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.”
Mama
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometime you'll win
Sometimes you'll lose
(Hook: Sickpen)
Mama mama tell me please
Why they wanna be my enemy
Im not wrong, i swear im not wrong
Mama mama (ohh ooohhh) mama mama
Mama mama tell me please why they wanna be my enemy
(yeah)
(Verse 1: Gucci Mane)
I got a blue rollie crip blue
But im not a loc doe
Paint my bentley soowoo
Gucci keep a pistol
A nigga came through the cut
But the nigga missed doe
Faw faw faw faw
Yeah gucci get low
Baw baw baw baw
Gucci bussin' back doe
Raw raw glaw glaw
Shooting at el chapo
Nigga had the nerve to try to kill the head honcho
What make a young nigga feel that macho
(Hook)
(verse 2: Gucci Mane)
Man im riding with my bestfriend
Yeah my fucking FN
Gucci get upset again
Imma kill your next kin
Imma kill ya best man
Imma murk ya best friend
Imma be ya helping hand
Chopper in my fucking hand
Tell me how a black man wanna kill a black man
Since you got face tats
Imma shoot you in tats then
Damn it was a good day
And i got the mac 10
Chest full of ice cubes
Made your mc's ran
(Hook)
(Verse 3: Gucci Mane)
Gucci mane will shoot you in the back
He a dirty nigga
(?)
Yeah got them dirty pistols
Homocide they know my name
They know that gucci mane a killer
Kill you shoot you with pillow
I ain't no fucking action figure
30 round extended clip
I go to war with thirty niggas
For those that think they worthy
Gone make wop retire they jersey
Oops mybad i murked that nigga
Body drop i hurt them niggas
Ain't mybad i hurt that nigga
6 feet deep i dirt that that nigga
If you keep believing
Then they might rebirth that nigga
I send shots i dont recieve 'em
I dont bust back i bust first at niggas
Yo own boys will decieve you
So i just do research on niggas
Put a dub on his head
I think i should alert that nigga
(Hook)
Sometime you'll win
Sometimes you'll lose
The song "Mama" is a collaboration between Gucci Mane and SickPen, and it talks about the struggles of being successful in life. The song has a hook that repeats the question "Mama mama, tell me please, why they wanna be my enemy?" which speaks of the envious nature of people who cannot see others succeed. Gucci Mane starts off the first verse by talking about his expensive blue-colored possessions, indicating that he is a wealthy and successful person. However, he never forgets to keep a pistol with him at all times, as he is aware that some individuals may feel threatened by his success and try to hurt him. He also shares a story about how someone tried to take his life but failed, and now he is shooting back at them. The line "What make a young nigga feel that macho" means that some people feel the need to prove their manhood or machismo by challenging successful individuals.
In the second verse, Gucci talks about how he is always prepared to defend himself and his friends. He is willing to go to any lengths to ensure their safety, even if it means taking someone else's life. He mentions that some people with face tats may be the ones trying to kill him, and he will shoot them in their tattoos. Gucci Mane has a chest full of ice cubes, which is a reference to his diamond-studded jewelry. He also claims that his music makes other MCs run away from him. Finally, in the third verse, Gucci describes himself as a dirty man who is willing to kill anyone who messes with him. He is not afraid to get involved in violent confrontations and will do whatever it takes to protect himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometime you'll win
Life is unpredictable and sometimes things will go well for you.
Sometimes you'll lose
Life is unpredictable and sometimes things will not go as planned and you may suffer losses.
Mama mama tell me please
The artist is seeking advice and guidance from his mother figure.
Why they wanna be my enemy
The artist is questioning why people are trying to harm him and be against him.
Im not wrong, i swear im not wrong
The artist believes he is not at fault for the issues he is facing.
All they wanna do is see me fall (oohhh)
The artist believes that others are trying to bring him down and cause him to fail.
I got a blue rollie crip blue
The artist is describing a blue Rolex watch.
But im not a loc doe
The artist is stating that despite the blue color of his watch and other possessions, he is not affiliated with the gang called the Crips.
Paint my bentley soowoo
The artist has painted his Bentley car blue, which is a reference to the Crips gang call, 'Suu Whoop'.
Gucci keep a pistol
The artist carries a firearm for protection.
A nigga came through the cut
Someone approached the artist through a hidden or unseen location.
But the nigga missed doe
Someone attempted to harm the artist but failed in their attempt.
Yeah gucci get low
The artist is taking cover to protect himself from danger.
Gucci bussin' back doe
The artist is retaliating and shooting back at his attacker.
Raw raw glaw glaw
The artist is making sound effects to mimic gunshots.
Shooting at el chapo
The artist is referencing the infamous drug lord, El Chapo, in his lyrics.
Nigga had the nerve to try to kill the head honcho
Someone attempted to harm the artist despite his status and position of power.
What make a young nigga feel that macho
The artist is questioning why young men often feel the need to prove their masculinity by engaging in violent behavior.
Man im riding with my bestfriend
The artist is with a close friend or associate.
