SwampDiggers

Insomnia In Atlanta (2010/2011)

Jocelyn Anglemort & rimrimrim — 2018-03-30T07:53:00Z

1h de mix à la tronçonneuse consacrée aux années 2010 et 2011 du producteur Lex Luger.

En produisant plus de 200 morceaux entre 2010 et 2011, Lexus Arnel Lewis ne s'est pas laissé aller à l'ivresse du sommeil et mis parfaitement à profit le témoignage de Pimp C dans One Day : "I'm up early cause ain't enough light in the daytime".

Retour sur ces deux années charnières dans la démocratisation des productions chargées en Roland TR-808, en "rattlesnake snares" et en ad-libs guerriers.

Liste des pistes :

Doe Boy - Boyz N Da Hood (Intro Pt. 2)
Juicy J - This Bitch By My Side
V.A.B.P. - Pop A Bean
Lil Scrappy - Bands
Juicy J - Smokin' And Sippin'
Gucci Mane - Lil Friends
Snoop Dogg (Feat. R. Kelly) - Platinum
Gangsta Boo (Feat. Shawty Lo) - Need
Yo Gotti - Ion Like Them
Fat Trel - Respect With The Teck
2 Chainz - Undastatement
Rick Ross (Feat. Styles P) - B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)
Waka Flocka Flame & Friends - Bang / Live By The Gun / Bustin At Em'
Wooh Da Kid -No Romance
Juicy J (Feat. Billy Wes) - Stunna's Do
Alley Boy (Feat. Project Pat & V-Slash) - Take Something
V.A.B.P. (Feat. Project Pat) - Now
OJ Da Juiceman (Feat. Bobby V) - Do Dat
Rocko (Feat. Future & Yo Gotti) - Us
Young Jeezy (Feat. 211) - All The Money
Lil Lody - Don't Get Mad
Slim Thug (Feat. Rick Ross) - How We Do It
Lil Scrappy - On Point
OJ Da juiceman - I Remember
La Chat Ft. Mazerratti Moe & Certy Mac - Gimme Room

Mix : Jocelyn Anglemort
Cover : RimRimRim

The Burrprint (The Movie 3-D)

Jocelyn Anglemort — 2018-01-01T08:38:00Z

2009, Gucci Mane, en pleine frénésie, sort 2 albums studio et 9 mixtapes gratuites, dont The Burrprint, le 3ème volet de sa série The Movie. Accompagné de la crème d'Atlanta (dont Zaytoven, Drumma Boy et Shawty Redd), le Trap God délivre ici l'une des meilleures cuvées de sa généreuse carrière.

The Burrprint se distingue des deux autres volets par son univers plus sombre, plus synthétique. Sorties tout droit d'un jeu vidéo rétro-futuriste, les productions débordent d'orgues groggy, de riffs de guitares hachés et d'effets en tout genre. Sur les beats chargés en claviers épiques et en drums galopants, Gucci développe un flow uptempo, précis et vicieux (Frowny Face, Gucci Speak). Comme en témoigne les lunettes 3D qu'il arbore sur l'artwork, Gucci, les narines congestionnées, évolue dans un univers que le quidam ne peut percevoir, rempli de métaphores absurdes et de langages farfelus : “Smokin' guido, me and my vatos, but you's bozo. I'm passin' low yo, down to La Plizzo, this shit like Wayco”.

The Burrprint témoigne de cette époque où Gucci distribuait les orfèvreries sans ménagement. Pour preuve, seulement 7 jours après la sortie de The Movie 3-D, il lâchait sur Internet les 3 mixtapes The Cold War, le 17/10, à 10h17. Mirror mirror mirror, who the realest in the game ?

Précédemment publié dans le dossier "1017 Brickz".

1017 Brickz

La rédaction — 2016-10-17T14:55:00Z

Une sélection de 12 albums et mixtapes pour célébrer à notre façon la sortie de prison du Trap God, et les 9 années de règne du 1017 Brick Squad sur la trap d'Atlanta.

