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.”
Stash House
Gucci Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hard wood floor,
Money on the table,
I'm in my stash house,
Bricks going in,
Birds going out,
I stashed a 100 mill,
Off in my stash house
x3)
Order room 2
Order room 1(Im in my Stash House)
Especially for tonight, it's some Shawty Redd drums.
Burn up our door,
Hardwood floor,
Money on the table,
I'm in my stash house,
Come on in cash out,
Birds in a drought,
Hole lot of soft,
In my stash house
If it don?t jump the first time, cook it again,
Den call the dope man shawty get you a ten,
Den, den call him again, den call da dope man, den call him again.
I'm so gangsta and he's so corny,
I'm so hood that the hoes get horny,
07 corvette I'm off set shortys,
If those the new 20 then order me forty,
Gucci mane rabbit drums made by shorty,
The hood say we waz up like bartie,
Ralph Laurens seats with the polo cut,
71 chevelle an they sittin on bucketz
76 of elz and dey sittin on shanti's,
The kid straight bluntin smokin top knot chrionic,
A pound of what we smoke cost 95,000
I smoke it all day back to back its nothing
Gucci mane trick on a bitch no cuffin,
Baby suck my dick I gave her 2 clean hundreds,
I Didn't have a deal niggas thought it wasn?t comin, Never spint a rap check yet no stuttin it's Gucci.
Burn up our door,
Hard wood floor,
Money on the table,
I'm in my stash house,
Bricks going in,
Birds going out,
I stashed a 100 mill,
Off in my stash house,
I'm in my stash house,
I'm in my stash house,
I'm in my stash house,
Gucci mane in his stash house.
Burn up our door,
Hardwood floor,
Money on the table,
I'm in my stash house,
Come on in cash out,
Birds in a drought,
Hole lot of soft,
I'm in my stash house,
If it don?t jump the first time, cook it again,
Den call the dope man shawty get you a ten,
Den,den call him again, den call da dope man, den call him again
Headed up I-10 With a couple of hens,
In a bubbled eyed Benz 'cause I'm gettin it in,
Gotta a team of kickmen,
I be sendin them in,
Kickin doorz off da hinges tryna cop by the ten,
If a nigga touch a hair on my chiny chin chin,
On my chin chiller trench, then we spending a ben, Gotta russian armor handgun, it's my bestfriend,
Shawty redd in da bentley, Gucci mane in the baby,
Drop a baby in the pot,it do what it doez,
When I pull it out the pot I'ma serve it to 'cause,
Heavy wrist activity, that started my buzz,
White diamonds in the bart look like lil light bulbs it's Gucci
Burn up our door,
Hard wood floor,
Money on the table,
I'm in my stash house,
Bricks going in,
Birds going out,
I stashed a 100 mill,
Off in my stash house,
I'm in my stash house,
I'm in my stash house,
I'm in my stash house,
Gucci mane in his stash house.
Burn up our door,
Hardwood floor,
Money on the table,
I'm in my stash house,
Come on in cash out,
Birds in a drought,
Hole lot of soft,
I'm in my stash house,
If it don?t jump the first time, cook it again,
Den call the dope man shawty get you a ten,
Den,den call him again, den call da dope man, den call him again
The lyrics of Gucci Mane's song "19. Stash House" describe the rapper's life as a drug dealer, with references to his stash house and the illicit activities taking place there. The opening lines of the song, "Burn up our door, Hard wood floor, Money on the table, I'm in my stash house," set the scene for the rest of the song, with references to the bricks of drugs coming in and the "birds" (slang for women) going out. The hook repeats several times, emphasizing the importance of the stash house and the 100 million dollars in drugs and money that Gucci has stashed away.
The second verse of the song highlights the rapper's gangster lifestyle, with references to his flashy cars, expensive jewelry, and the cost of the drugs he smokes. The verse also includes a reference to Gucci tricking a woman into having sex with him, highlighting the sexism and misogyny present in rap music.
