How Gucci Mane Crossed Into Mainstream Hip Hop (Sep 18, 2011)
The 31-year-old rapper known as Gucci Mane was born in Birmingham, Alabama, as Radric Davic. Raised in Atlanta by his single mother, Mane's childhood interests in writing poetry served as a natural transition to composing rap lyrics, which he began recording in the studio at age 14. Enamored with the glamorous lifestyle of his idol, Big Daddy Kane, Mane chose the handle "Gucci" to reflect his affinity for fashion.Mane soon became known for his outrageously flashy chains, some of the largest and most iced out in the game. To celebrate the success of his first single, he started sporting his trademarked "So Icey" pendant, then graduated to a blinged out Bart Simpson and a black-spotted Odie. Most recently, he has been repping his entertainment label with a chain emblazoned 1017 Brick Squad.The flamboyant rapper quickly built a cult following in the Atlanta underground, capturing the attention of some of the industry's hottest stars. His monumental moment came when he appeared in Mariah Carey's "Obsessed" remix, which attracted a mainstream audience. Despite criticism for his elementary wordplay, Mane has charmed fans with his personality."Gucci is extra believable in the eyes of fans," noted a 2009 MTV News article on the flashy rapper. "They see a person who has overcome murder and drug charges to still make it to stardom. They just don't relate to his raps, they see themselves in his music."A Life of Successive Highs and Lows Since 2001, Mane has floated in and out of jail on a variety of charges, from drug possession and assault to probation violations and reckless driving. Claiming self-defense against a 2005 murder charge, Mane's was eventually cleared due to insufficient evidence. Despite a lengthy arrest record, Mane has managed to avoid serious time, with six months being his longest visit in the county jail.In May 2005, Mane dropped his debut album, Trap House, which reached the top spot on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. A dispute with collaborator Young Jeezy about who owned the rights to the "So Icey" hit single set off a well-publicized feud between the two Atlanta homeboys that captured the attention of mainstream superstars, such as Lil Kim and Ludacris, who appeared on Mane's 2007 remix of "Freaky Girl."Mane's relentless investment in his street cred paid off in 2009 when he seized the sixth spot on MTV's Hottest MC in the Game List for his musicality, buzz worthiness, commercial success, impact on other artists' careers and influence on pop culture trends. Subsequent albums have featured collaborations with industry heavy hitters, including The Black Eye Peas, Mario, Plies, Usher, Birdman and Waka Flocka Flame.In May 2009, Mane left his long-time label and joined forces with Warner Bros. Records. Just before reentering jail, he released dozens of new solo and collaborative records, which he set right to work publicizing as soon as he was discharged in May 2010. That night, he appeared at a star-studded "welcome home" party and stopped by a popular radio talk show the next morning. His next album, "The State vs. Radric Davis: The Appeal," hit the streets three months later, featuring guest spots from Nicki Minaj, Wyclef and Estelle."What makes me the Hottest MC right now is I got that flavor," Gucci boasted to MTV News in 2010. "I won't say I'm the best rapper in the game" I'm not even my favorite rapper. But, I am probably one of the hardest working people in the music business."In January 2011, Manes was court ordered to receive a 72-hour psychiatric evaluation due to pleading Mental Incompetency against charges for reckless driving. Although Mane's body serves as a canvas for tattoos, his most questionable moment happened the day after his release from the hospital when he tattooed a colorful three-scoop ice cream cone onto his face. Responding to rumors that he had finally snapped, Mane's spokesperson told Rolling Stone Magazine that the image was just "a reminder to fans of how he chooses to live his life" cool as ice."
Learn more about Melissa Sweet wedding gowns (Jan 01, 1970)
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