Arriving with a movement that saw many of Hip-Hop’s die-hards questioning the genre’s direction, Gucci Mane’s significance both musically and culturally has been both heavily documented and proven since his debut Chicken Talk and Trap House projects. Since his initiation into the rap game, you’d be pressed to find a rapper from Atlanta and the surrounding area who doesn’t cite Radric Davis has an influence one way or another, and this influence certainly doesn’t fail to permeate beyond his city limits, as Gucci has rightfully reserved his spot among pioneers of Hip-Hop’s trap subgenre.
A decade and some change later, the throne he began to assemble during a point in time that saw Davis and other contemporaries like T.I. and Jeezy ousting the likes of OutKast as the reigning sound of the Southern capital only continues to fasten itself, growing stronger with every new project and guest feature. There is no shade intended at OutKast with that statement -- they were also definitive pioneers of a Southern sound as well, which, although may not be considered trendy (sigh) at the moment, Southerners such as Big K.R.I.T. help carry that torch onwards (speaking of which, where K.R.I.T. at these days?)
It’s no secret that, through out his long career, Gucci Mane has dealt with the fame in tandem with a slew of legal issues that have, in hindsight, only further boosted the rapper’s pertinence in this era. 2016 marked Gucci’s return after a two year-long stint for his unlawful possession of a firearm, proving just how far his work ethic goes, managing to still gift us with a mixtape and two studio albums towards the end of the year. This work ethic is nothing new, of course, making it difficult to chalk up the highlights of his exhaustive catalog of over 80 albums and mixtapes to just 25 songs, but we sure did try.
This celebratory Top 25 comes alongside GuWop's own celebrations -- the rapper is due to wed his fiancee Keyshia Ka'oir in the coming month, following the reveal of of their lavish invitations, he just got released from probation two years ahead of schedule, and finally, his friends, Offset included, threw him a surprise bachelor party. If these aren't all causes for celebration, we don't know what it is.
Beat It Up
Featuring Trey Songz, “Beat It Up” is another one of Gucci’s stabs at a track with some semblance of romance. We probably could have done without Trey Songz's hook-- and that's a rare statement to make-- but “Beat It Up” still earns its stripes as an essential cut that, at the time, found itself in many a playlist.
Dope Boys
"Dope Boys" is one of the gems of Gucci’s The Burrprint (The Movie 3d), a project that served as the final installment of his The Movie series and the first of his Burrprint series. It serves as the opener of the 20-track offering that features the likes of frequent collaborators OJ da Juiceman and Waka Flocka Flame. Serving as The State vs. Radric Davis’ predecessor, the project does a great job at showcasing the method in Gucci’s madness, setting him up for a well-received effort on the form of his sixth studio album.
Bling Blaww Burr
Most singles from a post-prison Gucci make for a triumphant offering. The rings true for the rapper’s collaboration with Young Dolph in the form of “Bling Blaww Burr.” Appearing on his Woptober mixtape, released last year following his Everybody Looking album drop, “Bling Blaww Burr” is Gucci in his natural habitat, equipped with clear references to his origins on the wrong side of the law, and his mother’s disapproval, while noting his impudence all in the same bout. The complement of frequent collaborator Dolph marries the best of the South over the Metro Boomin-produced backdrop.
Coca Coca
"Coca Coca" is a posse cut that come out of Gucci’s Burrprint 2 mixtape. Featuring Rocko, OJ da Juiceman, Waka Flocka Flame, Shawty Lo, Yo Gotti, and Nicki Minaj, the track lasts for an exhaustive eight minutes. Save for the appearance of Nicki Minaj, the track boasted voices from some of the South’s most prominent voices at the time, including a solid verse from a Flockaveli-era Waka.
Bricks
The State vs. Radric Davis does it again, giving us “Bricks” as our next essential cut. Featuring Yo Gotti and a now-obscure Yung Ralph, the Zaytoven-produced track is a hustler’s anthem as most Gucci tracks are. Naturally, we get Gucci going in about his love of the trap, while Gotti and Ralph can only agree.
Pablo
2013’s “Pablo” was originally birthed as Gucci’s track, featuring E-40 and Trinidad James, appearing on his Diary of a Trap God. Soon after, we’d see it appear once more on the tracklisting for E-40’s The Block Brochure: Trap Soil 6. As the title suggests, the cut is an homage to famed criminal and drug lord Pablo Escobar, a popular figure in the realms of Hip-Hop.
Diary of a Trap God arrived at a controversial time for Gucci, dropping the day after an infamous Twitter tirade in which he expressed he’d be willing to sell the recording contracts of his acts such as Waka Flocka Flame, Young Thug, and Young Scooter, and would further go on to diss the likes of 2 Chainz, Nicki Minaj, and Drake, among others on the social media app. He’d later come forward to apologize and blame his rant on a cocktail of codeine and promethazine.
