Itβs said that art mirrors life. In hip-hopβs case, thereβs always been a deliberate entanglement of perception and reality. Fans demand their MCs be realβ¦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.
βI wish everybody well whoβs making money in this rap game,β the Atlanta-raised rapper says, dismissing the controversy that followed him in the past. βMy own rap game is going so good, Iβve got so many things on my plate at my label, that I donβt got time for other peopleβs business.β 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.
βI live my life with no regrets. I just wish that a lot of things never happened, but anybody can wish,β says Gucci. Sounds like a man with his eyes on the prize. And youβd 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 βBlack Tee,β 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 βIcyβ single, featuring Jeezy. Clamor over song rights sparked dispute, and the resulting rift grew.
Controversy notwithstanding, Maneβs independence was cemented: βI was on the independent scene for about two years,β he recalls. βItβs 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 itβs a gamble out there with the independent circuit. One thing youβd better have is good music because without that, you go downhill fast in the independent game.β
Good music firmly in hand, Gucci was fast approaching stardom when more tragedy befell him. But letβs backtrack; how did the man born Radric Davis in Bessemer, Alabama, become Gucci Mane, mouthpiece for Atlanta stuntinβ? Mane remembers little from his time in Alabama, just that it was rural, and that itβs changed dramatically since he left at the age of nine. βI gotta shout out Alabama though, because they holdinβ it down,β he affirms. βEvery time I go there to do a show, Iβm impressed with how hip-hop culture has taken root.β
Maneβs identity coalesced when he moved with his mother to Atlanta. βI lived all of my adolescent and adult life in Atlanta,β he explains. βIβm from East Atlanta Zone Six; it was hard, man, it was real rough. I grew up in the Starter jacket era: theyβd take your Starter jacket, your 8Ball jacket, theyβd 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 youβd get jumped. It was wild when I came up.β
Itβs 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. βI was just a young dude in a single parent house most of my life. I canβt complain that much. I would guess itβs like any black child growing up in a single parent household. There are a lot of people who know how that is. I didnβt 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; sheβs been there through the whole struggle. Thereβs a lot that goes along with that; it made me who I am today.β
A stepfather would enter the picture during Maneβs adolescence, introducing not only a male figure, but also inspiration for Maneβs unusual moniker. βMy father came in, the original Gucci Mane; thatβs what people in the neighborhood called him, and thatβs 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.β Drawing inspiration from a pantheon of rappers before him βBig Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, the Beastie Boys, N.W.AβMane went on to release Trap House, a lethal brew of his signature sound: βI call my music straight Gucci: going hard and whatever beats you make you for me, if Iβm feeling it, if Iβm rocking with it, Iβm gonna crush it. When you hear me, you hear a lot of pain, a lot of hood; you hear whatβs going on in the inner city in Atlanta.β
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. βI learned to keep better company, watch where I go, and be mindful of my surroundings at all times,β he reveals. βWatch what I say, watch what I do and how I do it, just keep myself out of the wrong crowd.β
βI always stand up man,β he continues. βIβm one of the toughest guys I know. Itβll take a lot more than that to break me down.β Undeterred, Mane was back in the studio, preparing 2006βs 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: βThere was a bidding war going on, and I liked Atlanticβs approach. They made it known that they wanted me, they felt where I was going and that I could grow with them.β
Asylum/Atlantic Records welcomed Gucci Mane in early β07, 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 ββI got them in training; they be in the weight room, pumping iron, doing pushups, shopping at the mall, buying iceββGucci is focused on his magnum opus, Back to the Trap House. βI started working on the album, and by the third song, I was like βThis is going back to the Trap House.β 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.β
βSince I went major, I want everybody to know Iβm still keeping it street, keeping it hood,β Gucci maintains. βIβm trying to take it back to all my fans that I had when I first started my career. And at the same time, Iβm trying to open up my new album to a new fan base. So itβs a mix for everybody coming together, like my first album was.β Gucci has always prided himself on his innate ability, and his refusal to let guest appearances dictate the tone of his records. βI just want people to know Iβm a great songwriter, man,β he asserts. βIβm passionate about what I do, and itβs 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; itβs a God-given gift and I just get paid for it. It come from God, itβs like wondering what makes a bird fly. He made me a poet like the great poets of the past.β
