Gucci Mane + Jail = Marketing 101

Well, Gucci Mania is officially back upon us now that the political prisoner, rapper born Radric Davis has been released. Locked up since late last year, Gucci walked out of Fulton County jail aka "Rice Street" looking like he hadn't done a day. Fresh haircut, crispy Black tee, jewelry around his neck and wrist. Its the shit rap videos are made of...

I don't know if any of yall have been to jail for an extended amount of time (I haven't either), but, I never knew that they had barbers and jewelers on site to make sure you looked good for your big day. I guess, that's a luxury reserved for popular rappers...hold on, I take that back. Hell, when T.I. got let out of Rice Street before Urban Legend came out, he walked out of that bitch rocking a skull cap, hoodie and carrying a brown paper bag from what I remembered. I guess since Gucci is one of Fulton County jail's most frequent visitors he gets membership privileges.

But yeah. About last night. I was asked to go and cover this "event" but I couldn't make it because of a prior obligation. I didn't really think I was going to be missing anything anyways. I mean, who was going to be at a jail at 12:30 at night to watch a rapper walk out? You can do that shit on a random Tuesday afternoon (*drum kick*). But to my surprise everybody and their mama was there. Channels 2 through 69, the gossip bloggers, the photo bloggers, the "hood" bloggers, photographers...everybody.

But the visitors that caught my eye in the many videos that were posted this morning were Shawty Lo and DJ Holiday. Obviously, these guys are pals and that's cool. I'd love to see my potnas greeting me when I get out too...but I'd also like to see my family too.

At this point, I may be assuming, because like I said, I wasn't there...but where was buddy family at? You mean to tell me after doing a six month bid, the first people this man is seen on camera with are another rapper and his DJ? On top of that, the first people dude thanks are his lawyers and his label? That shit just seems funny to me.

And why have a press conference and read a statement? Gucci went to jail for probation violaton i.e. fucking around and doing the same shit that got him in trouble in the first place. He didn't kill anybody (this time), he didn't rape anyone, he didn't get wrongly convicted and released after DNA evidence finally got him exonerated. Dude had cloudy piss. Then on top of that, the first people who get thanked are his lawyers and label?

I'm probably not saying anything new to the thinking people out there, but am I the only one who thinks this whole episode is just a part of the he and the labels marketing scheme? It seems like EVERYTIME dude has an album about to come out or is blowing up, he goes to jail.

I was at the first Gucci Mane jail press conference back in '05 when he shot ol' boy from Macon and had to fly down from New York where he was shooting Rap City, to report to the jail. That was a scene as well. The label he was signed to at the time, Big Cat, had wrapped trucks, a promo team and publicist on site to make sure you knew that his debut album Trap House was IN STORES NOW!

Damn, I wish I still had the pictures from that shit. Gucci was rocking a Martin Luther King shirt and I remember his lawyer comparing Gucci's plight to the political prisoners and civil rights leaders of yesteryear. Yeah, it was some bullshit. I also did his first interview after he was released. This wasn't much of an event, we was just in the studio with his lawyers listening to the new song he made. The crazy thing is, it seemed like in the course of that interview (one that he didn't answer questions about what got him in jail), some light bulbs went off in people's heads in the room. As I was asking him about how his buzz continued to grow despite him being behind bars, people eyes got big, as if they were saying "you, know, we might be onto something here."

And it just seems like ever since that day, its been the same routine again and again. Hit song-->album release date-->jail...hit song-->album release date-->jail.

After watching the press conference video from last night again this morning, I tweeted that I was convinced that jail time was just a part of Gucci and Asylum's marketing plan. Judging from the amount of retweets it got, alot of ya'll seem to agree.

I was actually joking when I said it, but then I messed around and got my hands on this document...



Yes ladies and gentlemen. This is a copy of the written statement Gucci Mane made to the media last night. Yes, Gucci's label was handing this con-unist manifesto to folks who showed up so that they could read along with Gucci. This further convinces me that all this shit is a farce. I'm starting to debate if buddy was even jail at all. He might've been laying low in Forsyth County somewhere and just snuck in the back and walked out the front last night.

Oh yeah, I forgot...Gucci has a shiny new website boasting that he is "GA's Most Wanted." Its just too convenient.

But yeah, that's about it. What do ya'll make of all this?

Shawty Lo Ft. Luda, The-Dream & Gucci Mane “A-Town”

Well...I'm not really the biggest fan of this song. Sounds like a Hip Hop version of that "ATL" song that Dallas Austin, Monica and them made a couple years ago. But yeah, who am I? Gucci verse go hard though.

Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane-"Shine Blockas" (official video)

Interesting. Just spotted this over at Dax's spot, SnortThis.com.

Adult Swim presents ATL RMX

This Adult Swim project dropped earlier this week I think, but I'm just getting around to posting it. Its pretty much a bunch of your favorite Atlanta rap music remixed over some techno sounding beats. If you've ever heard DJ Klever or Rob Wonder DJ or hung out at El Bar, Graveyard or been to a Sloppy Seconds party at MJQ...you know what to expect.

Based off names alone, this is one of the more well-rounded, all-encompassing Atlanta Hip Hop projects I've seen in a while. Gucci Mane, Pill, OJ The Juiceman, Playboy Tre, Rich Kids, Goodie Mob, Young Jeezy and B.o.B are just some of the names included on here.

What does it say about the Atlanta hierarchy of Atlanta DJ's when they let Adult Swim show them up on presenting the wide range of music that this fine city has to offer?

Full tracklisting after the jump...

DOWNLOAD: Adult Swim presents ATL RMX

01 Young Jeezy: "I Got This (El-P Remix)"
02 Rich Kids: "Patna Dem (Mad Decent Patna's Remix by DJA)"
03 Dem Getaway Boyz: "Imma G (Memory Tapes Remix)"
04 Good Time Guys: "Is That You God? (Dabrye Remix)"
05 Young Dro: "Take Off (Michna Remix)"
06 Cee-Lo: "Hello Miss (Armani XXXChange Remix)"
07 Lil Jon: "Give It All You Got [ft. Kee] (Danger Beach Remix)"
08 Gucci Mane: "Photoshoot (Flying Lotus Remix)"
09 Gorilla Zoe: "Lost (Starkey Remix)"
10 Shawty Lo: "Dey Know (Prefuse 73 Remix)"
11 Kollosus: "Breakin' Bread (Phaseone Remix)"
12 Pill: "Lookin' (Chris Devoe Remix)"
13 B.o.B.: "Satellite (Hudson Mohawke Remix)"
14 Playboy Tre: "Sideways (SALEM Drag Chop Remix)"
15 OJ Da Juiceman: "Good Night [ft. Gucci Mane] (HEALTH Remix)"
16 Lil Jon: "Give It All You Got [ft. Kee] (Drums of Death Remix)"
17 Hollyweerd: "Have You Ever Made Love to a Weerdo? (Dam-Funk Remix)"

DJ Singh Slim x DJ Dibiase-"So Far So Gucci" mixtape

Some of ya'll may already have this by now so I apologize for posting late. DJ Singh and DJ Dibiase hooked up recently to make So Far So Gucci, a mixtape (with actual mixing and blending) that combines two of the more popular artists out right now, Drake and Gucci Mane. I usually try to stray from mentioning too much of the obviously popular people and stuff on this blog but I had to show love to Singh and Dibiase.

Plus, I heard Singh throw on the "Best Pillz I Ever Had" mix in the club last night where they put Gucci's "Pillz" acapella over Drake's "Best I Ever Had" instrumental. Sounded dope and 10 times better than Young Dro's freestyle of the same name...no hate, just saying shawty. But yeah, check this out when you get a chance its pretty dope...reminds me of DJ Jamad and Floyd the Locsmif's Outskirts.

Artwork by Fabian Williams aka Occasional Superstar (who also happened to do Outskirts cover art, go figure)

DOWNLOAD: DJ Singh Slim & DJ Dibiase present So Far Gucci mixtape

Tracklisting after the jump...

Gucci Mane-"Worst Enemy"

Is this fate, karma or a nicely-executed plan designed for somebody to capitalize of off? Something just seems way too convenient/coincidental about this dude releasing a song/video about him being his own worst enemy the same time he goes back to jail for the same thing that gets him in trouble again and again.

Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane-"Shine Blockas"

About to start calling this album Lucious LEAKfoot. But nah for real, here's another jam from Big Boi's upcoming solo album. He hosted a listening session for the album this past Sunday. I took some pics for Ozone that you can see HERE. It was a laid back affair, no VIP's, no velvet ropes, just soul food and stiff drinks. Everybody there was cool and genuine fans of the music. Which brings me into the next statement...I hardly saw any DJs or radio folks there.

Shouts out to the ones that were there, didn't know (they only did two days of promo) or just couldn't make it. But the rest of ya'll are really tripping. Especially the DJ's and radio folks who haven't shown this project any type of support what so ever. Like the homie DJ Mars was saying on Twitter yesterday, the lack of support people are giving Big Boi is pretty foul. Big Boi has been holding it down for us, ya'll and the Outkast brand period for the last 3 to 6 years and ya'll still waiting on Dre to comeback...as if Big Boi had absolutely nothing to do with the group's successes over the last 16 years. "Get off the boo boo" (c) Pimp C

But yeah, check out the song if you haven't already, shit is jammin. The version I heard a while back had Project Pat on it, but I guess something didn't work out at the end of the day, because his verse has been replaced by an extra verse from Big.

Previously: Big Boi Speaks on Sir Lucious Leftfoot: Son of Chico Dusty Album|"Shine Blockers"-Big Boi and Gucci Mane Recording at Stankonia

Does Atlanta Have A Gang Problem?

Ok so. I'm surfing the web and decide to stop by Zach Wolfe's spot to see if he'd gotten around to posting any of the goodies I've seen him capturing over the last few weeks that I've seen him out. I didn't see any of the recent Mike Bigga, Slaughterhouse, A3C Festival performances...but I did stumble across this Jody Breeze joint he shot recently...

Now, before I get into my little rant, I was very hesitant to even speak on or post this. One, because I found it to be pretty stupid. Two, I'm not all the way aware of what I'm watching. Three, I didn't want to feel like I was spreading ignorance, which is pretty easy to do on the internet. Because I mean really, half the dumb ish we complain about on the net grows legs because we post it, retweet it, email it, etc.

But yeah, this is a video for Jody Breeze's latest freestyle that he did over Drake's "Uptown" beat. In it he's going at Young Jeezy as well as spitting about about the things that the ATF make a living off compensating.

Dissing rappers, not new. Rapping about firearms and drugs, not new either. But what did catch my eye is all the flashing signs and flying colors in this video. Aparently the Atlanta Blood Gang (ABG) is starting to surface beyond the Southside and East Atlanta into rap music and now onto the internet.

I heard about this "gang" a while back but didn't really pay it no mind, because hell, Atlanta gangs never get payed attention anyway. They usually disappear within months, if that long. But then when I started hearing The Dirty Boyz start shouting them out on the radio as if they were the new rap crew or something, I started worrying a little bit. Well, not worrying, but moreso wondering. Did these niggas really just shout out a "gang" on the radio, during a show that targets an audience below the ages of 21-23 for the most part?

Then I started noticing how alot of the rappers and random cats in the street started wearing red all of a sudden. Gucci, Waka Flocka FLAME and the cats that run with them mainly. In seeing this I started asking myself...when the fuck did gangs become cool in Atlanta?

For as long as I've been living here, I don't recall too many times when gangs neither existed nor were cool here. The "gangs" here have always been neighborhoods or high schools. Colors? No.

Sure, everybody wanted to rock blue flannel shirts back when Snoop Dogg first came out, but were niggas really banging like that? Nah, not really. Really, only time I can remember a gang really making an impact here was when the Folks came here in around 93-94. And most of the cats that got involved in that shit got into it because it was "different." They didn't wear blue or red. Niggas liked throwing up pitchforks because it looked cool. But after enough niggas got sent to jail for banging, peoplel left it alone...the shit wasn't cool anymore.

Notice I keep saying the word "cool." Atlanta folks have always been too "cool" for "that gang shit" as we used to call it. Gangs scared girls off, fucked up the party and always carried themselves as they were too "hard." Them niggas was always mad, weren't popular and were never fresh. Nobody here wanted to be like them. Plus, there was never a gang culture here. The culture here has always been one that revolved around hustling. If you was worried about getting picked on here...you didn't join a gang. You just hit the weight room and learned how to fight or tried out for football or something.

So that brings me back to asking, when did this gang shit become "cool" in Atlanta. From the looks of this video and what I'm noticing out in the street, cats are really thinking this shit is cool now. They've found a reason to wear red bandanas, red t-shirts, red G-shock watches, sunglasses, designer jeans and red Crooks & Castle hats (which ironically have a big ass C on them, smh).

I talked to a couple friends who I thought would be able to fill me in more on this "epidemic" I'm missing out on. The consensus is pretty much that joining a "gang" in Atlanta has become convenient. I mean besides the fact that cats in Atlanta already love the color red (UGA Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks), it seems like associating yourself with ABG is the thing to do now.