Yeah my fucking FN
The artist is referring to his firearm, a FN Five-seven pistol.
Gucci get upset again
The artist is becoming agitated and angry again.
Imma kill your next kin
The artist is threatening to harm the family members of his enemies.
Imma kill ya best man
The artist is threatening to harm the closest confidant of his enemies.
Imma murk ya best friend
The artist is threatening to kill the closest friend of his enemies.
Imma be ya helping hand
The artist is being sarcastic in his threat, claiming that he will be helpful to his enemies, but in reality he will harm them.
Chopper in my fucking hand
The artist is referring to a type of firearm, a machine gun, which he is carrying for protection or aggression.
Tell me how a black man wanna kill a black man
The artist is questioning why people within the same race or community would want to harm or kill each other.
Since you got face tats
The artist is engaging with someone who has tattoos on their face.
Imma shoot you in tats then
The artist is threatening to harm the person's tattooed face.
Damn it was a good day
The artist is describing a day when things went well or pleasantly.
And i got the mac 10
The artist is referring to his possession of a Mac 10 submachine gun.
Chest full of ice cubes
The artist has a necklace or jewelry with many diamonds or other precious stones, which is known as a 'bling' or 'iced out' look.
Made your mc's ran
The artist caused other 'MCs' or rappers to become scared and intimidated.
Gucci mane will shoot you in the back
The artist is stating that he will shoot someone from behind, demonstrating a lack of honor or aggression.
He a dirty nigga
The artist is referring to himself in the third person, indicating that he may engage in illicit or violent behavior.
(?)
The lyrics are unclear and it is unclear what is being said.
Yeah got them dirty pistols
The artist has firearms that are likely used for illicit or violent purposes.
Homocide they know my name
The artist is known to law enforcement agencies for likely involvement or knowledge of homicides.
They know that gucci mane a killer
The artist is known to be violent and dangerous, with potential use of deadly force.
Kill you shoot you with pillow
The artist is being sarcastic, suggesting that he could harm someone with a harmless object like a pillow, when in reality he would use a weapon.
I ain't no fucking action figure
The artist is not a toy or character that can be easily controlled or manipulated.
30 round extended clip
The artist's firearms have a magazine with thirty bullets and an extended baseplate to hold more ammunition.
I go to war with thirty niggas
The artist is willing to engage in a violent conflict with a group of thirty people.
For those that think they worthy
The artist is targeting those who believe they are worthy or equal to him in some way.
Gone make wop retire they jersey
The artist's nickname is 'Wop'. He is suggesting that his enemies will be defeated to the point of retirement and 'taking off their jersey' like an athlete who is retiring from sports.
Oops mybad i murked that nigga
The artist is making light of a serious and violent act, suggesting that he accidentally killed someone ('my bad').
Body drop i hurt them niggas
The artist caused injury or harm to someone, potentially resulting in their death ('body drop').
Ain't mybad i hurt that nigga
The artist again claims that he did not mean to cause harm, but acknowledges that he did hurt someone.
6 feet deep i dirt that that nigga
The artist is referencing burying someone who he has hurt or killed ('6 feet deep').
If you keep believing
The artist is suggesting that a belief or rumor about him will persist.
Then they might rebirth that nigga
The artist is making a reference to reincarnation, suggesting that people may believe he will come back to life or recover after being hurt or killed.
I send shots i dont recieve 'em
The artist is aggressive and willing to attack others, but is not willing to tolerate retaliation.
I dont bust back i bust first at niggas
The artist is suggesting that he is the one who initiates violence, rather than responding to an attack.
Yo own boys will decieve you
The artist suggests that people who are close to you, such as friends or associates, may be untrustworthy or betray you.
So i just do research on niggas
The artist is suggesting that he takes measures to ensure he is not betrayed or harmed by people he interacts with.
Put a dub on his head
The artist is offering a reward to someone to harm or kill another person ('dub' refers to twenty dollars).
I think i should alert that nigga
The artist is threatening to harm someone and suggests that he should warn them of his intentions.
Sometime you'll win
Life is unpredictable and sometimes things will go well for you.
Sometimes you'll lose
Life is unpredictable and sometimes things will not go as planned and you may suffer losses.
Contributed by Evelyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@KiNgChArLeSIII3006
Man it’s 2023 and there still ain’t nothing like this shiid 😂💪🏾 OG Gucci fans the only ones really thumping this shiid!
@jermalstiles673
Play
@lovejones8391
It's the truth 🔥✨💯
@nieembirden2387
Gucci the goat
@parlaypimpin6247
😊
@girthbrooksvr5335
I’m white 30 year old dude and this is one of my favorite albums.
@chicono17
Everyone talking about the hook but no one’s talking about how fking hard Gucci went in on this track probably his best hidden track tbh
@Big900th
Facts
@MikeMovesPLK
I wouldent call it really a hidden track it was on all the noisey Atlana sires plus it's on traphouse 3 if you know you know lol
@yellagoldie
2022 and it's still 🔥