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.”
No No No
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
You keep on posting these picture holding these straps but you a non smoker
Nigga you ain't no gun toter, pussy you ain't no real soldier
You ain't made your enemy had to buy his homeboy mama no black roses
Choppa knock ya whole head open
Now the young nigga head smokin'
Nigga stop that pump fakin' who the fuck is you Tom Brady?
My young niggas dumb crazy, might snatch your old lady
You ain't caught no body nigga, you ain't shot nobody nigga
Doin' all that woofin', we know you shook, we ain't scared of nobody nigga
Mac 90 with a telescope
Y'all thuggin' on Periscope
Man I thought you were supposed to sell the dope
Then why the fuck is you filmin' it
Finger fuckin' my F&H
Baby lets get intimate
Think like a gangster nigga, dress like a gentleman
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
My shooters they don't pose for pictures
They ain't doin' no rappin' nigga
You ain't hit no licks, you ain't sold no bricks
You ain't did no trappin' nigga (no)
These rappers so feminine
I'm hated by many men
But don't need no niggas to like me, bitch I'm a grown man
Let me give you a lesson, Guwop I'm Boulder Crestin'
You and all them non smokers go to the non smokin' section
We see them choppers blammin', fuck all that instagrammin'
You think you was killin' Cam Newton the way that nigga scramblin'
Partna this yo life you gambling
'Bout to 'cause a stampede
Pussy 'bout to leave his hoe in the club tryna run away from me
Better have a plan B, you understand me
Gucci don'tbuy no nigga living
Don't care if you nine feet
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
The Gucci Mane song "No no no" features lyrics that are a warning to those who are pretending to be something they are not. The repetition of the phrase "Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke" emphasizes that the target of the message is putting on a false show of strength and bravery. The term "smoke" is used as a metaphor for violent action, suggesting that those who "flex" and boast about their power are not actually prepared to back up their words with actions.
The lyrics specifically call out individuals who post pictures on social media with weapons, suggesting that this kind of posing is a clear sign of weakness, since a real "gun toter" would not need to advertise their power. The singer implies that the target is neither brave nor loyal, since they have not earned the right to claim that they have taken out an enemy or protected their own. The song concludes by suggesting that true gangsters do not need to talk or bluster, but rather simply dress like gentlemen and pursue their goals with quiet determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Why you flexin' boy you don't want no smoke
Stop pretending to be tough because you don't actually want any confrontation
You keep on posting these picture holding these straps but you a non smoker
You post pictures of guns but you don't actually use them
Nigga you ain't no gun toter, pussy you ain't no real soldier
You're not tough and you're not a real soldier
You ain't made your enemy had to buy his homeboy mama no black roses
You haven't killed anyone's friend so they had to buy black roses for their grieving mother
Choppa knock ya whole head open
A machine gun could easily blow your head off
Now the young nigga head smokin'
You'll be killed and have smoke come off your head like steam
Nigga stop that pump fakin' who the fuck is you Tom Brady?
Stop pretending to be good like Tom Brady
My young niggas dumb crazy, might snatch your old lady
My young guys are crazy and might even take your girlfriend
You ain't caught no body nigga, you ain't shot nobody nigga
You haven't killed or shot anyone
Doin' all that woofin', we know you shook, we ain't scared of nobody nigga
Acting tough doesn't work with us, we're not scared of you
Mac 90 with a telescope
A powerful rifle with a scope for precision shooting
Y'all thuggin' on Periscope
You're pretending to be a thug on a social media platform
Man I thought you were supposed to sell the dope
Aren't you supposed to be selling drugs, not showing off?
Then why the fuck is you filmin' it
Why are you filming yourself doing it?
Finger fuckin' my F&H
Playing with my gun
Baby lets get intimate
Let's get closer to each other
Think like a gangster nigga, dress like a gentleman
Act like a tough guy, but dress in a classy way
My shooters they don't pose for pictures
My gunmen don't take photos
They ain't doin' no rappin' nigga
They're not involved in the rap scene
You ain't hit no licks, you ain't sold no bricks
You haven't robbed or sold drugs
You ain't did no trappin' nigga (no)
You're not involved in illegal activity
These rappers so feminine
These rappers are so weak and soft
I'm hated by many men
Many men dislike me
But don't need no niggas to like me, bitch I'm a grown man
I don't need anyone's approval, I'm an adult
Let me give you a lesson, Guwop I'm Boulder Crestin'
Listen to me, I'm an expert from Bouldercrest
You and all them non smokers go to the non smokin' section
People like you should stay away from dangerous situations
We see them choppers blammin', fuck all that instagrammin'
We're too busy with real guns to bother with Instagram
You think you was killin' Cam Newton the way that nigga scramblin'
You're running around like a quarterback, thinking you're tough
Partna this yo life you gambling
Your life is at risk and it's like a gamble
'Bout to 'cause a stampede
You're about to cause a panic or rush of people
Pussy 'bout to leave his hoe in the club tryna run away from me
You're going to force someone to run away from you
Better have a plan B, you understand me
You should have a backup plan
Gucci don'tbuy no nigga living
I don't pay anyone to keep me alive
Don't care if you nine feet
It doesn't matter how big or strong you are, I won't back down
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Radric Davis, Noor Shabazz, Anthony Frank, Carlton Mays Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mikey Blonco
Gucci Better Than A Lot Of People Think
Terrence Spruill
One of the best mixtapes
Drift Theory Garage
Terrence Spruill went to like this. But I already liked it 4 years ago.
sayso
Always coming back for some real gucci shit
Stubbo242
Binge listening to Gucci rn 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Josh Jones
Rns i remember playing this back when it came out in my chevy and people still aint know this. Guwop tha GOD 2X18 12/5
The Next Step Podcast
damn good times when this mixtape came out. classic
DatBoyWonda
This one my favorite songs of all time
jewell savis
Gucci manee KILLED this beat on my momma !
Slim Dolla
Only real guwop fans 👏