One, because its different from the Crip influence that Jeezy and BMF brought to the city a few years back. Just like most social phenomenons, followers seek to be carbon copies of whatever is in style at the time. Jeezy and BMF wore black and blue...so dammit, we are too. Same shit as when Snoop Dogg, MC Eiht, Dogg Pound, etc were the coolest rappers walking. Wasn't nooooooobody trying to listen to or be like DJ Quik at the time. Hell, even after their popularity waned you still saw rappers rocking blue bandanas. It wasn't until Dip Set, The Game and Lil Wayne started claiming Blood affiliations (and selling records and making hot music) that you saw everyone else wanting to look like they were Bloods.

Couple their popularity with their ability to make being a Blood look fashionable (red glitter belts and such) and now you have a bunch of people wanting to look like them.

Another reason I'm guessing ABG is the thing to be down with nowadays is becuase there isn't much of an alternative. Shit, ain't no Crips around (yet) to bring any opposition, so you can just fly your colors at will with no worries.

Then hell, what community organizations are there to counter it. From what I see Fraternities/Sororities rarely extend beyond the college campus anymore. Church organizations be on some "don't call us, we'll call you...after you tithe" shit. Little league sports are still here, but parents aren't. Plus I see them on the highway shoulder asking for money more than I see them actually playing. Can't remember the last time I bought a Girl Scout cookie off an actual Girl Scout. The community is losing businesses left and right so these young cats can't even get a little job like breaking down boxes at the store or sweeping hair at the barber shop.

So...what can we do for these cats before they get themselves killed either by their peer or by the police? I'm dead ass serious.

But yeah, back to this video. Honestly, I'm still perplexed as to what I watched. Of course it looks "nice" because Zach Wolfe is good at what he does. But still, what the fuck shawty? Really? Tell me if im thinking too hard but this was more than just a cool video to go along with a random freestyle to put on the net. This shit is damn near propaganda.

Its a trip how lenses and filters work. Through this lense, this "freestyle" actually kinda looks like a work of art...almost dismissing the sign flashing and color flying. But if it was on Flip cam, this shit would like like exactly what it is...some stupid shit that will get somebody hurt.

I don't know shawty. This obviously set something off in me. Like for real, gangs in 2009? Who does that besides lame ass rappers trying to look cool? Like the big homie said, if gangs aren't here to evolve into social organizations of influence like the Shriners...get the fuck on. If you're going to start a "gang" in 2009 are you going to wield a voting base in local politics? If you're joining a "gang" in 2009 are you doing it to lead it into being an effective/profitiable organization that offers anything other than destruction and rap songs?

This the thing that makes me say that Black folks need to leave gang and crime alone. We aren't good at it and we never evolve. We start gangs and they turn destructive. White folks start gangs and become organizations. Black folks do illegal shit and go to jail. White folks do illegal shit and start NASCAR.

And let me say I'm kinda dissapointed in young Jody. I just interviewed him not to long ago and it sounded like he was trying to be somewhat of a "positive" influence. He wanted me to make sure that I told readers of the intervew, specifically younger people, that all that trapping and stuff he used to rap about was for the birds and that they need to find something better to do because it only leads to death or jail. Last time I checked...gangbanging does the same thing.

But yeah, I'm kinda rambling now. If you have a comment, you know where to leave it. If you feel you can educate me as to what the hell is going on around here, feel free to do that as well. For real, how real is this ABG thing and is it something we need to handle before it gets crazy? Because for now I mean, it really just looks like a bunch of C-level rappers wearing red with a few nameless goons rolling with them. Let's "build" as the 5 Percenters like to say.

Big Boi Speaks on Sir Lucious Leftfoot: Son of Chico Dusty Album

Last night the homie Big Boi invited me over to Stankonia Studios to let me hear Sir Lucious Leftfoot: Son of Chico Dusty in its entirety. And I must say...the shit is fie. Twelve straight tracks of nothing but that funk. I didn't hear a song that was skipworthy. Dude really put his Leftfoot off in this album. Hell, with it being 2 years and 9 months in the making, we can't expect nothing but that fie at this point. But yeah, after the listen we chopped it up for bit and I recorded some of our conversation. He spills a couple good beans (confirmed he will be at the Goodie Mob reunion show) and bad beans (he's not signed to Def Jam?) in the video, so watch the whole thing.