But donβt mistake Gucciβs confidence for self-absorption. The vicissitudes of his career have dictated a longer view. Lyrics aside, heβs less preoccupied with visible means and more so with acting as an emissary from his under-repped block. βIβm not the one to glorify what goes on in the hood,β he insists. βWe have everything there, the whole range from violence to people getting on the bus and going to work. Thereβs a lot more to the hood than just drugs. Itβs a bigger story, thereβs 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. Iβm 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.β
And Gucciβs professional aims have matured as well. While other rappers stress platinum plaques, Gucci hasnβt forgotten the route he took to stardom. βI made a lot of CDs on my own. People fucked with me and supported me, and just made me the man I am today. Thatβs 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 jobβs been done.β
Fortunately for Gucci, he should be prepared to welcome an army of new fans with Back to the Trap House. But longstanding fans shouldnβt fear; theyβll recognize βFreaky Gurl,β 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 Gucciβs 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 βBird Flu,β the albumβs number two single, laced by New-York based Supa Sonics. Elsewhere, firm guest verses from Rich Boy and Pimp C of UGK round out Gucciβs regional flavor, while Bay-area producer Zaytoven (of βIcyβ renown) locks down Gucciβs 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. βIβm best known for controversy but Iβm 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. Iβll be banging them out till I canβt bang no more.β
Just Like It
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guwop
(Honorable C.N.O.T.E)
21
21
Gato
Hah (It's Gucci), hah (it's Gucci, hah)
Real Zone 6, nigga, straight up
I look just like it
Diamond chains on, they bitin' (uh, uh)
Chokin', can't breathe
Choker chain bitin' like Tyson
Start with no keys (skrrt)
I used to ride around with no license (skrrt)
My diamonds on freeze
But the old me would rob Mike Tyson (shut up, lay down)
Your bitch chose me
Got a cuff with no key but we solid (probably 12)
Why the feds on me?
Didn't they hear on "Slippery" I'm nonviolent?
Damn chain still icy (burr)
Still gamblin' at the 'partment, shootin' dices (bet it, bet it)
I did kill Bill, I kill his ass in Volume 2 if he try me (I still will)
Do it for the culture
Do it for the vultures, not smilin' (still trill)
The low life grinders
Give a fuck, I give a fuck, just like 'em (still real)
Hotbox strike you
Livin' life by the gun like a Viking (baow, baow)
I know I'm not a lick (hah)
But I know I probably look just like it (Huh? Wop)
Lookin' just like it (burr)
Not a lick, but I'm lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
I'm lookin' just like it
Sell a brick, hit a lick, yeah I'm lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
I'm lookin' just like it
Not a lick, but I know I'm probably lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
She lookin' just like it
Super thick, super lit, yeah she lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
Hot rifle (Draco)
Savage still ride with no license (21, facts)
Turned 19 (yeah)
Bought a '79 Camaro with nitrous (on God)
Nigga, them facts (21)
Collier Ridge, nigga, I was sellin' that pack (on God)
Zone 6 niggas don't lack
Ridin' down Marlon Ave, nigga, I'm strapped (21)
Nigga, I pop it
Fifty cal on me so big, gotta jump out the car just to cock it
You don't want smoke, nigga, stop it
Y'all ain't got enough bodies (21)
Look like a lick, dare a nigga try to rob me
4L Gang, nigga killin' is a hobby
Nigga, you ain't hard, you just geekin' on molly
All these VVS's got me lookin' like Follies (21)
I'm on TV (21)
I used to sell dope at BP, yeah (21)
G-body Cutlass (G-body)
Sold QP's of the QT (yeah, yeah)
I'll give your ass a hundred thousand if you find an SI
Nigga, these VV's (it's water)
Lookin' just like it
Walkin' lick but I keep the H-E-A-T (21, 21)
Lookin' just like it (burr)
Not a lick, but I'm lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
I'm lookin' just like it
Sell a brick, hit a lick, yeah I'm lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
I'm lookin' just like it
Not a lick, but I know I'm probably lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
She lookin' just like it
Super thick, super lit, yeah she lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
In "Just Like It," Gucci Mane is talking about his appearance and how it can be interpreted in different ways. He acknowledges the fact that he looks like someone who would rob people because of his large diamond chains, but he assures us that he would never do something violent like rob someone. He also talks about his past, where he used to drive around without a license and commit crimes, but now he has turned his life around and has become a successful rapper.
The lyrics also feature collaborations with 21 Savage who talks about his own past and his current lifestyle. He talks about how he has a "hot rifle" or a "Draco" which refers to a type of gun, and how he is always prepared for any danger that comes his way. He also talks about selling drugs and how he grew up in Zone 6, which is a notoriously rough area in Atlanta.