La fin des années 2000, période de transition. Les superstars de la décennie précédente sont en déclin (Jay-Z, G-Unit, Eminem) ou laissées à la merci de la plèbe et de Barack Obama (Kanye West). Seuls Lil Wayne ainsi que quelques artistes qui ont éclos plus récemment comme Rick Ross semblent à la mode. Mais en résumé, personne ne semble prêt à tenir le rôle d'outsider commun super-influenceur depuis la baffe prise par 50 Cent en 2007. Et, comme l'illustre l'histoire, la chute des grands chefs est un terreau fertile pour l'apparition de jeunes révolutionnaires.

Dans notre histoire à nous, ces révolutionnaires viennent de cette lointaine contrée longtemps méprisée nommée Atlanta. OutKast de retour ? Non, pas vraiment. Mais plutôt une bande de jeune fougueux qui, prenant le pas de Young Jeezy et T.I, sautent sur l'occasion de montrer au monde entier que la trap music n'est pas qu'une mode passagère vouée à se faire dégager par le prochain gros MC new-yorkais. Cette bande, c'est celle du 1017 BrickSquad, label affilié à Mizay Entertainment, dont le chef de file se nomme Gucci Mane. Accompagné de ses lieutenants, OJ da Juiceman, Waka Flocka Flame, Wooh da Kid ; puis Young Scooter, PeeWee Longway et d'autres par la suite, il offre une rafale de mixtapes et d'albums qui instaureront une nouvelle ère. Celle de la trap music, qu'ils feront passer de mouvement populaire à Atlanta à mouvement populaire sur la terre entière en l'espace de quelques mois.

Et ce mouvement sera voué à durer. En 2016, si la trap a considérablement évolué, elle reste l'exercice favori de la grande majorité des nouveaux rappeurs, elle qui doit sa popularité aux hi-hats de Zaytoven, aux adlibs de OJ da Juiceman, aux refrains de Waka Flocka, à la personnalité de Gucci. Dès lors, il était nécessaire de venir disséquer ce label, le 1017 Bricksquad. D'offrir les clés, de faire comprendre quels sont les projets majeurs de cette structure pionnière d'un genre devenu ultra-populaire.

Des albums, des mixtapes, un mix, pour comprendre, voire découvrir, ces projets qui ont fait le son d'aujourd'hui. C'est ce pourquoi l'équipe de SwampDiggers s'est réunie, en vous offrant cet article un certain 17 octobre (10/17). Les portes des enfers vous sont ouvertes, soyez les bienvenus.

OJ da Juiceman - Alaska in Atlanta (09/04/2009)
Que dire d'OJ ? On pourrait faire de longs articles sur le personnage. Homme qui a raté son moment, il est en 2009 le favori chez Bricksquad pour venir partager le haut de l'affiche avec Gucci Mane. Son album sorti en début d'année a accru une renommée datant de 2007 et du morceau "Make the trap say aye". Et Alaska in Atlanta, sorti le 4 Septembre 2009, est la mixtape qui propulsera OJ da Juiceman sur la liste des XXL Freshmen 2010. OJ est au sommet de son art, et son fameux adlib "Aye Aye Okay" n'a jamais semblé prononcé avec tant d'enthousiasme. Le monde d'Alaska in Atlanta est rempli d'adlibs mongols, de flows mâchouillés, de drogues dignes de celles qui se revendent dans un conte de fées, et qu'ont autant dû goûter l'interprète que les compositeurs. Écouter cette cassette, c'est ne pouvoir se défaire de l'image du petit homme aux épaules tombantes mais sautillantes du clip de Early Morning Trappin' pendant plus d'une heure, et ne réussir qu'à sourire gaiement. (Napoléon LaFossette)
– Track : Look At My Watch — OJ Da Juiceman