Their had been a argument on Twitter recently about ATLiens ranking in the Outkast discography. Its my personal favorite but some of my peers disagreed about it being a classic. Well, Big himself said its his favorite and the favorite of most people that he comes across. That said, Sir Lucious Leftfoot reminds me of ATLiens in that while every song sounds different, it also sounds the same. Meaning that its a very cohesive body of work. Cohesive in that every person that was brought in to contribute, from the producers to the featured artists, all stayed on the same page and kept it sounding like a Big Boi album. I jotted a couple notes of what I heard in the BlackBerry, peep them after the jump...

yeah, the notes are on some stream of consciousness shit, but you should be able to follow.

Mr dj did "daddy fat sax"
"Follow us" is fie
A opera sounding song-"General Patton" fie
"Shutterbug"--fie, got a bay area feel to it...scott storch
"Turns me on" by ONP
"Tabourine" still fie has TI on it
"Terrified" has BoB on the hook
Debra killings played bass on the whole album
Erick Sermon prod. "lookin 4 ya" shit is fie...its the song with Dre verse on it and both of them will have 2 verses each, big finishing his last verse tonight.
Lil Jon and Big Boi did "waiting for this day to come " Has jamie foxx on the hook...he said he took it back to the edward j bedroom boom days with this one
George Clinton and Too Short are on "for your sorrows"--the way Big segued into $hort part is pretty dope.
"We go thru this everyday" is pretty cool too
Damn "shineblockers" don't sound shit like what was on that zach wolfe video...thats actually the "wasted" beat now to think of it. "shineblockers" sampled harold melvin and the bluenotes, shit is fie! Gucci and Project Pat on it

Creative Loafing's "Got Hip Hop?" cover

[pictured: Amond Jackson, StaHHr, Boog Brown, Kalonji Changa, Khalilah Ali, Ekundayo, Taj Anwar, Mike Flo, Doll Daze, Rita J, Señor Kaos, and Kelly Love Jones]

Am I the only one noticing how Creative Loafing is really fugging with Hip Hop and Black folks period in Atlanta right now? There was a time when the only Black people that got on the cover of CL were criminals, crooked politicians or select Dungeon Family members. Now just within the last year or so they've had DJ Toomp, David Banner (still scratching my head on that one),Dax (RIP), Gucci Mane and now this callage of underground Hip Hop acts on the cover. Good stuff Rodney.

The story revolves around Food, Clothes, & Shelter: The Street Album that celebrates the 30-year anniversary of Black August. The homie Senor Kaos is front and center on the joint, good look man.

If you're not able to get your hands on a physical copy of the paper you can read online HERE.

Zach Wolfe's XXL x Grand Hustle Footage

Zach Wolfe and the super cam are at it again. In the first vid he's able to make random grunts and quips from Gucci Mane, Shawty Lo and OJ-aye! Da Juiceman actually look interesting. In the second one he caught up with Lil Duval and Yung LA prior to Birthday Bash. Nothing special being said here, I just like the feeling of looking through the lense.

Make sure you stop by his spot for some breif back stories from these videos.

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Gucci Mane Covers Rolling Out

Peep the story written by Jacinta Howard, pretty cool concept. Video after the jump.



Rolling Out: Gucci Mane-The Doctor of the Streets

Hip-Hop and Crack: An Artistic Examination or Irresponsible Glorification? by Amir Shaw

Yesterday the homie Amir Shaw shared a piece he did for Rolling Out over the Twitternets. He was speaking on the relationship between Hip Hop and crack cocaine. I thought it was a pretty good read so I'm sharing it with you....

Crack cocaine and hip-hop changed black America. Both have been dominant forces in black communities across the nation since the 1980s. The style, bravado and expression of hip-hop music has often been influenced by the hardships and underground economy created by crack cocaine.

Public Enemy’s “Night of the Living Baseheads,” N.W.A.’s “Dopeman” and KRS-One’s “Love’s Gonna Get’cha,” were keen examinations of the effects of crack on poor blacks in America. These songs provided listeners with an insider’s view of what it meant to sell, use, and be torn apart from family members due to crack cocaine. The fact that each song lacked a hero or villain gave it credibility and a sense of truthfulness.

Soon, the dope dealer became a protagonist who could gain respect and sympathy from listeners. The Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z and Scarface offered gritty stories of the highs and inescapable lows of being a part of the drug business. But by the late 1990s, other rap acts followed suit by taking on the persona of dope dealers. Records about crack dealing sold well and the record labels made sure that drug-related music stayed in rotation.