Overall, "19. Stash House" is a typical example of a rap song glorifying drug dealing and the criminal lifestyle, and it provides insight into the underground world of the drug trade.
Line by Line Meaning
Burn up our door,
We have a very secure front door that is designed to catch fire if anyone tries to break in.
Hardwood floor,
The interior design of the stash house has hardwood flooring throughout.
Money on the table,
A large sum of money is spread out on the table in the stash house.
I'm in my stash house,
I am currently occupying my stash house, where I keep my illegal goods.
Bricks going in,
I am bringing in bundles of narcotics (referred to as 'bricks') to store in my stash house.
Birds going out,
I am removing bundles of narcotics (referred to as 'birds') from my stash house to sell on the streets.
I stashed a 100 mill,
I have successfully hidden one hundred million dollars inside my stash house.
Off in my stash house
The one hundred million dollars is hidden inside my stash house in a location that only I know about.
Order room 2
I am making an order for drugs to be delivered to me in room number two of the stash house.
Order room 1(Im in my Stash House)
I am currently occupying my stash house while making an order for drugs to be delivered to room number one.
Especially for tonight, it's some Shawty Redd drums.
The music tonight is produced by Shawty Redd, known for his unique drum beats.
Come on in cash out,
Anyone who enters the stash house can exchange cash for illegal narcotics.
Birds in a drought,
There is currently a scarcity of narcotics to sell (referred to as a 'drought').
Hole lot of soft,
There is a large quantity of powdered narcotics (referred to as 'soft') in the stash house.
If it don?t jump the first time, cook it again,
If the drugs do not react properly the first time they are cooked, they must be cooked again to ensure quality.
Den call the dope man shawty get you a ten,
If you need drugs, call the drug dealer and he will bring you a package worth ten dollars.
Den, den call him again, den call da dope man, den call him again.
If you are not satisfied with the initial delivery of drugs, you can call the drug dealer again and again until you are satisfied.
I'm so gangsta and he's so corny,
I am confident in my tough and intimidating persona, while the person I am referring to is boring and lacking in toughness.
I'm so hood that the hoes get horny,
I am so entrenched within my urban environment that women find me sexually attractive.
07 corvette I'm off set shortys,
I own a 2007 Corvette with custom wheels that sets me apart from others.
If those the new 20 then order me forty,
I want to have twice as much money as anyone else, so give me $40 instead of $20 bills.
Gucci mane rabbit drums made by shorty,
The drum beats in my music are produced by Shawty Redd, who is also known as Rabbit.
The hood say we waz up like bartie,
People in my neighborhood recognize and greet me because I am well-known and respected.
Ralph Laurens seats with the polo cut,
The seats in my car are made by Ralph Lauren with a 'Polo' embroidery design.
71 chevelle an they sittin on bucketz
I own a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle that is sitting on rims with small, 'bucket'-shaped hubcaps.
76 of elz and dey sittin on shanti's,
I own a 1976 Oldsmobile with large 'Shanti' hubcaps.
The kid straight bluntin smokin top knot chrionic,
I am smoking high-quality marijuana, packed into oversized cigar papers.
A pound of what we smoke cost 95,000,
The marijuana I smoke is of extremely high quality and one pound of it is worth $95,000.
I smoke it all day back to back its nothing,
I am such a dedicated smoker that I consume marijuana back-to-back all day long without any problems.
Gucci mane trick on a bitch no cuffin,
I am not loyal to any particular woman and tend to trick (fool/deceive) them into thinking I am willing to commit to a relationship without actually doing so.
Baby suck my dick I gave her 2 clean hundreds,
I asked a woman to perform a sexual act on me and, as payment, gave her two hundred dollar bills that were unused and unmarked.
I Didn't have a deal niggas thought it wasn?t comin,
People did not believe that I would ever become successful without a record deal.
Never spint a rap check yet no stuttin it's Gucci.
I have earned a lot of money through my music career without wasting any of it on unnecessary purchases or showing off.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RADRIC DAVIS, OLIVER REED, GREG DESILUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind