Did Gunna Beat The Snitching Narrative? Twitter Reacts To "A Gift & A Curse"

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2021 Revolt Summit
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 13: Rapper Gunna speaks onstage at the 2021 REVOLT Summit at 787 Windsor on November 13, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Gunna's rapping with a point to prove on "A Gift & A Curse."

In the past six months, there have been many questions surrounding whether Gunna could reclaim his spot in hip-hop after he took an Alford Plea in the YSL RICO case. Despite attorneys insisting that he didn’t cooperate with authorities, many believed that he wouldn’t be able to salvage his career from the smeared reputation. But, he proved them wrong. With the release of A Gift & A Curse, Gunna’s official comeback album, he made it clear that his talents aren’t bound to his street credibility.

Since his December release, Gunna’s attempted to win back public favor through a number of acts. First, it was a Walmart Christmas giveaway that was eventually nixed. Then, he went to Instagram to pay respect to Lil Keed and show love to Young Thug – each met with backlash from other labelmates and affiliates. A Gift & A Curse has Gunna fighting back against each allegation and defending his name with bangers that will undoubtedly have the summer on lock.

Gunna Addresses Allegations

The reactions have undoubtedly been favorable for Gunna, who many believe is the first rapper to beat snitching allegations. The Atlanta rapper is rapping on A Gift & A Curse with a chip on his shoulder, and it’s clear that it’s connecting. In fact, there are many people who believe this project cemented Gunna as a more talented individual than both Lil Baby and Lil Durk – two people who seemingly turned their back on him following his release. 

One song in particular that caught fans' attention is “i was just thinking,” where he addresses the supposed narrative surrounding his plea deal. Not only does he fire back at his detractors but his throws in a message for Young Thug. “That's four walls talkin' to you, tellin' you you gone/ Only I done criеd, 'cause this feelin' for my bro (King Slime)/ And you know my mind, you done watched that n***a grow/ Know you hear the lies, it's your lil' brother, my folk/ Yeah, I had popped out, but don't let 'em say I told,” he raps.

Reactions 

All in all, fans seem to feel as though Gunna came through with a strong contender for Album Of The Year. Even without the assistance of his frequent collaborator Wheezy, the rapper came through with a consistent body of work that will likely stay in rotation until the end of the year. Check out a few reactions below. 

About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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