While rap was once used to examine the effects of crack on the inner city, it suddenly became an endorsement of it. The Clipse’ “Keys Open Doors,” Rick Ross’ “Blow,” Gucci Mane’s “Trap House,” and OJ Da Juiceman’s “Make the Trap Say Aay,” all fail to highlight the perils of drug dealing. Instead, the rappers promote the achievement of the American dream through the sale of cocaine.

These rappers also fail to point out the harsh prison sentences that are given to those who are convicted of selling crack cocaine. In a speech recently given at the U.S. Capitol, Attorney General Eric Holder revealed that drug offenders receive a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison for dealing five grams of crack and 10 years in prison for dealing 50 grams of crack. Moreover, nearly 82 percent of those jailed for crack offenses are black.

Drug use will never be eradicated. But rappers have the power to voice their views of what crack has done to their communities, so it’s important for these artists to tell the truth about what crack really costs the community. –amir shaw

I remember interviewing Killer Mike at the height of the "coke rap" phase powered by the likes of Clipse and Young Jeezy. Mike had one of the more interesting takes on it...he said "since when has dope not been the shit to rap about?" By that he meant many people, including him, were introduced to Hip Hop the same time they were introduced to drugs, i.e. hearing your first rap song while riding in the car with your dope-dealing uncle. Amir's take on this subject reminded me of that conversation. It also reminded me of how I felt the first time I saw Paid In Full. The scene that stuck out to me the most was the ending, when Ace (Wood Harris) came back to the same block he used to hustle on and saw some young cats shootng a rap music video, emulating what they used to do in real life. Except now, with all the real drug dealers getting locked up and sent away, the new cats have space to slide in and simply rap about it and earn the same "money, power, respect" and attention from women without having to take the same type of risk.

I'm curious as to what you guys think...

"June 16th,1971..."

Am I the only one that finds it eerie that the day before 'Pac's birthday that a Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy "beef" has resurfaced? I'm not even trying to speak anything into the air but that situation is all bad. They really need to leave each other the hell alone. I hope we won't be having to "Pour Out A Little Liquor" behind these two, again.

Killer Mike feat. Big Kuntry King-"Imma Fool Wit It" (prod. by Nard & B)

DOWNLOAD: Killer Mike feat. Big Kuntry King-"Imma Fool Wit It"


Killer Mike gets on his "Mike Bigga" shit with this one. Its the first single from his Underground Atlanta compilation (Grind Time/SMC) that features everybody from Gucci Mane and OJ to B.o.B. and GripPlyaz. Appropriate summertime in the A music that's sure to get the clubs popping. Probably not what you'd "expect" from Mike but don't get it twisted, he's still rapping his ass off on this one. First time since maybe "My Chrome" we've heard a single like this from Mike and I ain't mad at it. Let's see how the streets respond to this one. Underground Atlanta in stores this summer.

Produced by Nard & B

(UPDATE: I just stumbled across some YouTube footage of Mike and Kuntry in the studio working on the song)

OJ Da Juiceman and Gucci Mane "Make The Tray Say Aye" Live

Damn. You know you Southern when even I can't hardly understand what you're saying. For those of you completely lost as to the words that are coming out of OJ's mouth, I'll attempt to translate:



"Ayyyyyyyy. What it do? Texaco Shawty, Sun Valley Shawty, Bouldercrest Shawty ???? 'bout to do this shit! 5-Rings but not a NBA player playing with NBA money and ain't played a sport cuz. ???? same color as my car cuz. Juiceman ??? back grinding what you know about that cuz? Aw man, Holiday, Gucci Mane, Juiceman make the trap Ayyyyyyyyeeee."

Gucci Mane Covers Creative Loafing

Gucci Mane and his "Stoopid" haircut are gracing the cover of Creative Loafing this week. Its a pretty good read too if you wanted learn more about Gucci's reason for rhyme.

READ: Fresh from jail, Gucci Mane's star has peaked

"Shine Blockers": Big Boi and Gucci Mane Recording at Stankonia

"Veeeeeedy interesting" (c) Arte Johnson. Big Boi recruited Gucci Mane and Project Pat to hop on a song called "Shine Blockers" for his Lucious Leftfoot: Son of Chico Dusty album. In typing that just now, I kinda realized that Project Pat '99 = Gucci Mane '09. I don't know ya'll but I was jamming to some Pat pretty damn hard back then. I guess that's what my slight disinterest in Guccimania stems from. Feels like I've heard it before. Same way I felt about Jeezy at times. I came up listening to Top Authority. So when I hear something years later that's either a direct byproduct or mimic of it, I just be like...I've heard this before, and better...