Both
If we’re looking at the numbers, “Both” took its place as the peak of Gucci’s commercial success when it was released. It’s easy (and logical) to chalk up the record’s success to the “Drake Effect,” but more importantly, what it marks is Gucci’s first platinum record as a lead artist, and an official segue into chart-worthy crossovers.
Produced by Metro Boomin, since his reelase from prison it’s one of the first in the trail of breadcrumbs that lead to Gucci’s mainstream successes this year including, his “Down” collaboration with pop group Fifth Harmony, the "Fetish" collaboration with Selena Gomez, his Hot 100 “Make Love” single with Nicki Minaj, and, now his highest-charting debut “I Get the Bag,” featuring Migos. Who would have foreseen 2017 as Gucci Mane's year when he first entered the game?
Timothy
"Timothy" appears on Gucci Mane’s The Cold War: Part 2 (Great Brrritain). It tells the interesting story of car thief Timothy, who one day breaks into the car of a drug dealer. Said drug dealer sends goons to Tim’s house and they end up killing his mother. Following the reprehensible act, a slew of vengeful acts follow. “Timothy” is story-telling-Gucci at his finest, and arrived as one of the project's standout tracks.
I'm A Star
Produced by Drumma Boy, Gucci’s "I’m a Star" makes its appearance the rapper's The Movie mixtape, at the time it was the latest in DJ Drama’s Gangta Grillz series. The Movie arrived at the end of 2008, coming as the fifth and final project Gucci put out that year. It was the segue into two more mixtapes in 2009 before dropping his Murder Was the Case album in May of 2009. While we got a few solid standout tracks from the flurry of releases, it marked a lull in Gucci’s career until the release of the first Burrprint mixtape and The State vs. Radric Davis later on that year.
Worst Enemy
In a slew of outings influenced by drugs and bad decisions, Gucci’s "Worst Enemy” is a rather introspective piece in the rapper’s catalog as he reflects that his behavior may very well be his own downfall. As it turns out, Gucci would soon head to Fulton County jail for a six month bid after a probation violation following his 2005 aggravated assault charge. He’d return home in May of 2010.
Frowny Face
Another solid offering from The Burrprint mixtape comes in the package of "Frowny Face." It’s a well-exectued storyline of Gucci running into problems after a customer feels they’ve been ripped off with fake cocaine and weak weed by someone in Gucci’s camp. He goes on to detail his violent encounters, a decision to flee to Alabama at one point, and an astute departure from a shiesty label on his part.
I Think I Love Her
“I Think I love her” is one of those Gucci classics that’s so good, it managed to make its way onto multiple tracklists in Gucci’s repertoire, first appearing on his Wilt Chamberlain Part 5 mixtape. "I Think I love Her" features Ester Dean and makes for a classic back-and-forth banter between both parties as Gucci seems to be falling for a woman who gets around, and has no plans of settling on just one guy. In tandem with its catchy attributes, it makes for a comical outing.
Everybody Looking
Before Gucci Mane delivered on his ninth studio album Everybody Looking, the title belonged to a track released back in 2010, appearing on his Burrprint 2 HD mixtape. Produced by Drumma Boy, “Everybody Looking” comes about halfway through the 24-track project. It’s safe to assume that this track inspired the eventual namesake of the project released last year, as it chronicles Gucci’s lavish lifestyle and eyes fixated on him as a result; a similar motif to the attention Gucci received following his 2016 prison release, as both critics and fans fixated their attention on the next moves of Radric Davis.
Atlanta Zoo
Yet another offering from Burrprint 2 is Gucci’s collaboration with Ludacris on “Atlanta Zoo.” As the title suggests, the track’s hook is about the jungle-like conditions of his native Atlanta, and even more, specifically, his famed Zone 6. "Gorilla goons with the tool down to act a fool/Birds in the living room, it's like Atlanta zoo/Lions, tigers, minks, crocs, and gators for my shoes/Monkey niggas in my hood, I'm living in the zoo,” he raps. Produced by FATBOI, the track would later spur a remix from Chief Keef titled “Chicago Zoo.”
Freaky Gurl
We first heard “Freaky Gurl” on Gucci Mane’s Hard To Kill sophomore studio album, and again on his Trap-A-Thon follow up. With a hook paying tribute to Rick James' “Super Freak” track of the eighties, “Freaky Gurl” is yet another chronicle of Gucci’s escapades. It was well-received and found a place on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #62. The track also spawned a remix later that year featuring Lil kim and Ludacris. Nicki Miinaj would later flip the track for her “Wanna Minaj” remix on her Sucka Free mixtape. It's definitely remained a fan favorite over the years.
Traphouse 3
The title track from the third installment of Gucci’s Traphouse series features Rick Ross as the duo, in their truest nature, bring together their past in the trap and their reign in Hip-Hop for a solid offering. In a change of pace from most songs on this list, production comes courtesy of TM88 and one half of 808 Mafia, Southside. The Traphouse 3 project in general was well-received despite a less-than-stellar commercial performance. Notably, it features pappearances from 2 Chainz, Rich Homie Quan, Chief Keef, and Peewee Longway.