Gucci Mane - The Burrprint (The Movie 3-D) (09/10/2009)
2009, Gucci Mane, en pleine frénésie, sort 2 albums studio et 9 mixtapes gratuites, dont The Burrprint, le 3ème volet de sa série The Movie. Accompagné de la crème d'Atlanta (dont Zaytoven, Drumma Boy, Shawty Redd), le Trap God délivre ici l'une des meilleures cuvées de sa généreuse carrière. The Burrprint se distingue des deux autres volets par son univers plus sombre, plus synthétique. Sorties tout droit d'un jeu vidéo rétro-futuriste, les productions débordent d'orgues groggy, de riffs de guitares hachés et d'effets en tout genre. Sur les beats chargés en claviers épiques et en drums galopants, Gucci développe un flow uptempo, précis et vicieux (Frowny Face, Gucci Speak). Comme en témoigne les lunettes 3D qu'il arbore sur l'artwork, Gucci, les narines congestionnées, évolue dans un univers que le quidam ne peut percevoir, rempli de métaphores absurdes et de langages farfelus : “Smokin' guido, me and my vatos, but you's bozo. I'm passin' low yo, down to La Plizzo, this shit like Wayco”. The Burrprint témoigne de cette époque où Gucci distribuait les orfèvreries sans ménagement. Pour preuve, seulement 7 jours après la sortie de The Movie 3-D, il lâchait sur Internet les 3 mixtapes The Cold War, le 17/10, à 10h17. “Mirror mirror mirror, who the realest in the game ?”. (Jocelyn Anglemort)
– Track : My Shadow — Gucci Mane

Waka Flocka Flame - Flockaveli (05/10/2010)
En 2010, l'océan gronde. La trap music associée à Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy ou Zaytoven commence à faire trembler les digues séparant Atlanta et le reste du pays. Et c'est un enfant à peine en âge de regarder légalement un film porno, Lex Luger, qui va se transformer en Poséidon et briser les frontières pour laisser les flots étourdissants de la trap qu'il compose inonder la nation. Son trident ? Flockaveli, premier album de Waka Flocka qu'il produit aux deux tiers. Sorti le 5 Octobre 2010, il s'agit du premier album de pure trap music à créer l'évènement à grande échelle. La cohérence folle entre les hi-hats assourdissants de Lex Luger et les cris de Waka, les snares écrasants de l'un et les adlibs délicieusement mongols et agressifs de l'autre, font la sensation et l'Amérique se déchire. Certains crient au génie, d'autres à la mort du rap. Cet album est peut-être ce qu'il s'est fait de plus beau en terme de sauvagerie abrupte, à Atlanta. Il est aussi celui qui a fait passer Waka Flocka de petit espoir du BrickSquad à star du rap américain à vitesse éclair, aidé par le radiophonique No Hands, le clubbesque O Let's Do It et le hypersuperbangeresque Hard in da Paint. Si l'on parle de rap du XXIe siècle, cet album est indispensable à toute discothèque qui se veut objective. (Napoléon LaFossette)
– Track : Bustin At Em' — Waka Flocka Flame

Southside - It's A South Side Track (15/12/2010)
Après avoir été découvert par Waka Flocka Flame, signé chez 1017 Brick Squad Records et réalisé quelques productions principalement pour OJ Da Juiceman et Waka, Southside sort fin 2010, à l'âge de 21 ans, sa première carte de visite sous forme de mixtape « It's a South Side Track ». Cette mixtape va lui établir un début de renommée (pour rappel, le tube « Illest Motherfucker Alive » et l'album « Ferrari Boyz » ne sortiront que l'année d'après) et faire connaître ses productions caractéristiques, marquées par des rythmiques trap sombres et uptempo soulignant des atmosphères hypnotiques et allant parfois jusqu'à l'utilisation de guitares saturées. Suffisamment entraînantes pour insuffler l'énergie aux différents rappeurs présents, ces productions se révèlent ici un terrain propice à la conception de bangers menaçants, ponctués d'adlibs criards. Étonnamment, cette mixtape ne fait pas la part belle à Waka, que l'on retrouve sur 5 morceaux mais à son frère, Whoo Da Kid, qui apparait sur 9 titres. Gucci Mane et OJ Da Juiceman, épaulés par Whoo Da Kid, signent 2 collaborations efficaces et un certain nombre de rookies de l'écurie 1017 gravitant autour de Waka viennent apporter leur pierre à l'édifice du jeune Sizzle. A noter : une apparition vocale du co-fondateur de la 808 Mafia sur le track « Lambo Dis Summer » aux côtés de Waka et un track instrumental de clôture. (Tis)
– Track : F*ck The Club Up — Gucci Mane Feat. Slim Dunkin & Pastor Troy