*steps away from soapbox*

But yeah, I'm posting this video because I found it interesting to see how Big Boi is attempting to bridge a gap of sorts by enlisting Gucci on his album. Only other time I can remember a DF member doing something like this was when, hell, Gucci featured Khujo on "Corner Cuttin'" on his first album.

Big Boi's been doing this for a while now though. Him hopping on remixes to Gorilla Zoe's "Hood Nigga" and DJ Unk's "Walk It Out" are proof. I'm also posting it because it shows that as much as Atlanta Hip Hop seems to be segregated at times, there's still some sort of unity. Which brings me to something else...

Not gonna be doing any name dropping but, I had a talk with two friends about the same subject. It was about a year and some change ago when Atlanta's "Otherground" was really popping with Proton, Hollyweerd, etc doing shows every weekend. One friend was saying that the Outkast's of the world should reach back and give these groups a much-needed co-sign. While my other friend was saying they're not going to co-sign them because hell, they probably don't relate to what they are doing. I saw both sides of the coin and they both made equally valid points. I tended to lean more in the direction of the latter though.

Mainly because, some of our elder statesmen in Hip Hop prove to us again and again that while they may be fans of the groups that seem to be inspired by them, that don't always mean that they are going to or are even supposed to co-sign them. Being so close to what's come before you, could actually backfire at the end of the day.

Example, there used to be this group called Da Wascals. When they came out, folks immediately called them the baby Pharcyde, because they had the same producer (J-Swift) and they was signed to the same label. Aside from the fact that the group wound up breaking up, folks wasn't messing with them as much as they might have if they didn't look and sound so much like Pharcyde. Did all of that make sense?

Plus, 'Kast over the years have always co-signed what is probably considered the polar opposite of what they had going on at the time. Ya'll remember Aquemini Records? Killer Mike, Slim Calhoun, TCP and Konkrete. Them niggas was raising hell back then. So much to the point they started calling them "AquemiTHUGS." That's not really what comes to mind when you think of the Stankonia-era 'Kast, now is it? Plus, up until recently, Atlanta was always a slum-type place. And, in the late-90s/early 2000s the DF was setting things up to catch that impending wave of Atlanta street shit that Pastor Troy was kicking off, T.I. picked up and Jeezy ran with.

Like me and some friends were saying on twitter yesterday. Cool Breeze was T.I. before T.I. and Backbone was Jeezy before Jeezy. Plus, if ya'll go back and listen to that Slimm Calhoun The Skinny album, you'll hear that he was doing everything that is cool now, back in '01. So, that being said, seeing Big Boi gravitate more towards Gucci Mane instead of the stuff he may be expected to co-sign, doesn't really come off as much of a surprise.

But yeah, as far as the "Shine Blockers" song itself? Judging from the clips of the song that's playing in the video, its probably not going to be my cup of tea. But, its interesting to see and hear nonetheless.

Shouts out to Zach Wolfe (and his super camera) and SnortThis.com

Still Standing or Standing Still?

XXL revealed their June 2009 cover today and I'm not surprised. Not saying that in a shaking my head type way really. Its more so because I got the scoop on this days after it happened. When I heard about it, I thought it was a good, appropriate idea. There's no denying that Gucci, OJ, Shawty Lo and Soulja Boy are the hottest things coming out of the Atlanta rap scene right now.

But when ever I see Southern rappers put on the cover of a magazine or in a magazine, especially those from Atlanta I always feel a certain way. I either feel proud or disgraced. In this case, I'm not really too sure about how I feel.

When folks like Outkast, Goodie Mob and the like started getting national recognition for their exceptional music, I felt proud. I felt that I was being properly represented, even though at the time, I had never met anyone in the DF. Years later I can say I've met every member, drank and smoked with a few and even gave a couple of them a ride to the store...and I still feel proud. Because none of them have really changed. Yeah some have grown and/or reverted musically at times, but they are still true to who they are and I relate with damn near everything they say, wear and do.

Fast Forward 11 years later. I don't really feel the same way. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those types that just be going around hating on the new crop of Atlanta talent that the media has picked as "the future." If I don't like something I just don't listen to it. Yeah, I might joke about it amongst friends, but just going off and wasting energy hating on it, nah.

So when I see this new cover of XXL, I'm kinda proud to a degree. All four of these dudes have worked hard at what it is they do to enjoy the spoils and recognition. And hell, they from my city. Plus, I'd like to think that they kidna look like me and the folks I know....to a degree. Lord knows I wouldn't want one of these pink hat, tight jean wearing dudes on the cover repping for the A.