I Might Be
“I Might Be” appears on Gucci's Back to The Traphouse release of 2007, and transformed itself from a catchy hook to your standard cheeky response of insolence, spawning more than a few memes in its day, and even sparking the now-debunked rumor that Gucci replied to a judge “Bitch, I might be,” when prompted on whether or not he was guilty during a trial in which a soldier accused the rapper of hitting him in the head with a champagne bottle. This rumor grew legs as the result of a meme.
St. Brick Intro
Upon its release, the “St. Brick Intro” was the first taste of Gucci's Return of East Atlanta Santa holiday offering of last year. The project in and of itself was a major production, spawning several music videos. Featuring a sample of Gucci’s own “North Pole” track, “St. Brick Intro” naturally takes advantage of the season to deliver on overt flips of the words 'snow' and 'ice' throughout its duration, a common theme present all throughout East Atlanta Santa. It stands as a refreshing and somewhat surprising offering from Gucci, earning placement on this list for its uniqueness and finely-tuned thematic qualities.
Pussy Print
Teaming up with none other than Kanye West on a ferocious beat produced by Mike Will-Made It just sounds like a hit. Luckily for Gucci, the names live up to the hype in Everybody Looking’s "Pussy Print." The track is the braggadocios banger you'd expect when a post-prison Gucci and post-Pablo Kanye link up on a track. With Gucci dropping off one of his most memorable verses, it’s a terrific pairing that we hope to see more of in the future.
"Keep a towel with me Cause my watch be drippin' water, bitch/And I only featured Kanye Cause we both some fuckin' narcissists/Narcissistic tendencies with psychopathic pockets, bitch/My bank account is crazy, bitch/I think it needs some medicine."
Spotlight
Featuring Usher, “Spotlight” is a club-worthy ode found on The State vs. Radric Davis. A clear cut track made just for the ladies, “Spotlight” found success in this niche and went on to peak at Number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earn a Gold certification. At the time, it marked Gucci’s highest-charting single following closely behind on the success of “Wasted,” also appearing on The State vs. Radric Davis. A rather unnecessary remix featuring Flo Rida soon followed.
Haterade
Any track that kicks off with Pharrell Williams' golden vocals is bound to satisfy. Produced by The Neptunes, “Haterade” is a slinky cut from Gucci’s repertoire that leave us wondering why we never got many more collabs from the pairing. The track also features a well-paired appearance from Nicki Minaj and heads up the list of standouts of Gooch’s The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted.
Lemonade
While Gucci has put out his fair share of classics, “Lemonade” comes out on top as one of his most definitive. Appearing on The State vs. Radric Davis, the banger is produced by Bangladesh who handled most production on the effort. This track serves as Gucci’s pinnacle offering in an era in which his cultural stake as an influencer began to significantly gain traction.
And who can forget the video? At the time, 11-year old me thought it was the greatest optic presentation that I'd ever witnessed. Skip to the 1:21-minute marker to catch a kid I went to middle school with make a cameo (!).
First Day Out Tha Feds
Ah, yes. No essential lists from here on out could ever be complete without this one— Gucci’s first drop following his release from prison in 2016. Within the first 24 hours of its arrival, the track was streamed 1.1 millions times with nearly a million of those streams coming in just 9 hours. Clone or not, Gucci’s release marked a change for the better. We were gifted with a slimmer, healthier GuWop, and he’s been on a roll that tops all other periods of his career, scoring a No.1 single in “Black Beatles,” his first platinum record in “Both,” and even a VMA thanks to Fifth Harmony’s “Down.” Whether we realized it or not, “First Day Out Tha Feds” was the beginning of a new era for Gucci, and we’re excited to see where else it takes him. Now, if only he and Waka would make up.
Icy
“Icy” was Gucci Mane’s breakout track, appearing on his debut studio album Trap House, and also the first source of his ongoing beef with Young Jeezy, as a dispute arose over whose song it was to begin with. Jeezy maintains he was never paid his royalties for his verse. Despite their differences, the two make a good pairing on a track. Earlier this year, a clip surfaced with Gucci declaring his beef with Jeezy as being over, we can only hope that it takes and actually lasts for the sake of another collab.
Wasted
Until “Black Beatles,” “Wasted” was actually Gucci’s most successful single, peaking on the Billboard Hot 100 at #36, and achieving Gold status. Originally appearing on his Guccimania mixtape, it found success in The State vs. Radric Davis tracklisting. While the original version holds a feature from Plies, a handful of remixes spun off of the cut’s success, including a remix with Lil Wayne, Jadakiss, and Birdman.
The beat, produced by FATBOI actually served as backdrop to a few notable freestyles as well, including Lil Wayne’s, which appears on his No Ceilings mixtape, and Ludacris' take, which appears on his The Conjure Mixtape: A Hustler’s Spirit.