Wooh Da Kid - Strap-A-Holics
Un an après Flockaveli, Wooh Da Kid, frère de Waka et membre de l'équipe Brick Squad Monopoly, déboule avec Strap-A-Holics, bien décidé à partager son jus de bagarre avec tous les nouveaux junkies de la "Trap" d'Atlanta. Southside produit ici la grande majorité des morceaux, totalement dans la veine de ce qui se fait à l'époque : 808 sous coke, cornes de chasse pour partir en guerre et pot-pourri infini de bruits d'armes diverses. Au micro, avouons-le, Wooh ne dispose pas de qualités exceptionnelles. Plus en force qu'en vélocité et moins excentrique que ses collègues, il brille par contre lorsqu'il s'agit de ralentir la machine entre deux featurings excités. Cela tombe bien, l'une des grandes qualités de cette K7 est d'y retrouver l'ensemble du roaster Brick Squad (Gucci, Waka, Frenchie, YG Hootie, OJ...) venu foutre le bordel une cagoule de ski sur la tête. Malgré quelques gros tubes, dont « No Romance » avec Lex Luger, Wooh ne parviendra malheureusement jamais à dépasser son statut de second couteau. Remercions le tout de même pour ce très bon projet rempli de « blood talkin » et de productions trapues. La musique idéale pour étaler ses plus beaux signes de gang dans le club. (Jocelyn Anglemort)
– Track : No Romance [Prod. By Lex Luger] — Wooh Da Kid

Gucci Mane & Waka Flocka Flame - Ferrari Boyz (09/07/2011)
Fut un temps où Gucci Mane et Waka Flocka Flame étaient inséparables. Ce dernier, placé sous l'aile de Gucci pour ne pas finir tué à un croisement de Riverdale, a tout appris du maire de la Zone 6. En 2011, au pic de popularité des deux artistes, l'album Ferrari Boyz émerge comme un étalon noir enragé. Ce projet n'a pas inventé la poudre mais la vend très bien. Parfait témoin de l'énergie et du potentiel cartoonesque des deux compères, il est bien évidemment question de drogues, de voitures, d'armes, mais aussi de femmes indépendantes. Majoritairement produit par Southside, le projet est musicalement cohérent et quand certains le trouveront redondant, les amateurs de la recette ne pourront qu'apprécier le potentiel headbanger de la cassette adlibée à l'extrême. Classique oublié, Ferrari Boyz vous fera revivre une amitié détonante, tristement défunte. (George De La Maille)
– Track : 15th And The 1st (Ft. YG Hootie) — Gucci Mane And Waka Flocka Flame

Future & Gucci Mane - Free Bricks (29/07/2011)
Même si leur parcours pourrait aujourd'hui paraître éloigné, et que leurs chemins ne semblent plus se croiser, il fut un temps où Future et Gucci Mane vivaient une parfaite idylle artistique. La douceur autotunée d'un côté, le génie violent et absurde de l'autre formaient alors une alchimie extraordinaire dont l'apogée sera atteint avec ce projet. Free Bricks est la cristallisation du duo magique qu'ont formé Radric Davis et Nayvadius Demun Wilburn. Avec ce projet, ils fusionnent pour livrer un bijou à plusieurs facettes. Sur une bande-son orchestrée par la crème des beatmakers de la scène atlantienne, leur complémentarité est sublimée par le panel d'ambiances et d'atmosphères proposées par Zaytoven, Mike Will, Drumma Boy ou Will a Fool. Bien que deux ou trois morceaux n'apportent pas grand chose à l'ensemble, Free Bricks reste une mixtape historique. La mégalomanie des deux légendes vivante d'ATL n'est pas la même mais peu importe, une fois réunies, le résultat est grandiose. (D.Kleinfeld)
– Track : Stevie Wonder — Gucci Mane & Future

OJ da Juiceman - R&B Juice (20/08/2011)
Quand on pense au Brick Squad, OJ Da Juiceman n'est pas forcément le premier artiste qui nous vient en tête. Pourtant il est une source d'énergie inépuisable et fut un formidable sparring-partner pour Gucci Mane ou Waka Flocka. Tout le monde fut surpris lorsqu'en 2011, OJ Da Juiceman dévoile cette mixtape, loin, très loin des projets glacials sortis entre 2008 et 2010. R&B Juice, c'est un OJ adouci, des refrains chantés et surtout une liste incroyable de featurings Bobby V, Verse Simmonds, Pleasure P, Rico, Lloyd, R Kelly, Mariah Carey, Big Boi. Oui oui, vous avez bien lu OJ Da Juiceman et Mariah Carey sur le même morceau. Ce projet est original, inattendu, il constitue réellement une partie non négligeable du patrimoine du Brick Squad. (Oscar Courvoisier)
– Track : H.A.T.E.U. (Remix) — Mariah Carey Feat. Gucci Mane, Oj The JuiceMan, Big Boi