But at the same time, I don't feel like they represent me and folks like me the same way that folks like the Goodie Mob did. Maybe its because that time in Atlanta rap has passed. Before anyone tries to get on that "well, they represent the youth, not you." Let me tell you 3 out of 4 of the dudes on the cover are closer to my age than they are to "the youth."

Which brings me to a larger thought. Now, from what I know, I don't think anyone in Goodie Mob, if not the entire DF graduated from college. A lot of them didn't even finish school period. Hell, these were street niggas, they just ain't only rap about the street all the time because it was understood. So I guess you can't call them "educated" by America's standards. But you could tell that they were spiritual cats who sought knowledge outside of the typical class room by reading up on things themselves.

Now, once again, I don't think OJ, Gucci, SB or Lo are what you would call scholars either. So, I guess their all even at that point. But, its obvious that their "education" came from the streets where "get money" was the only lesson being taught.

Both groups are sharing what they know at the end of the day, so you can't fault them for that. I just seems like the knowledge then compared to now was a lot healthier.

Folks always say that Hip Hop is just a reflection of whats going on right now. That's true to a degree. And, if you come to Atlanta right now, ALL you're going to hear on certain radio stations and certain clubs are going to be the dudes featured on the cover. My thing is, why? I mean, DF got played in the club too and it was very diverse and intelligent music. The stuff nowadays...not really.

Like I said, I'm not hating on anyone. I'm just hoping ya'll are feeling where I'm coming from and noticing how much has changed in 11 years. Hense the title of this post...I ask, are we Still Standing...or Standing Still?

INBOXication: Prynce

Prynce-"Georgia"


So after talking about rappers from Texas and New York the last couple of days, I'm about to just talk about a dude from my side of town, hell, around the corner actually. Which is something that I don't mind doing.

See, for as long as I could remember East Atlanta and Decatur have kinda been the bastard children of the Atlanta Hip Hop scene. When people think of Atlanta Hip Hop most of what they identify with comes from either the Southside or Westside. Not hating or complaining, just saying.

I remember when I'd go out of town to visit family they'd always ask me if I ever just saw Kriss Kross or Outkast or anyone in the Dungeon Family walking around in the neighborhood. When I'd reply with "no, but I saw Ghetto Mafia at South Dekalb Mall" or "no but me and Kizzy Rock go to the same barber shop" they'd look at me all crazy and befuddled because they had absolutely no idea who I was talking about.

Same thing applies to the last few years as really The Eastside Boys (SMH) are the only cats from my side that really got any worldwide recognition, if that shit even counts. Well, I guess you can count I-20 too, but I mean, I ain't about to sit here and act like folks didn't literally speed past I-20 to get to whatever Luda was talking about.

People slept on Da Backwudz. My nigga Noah never even came out. Baby D locked up in Ohio somewhere. But I can at least say that with B.o.B., Playboy Tre, Yung LA, Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman people are paying attention to rappers from my side of town as of late.

So I say all of that to say, pay attention to this cat named Prynce. Dude is dope as hell to me and I always thought so. Yeah he went to my high school alma mater. Yeah he's from right around the damn corner. But that's not the only reason why, I genuinely like dude's music.

He used to be in this group called Hoodlum a couple years ago. They were signed to Jazze Pha's Shonuff Records. I was hired to write their bio (sup Donald) and really looked forward to their music coming out. All six of them could rap, offered different perspectives and they were very, very conceptual...even to a fault at times. But, I say that's a good problem to have.

Hoodlum put a couple records and a mixtape or two out, but pretty much disappeared. I ran into Prynce a couple times at the QuikTrip on Panola (the same one he namedrops on "Georgia") and when I'd ask him what happened he's just say they was messing with Akon now. So I guess his new mixtape with Greg Street is the first fruit of that relationship. I gave the tape a listen this morning and its pretty good. Granted it has some moments that I could do without, but that's mainly due to him rapping over other people's beats, not because he came with wack verses. As evidenced by "Georgia" and what I said about Hoodlum earlier, Prynce's conceptual game is still on par.

"Competition"


Here's another joint called "Dear Def Jam" where he briefly speaks on what happened over at Shonuff. I for one would like to know what's really good over there? They either let talent slip through their hands or just get bogarded for it. What gives?

"Dear Def Jam"


If you like what you've heard check out the rest and download his mixtape What The Dec Been Missing.