Overall, "Just Like It" discusses how appearances can be deceiving and how we shouldn't judge someone based on how they look. It also talks about the dangers of living in certain areas and how people have to be prepared to defend themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I look just like it
I resemble the style and attitude of those who are involved in illegal activities and flaunt wealth.
Diamond chains on, they bitin' (uh, uh)
My extravagant, expensive jewelry has influenced others to copy my style and buy similar items.
Chokin', can't breathe
Choker chain bitin' like Tyson
My tight choker chain is like getting bitten by Mike Tyson, causing discomfort and difficulty breathing.
Start with no keys (skrrt)
I used to ride around with no license (skrrt)
I used to take illegal risks by driving without a license and without the proper keys to start a vehicle.
My diamonds on freeze
But the old me would rob Mike Tyson (shut up, lay down)
Although my flashy diamonds are expensive and frozen, my past self would still commit theft against a wealthy individual like Mike Tyson.
Your bitch chose me
Got a cuff with no key but we solid (probably 12)
I have the upper hand, and your significant other is choosing to be with me despite being unable to escape from handcuffs, and we are safe from police intervention.
Why the feds on me?
Didn't they hear on "Slippery" I'm nonviolent?
I have not committed violent crimes, as mentioned in my earlier song "Slippery," so I am puzzled as to why law enforcement is targeting me.
Damn chain still icy (burr)
Still gamblin' at the 'partment, shootin' dices (bet it, bet it)
My jewelry is still shiny and cold, and I am still gambling and participating in illegal activities such as shooting dice.
I did kill Bill, I kill his ass in Volume 2 if he try me (I still will)
If someone tries me or threatens me, I am not afraid to fight back and potentially kill them, much like the plot of the movie "Kill Bill."
Do it for the culture
Do it for the vultures, not smilin' (still trill)
I am doing what I am doing for the sake of staying true to my culture and my upbringing, not to impress others or seek validation by smiling about it.
The low life grinders
Give a fuck, I give a fuck, just like 'em (still real)
I have a mutual understanding and respect for those who come from a low-income background and have to work extremely hard to get by, and I am not afraid to show my support for them.
Hotbox strike you
Livin' life by the gun like a Viking (baow, baow)
I am always carrying my gun with me, living a dangerous lifestyle like a Viking, and I am not afraid to use it.
I know I'm not a lick (hah)
But I know I probably look just like it (Huh? Wop)
I am not a robbery target, but my flashy jewelry and lifestyle may lead others to believe so and attempt to rob me.
Lookin' just like it (burr)
Not a lick, but I'm lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
Despite not partaking in illegal activities, my flashy jewelry and wealth make me look like a potential target for robbery.
Sell a brick, hit a lick, yeah I'm lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
Despite not actually engaging in drug dealing or robbery, my appearance suggests that I may be participating in such activities based on my jewelry and attitude.
Super thick, super lit, yeah she lookin' just like it (with all these damn chains)
A woman who is curvaceous, trendy, and wearing expensive jewelry may make it appear that she is involved in illegal activities or associated with those who do so.
Lyrics Β© Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Carlton D. Mays Jr., Radric Delantic Davis, Robert Mandell, Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
treezzy_tree luie tree Trees baby Trees
Guess who got it out the hood tho
Duah im dope
Look at this and how it go
Naw i need no hr
In shower
Cheedo bag is not a half
But zoe
Better kno
How tree came out the trap
Ok yeah u cool savage
No body cool tree
Wit the mix look how many came out with the trick tyres aready put it in ah fit
I was 15 comimg out the trap ya
Telp muda i was the kid
Detroit that hood
Am as hot as it get
Look want me to type the knollage u show have amd yeah i aprwad did alot of that billion types tree really in here woth some hype
So loud wizs high
Treesus fly
Yeah im like Jesus need to die
Tyler Tracey
"Start with no keys, I use to ride around with no license"
"The old me woulda robbed Mike Tyson"
".50 cal on me so big gotta jump out the car just to cock it"
"You ain't hard, you just geekin' on Molly"
These two need a fucking album!
Big 87
Dat shit been sooo hard lol
Eric
21 is one the very best. Gucci is a legend. Much appreciation for this collab
Thor
Muito bom!
Alexis Hernandez
The 21s flow is π£π£
Teo Pazdrijan
21 Average π€¨
Phoody Gang
I been a fan all my life β€οΈ Gucci never lets me downππ
J Birch
40 seconds in already hard af
Litzy Cervantes
The old gucci is coming out , I LOVE IT !!!
David Rhodman
Gucci Mane always come back with great music specially with 21 Savage always making great hits who else listing to this before it blow up to million view ππ πππ π