYY better songs than this version of his remix
@babyloco8199
@@lionyleftwich4418 what’s the song name that juice made?
@backup3175
On God 🅿️
@backup3175
@@lionyleftwich4418 fuckin facts
@glorylaflare
@@babyloco8199 cop a chicken
@almightyfatal
He shoulda played this at the verzuz. He trippin
@ryanclarksupmuzic
2k19 this was the song that got me listening too Gucci damn 13yrs ago still be riding 💯💯🔥 So Iced Up 🔥
@alanlabriola3810
2020 Yeeeeeeeeaaah
@JAYENUTT
Gucci is a fool wit da vocals bra!!!! da lyrics always on fire, production always on point sounding well, do yo thang Gucci bruh.