Ice Burgandy - Progress Involves Risk Unfortunately (12/04/2012)
Originaire de Los Angeles (Inglewood), Ice Burgandy tient une place à part dans l'équipe du Brick Squad Monopoly, le sous-label du 1017 Brick Squad géré par Waka Flocka. La force de Burgandy c'est le mélange des genres. Il traine sa décontraction californienne sur les instrumentaux secs et nerveux typiques de la capitale de la Georgie, ici principalement ceux de Purps. Le rappeur enchaine les prouesses avec une fluidité déconcertante, et, comme d'autres s'enfilent un Gin & Juice en flip flop, lui enchaine fanfaronnades de trafiquant de drogues et autres menaces de morts sur de la trap music. Après avoir sorti 3 mixtapes estampillées Trap-A-Holics en 2012, Burberry Burgandy, Rhythm and Burgundy et Progress Involves Risk Unfortunately (très certainement sa meilleure), il semble s'être mis en pause prolongée. Est-il tout simplement en panne d'inspiration ou s'est-il fait enlever par des extra-terrestres à la solde de la CIA ? Toujours est-il qu'en 2016 on attend toujours un retour du rappeur aux rayures Burberry derrière un micro. (Dirt Noze)
– Track : PMBB (Feat. Sean Mack) — Ice Burgandy

Young Scooter - Street Lottery (01/01/2013)
Sur la pochette, Young Scooter est méconnaissable, bien planqué derrière des lunettes noires et son Bandana aux couleurs du drapeau américain lui masquant le bas du visage, il croise les bras fièrement, teeshirt Versace sur le torse et grosse montre brillante au poignet. Young Scooter est alors au sommet de sa gloire et sur Street Lottery notre "jeune trottinette" enchaîne les refrains entêtants et va-t-en-guerre sur une série de tubes impressionnante. Les prods sont aux petits oignons et tout le monde se presse pour y apparaitre en featuring. Cet album est alors le parangon de la « motivation music » de drogue dealer, et représente à la perfection la face caché du libéralisme triomphant à l'américaine. C'est un incontournable de la trap d'Atlanta et certainement un des albums les plus inévitables du 1017 Brick Squad. (DirtNoze)
– Track : Street Lottery (Feat. Bun B) — Young Scooter

Young Thug - 1017 Thug (22/02/2013)
C'est sur les conseils avisés de Peewee Longway que Gucci Mane a signé Young Thug sur un coup de tête, sans avoir jamais écouté sa musique nous dit-il. Après quelques featurings remarqués sur les mixtapes de la maison qui permirent au public de se faire à son style énergique et haut en couleur, « 1017 Thug » voit le jour en février 2013. Depuis 2011, le grand escogriffe avait déjà lâché dans la nature 3 mixtapes (« I Came From Nothing 1, 2 et 3 »), mais même si ces dernières étaient remplies de pépites, elles étaient largement passées sous les radars. La sortie de 1017 Thug déchaine les passions. Que ce soit en bien ou en mal, on ne parlera plus que de Young Thug sur les boards rap. Comme pour Soulja Boy ou Waka Flocka avant-lui, certains se demandent si on a bien toujours affaire à du rap. Quand certains lui reprochent ses envolées acrobatiques et haut perchées, d'autres s'en prennent à sa garde-robe ou à sa présupposée sexualité. Malgré la présence de certain beats un peu trop génériques, « 1017 Thug » reste pour beaucoup le meilleur opus de Young Thug. (Dirt Noze)
Track : Shooting Star (Feat. Gucci Mane) — Young Thug

Young Scooter & Gucci Mane - Free Bricks 2 (28/02/2013)
Sorti presque deux ans après le premier volet, Free Bricks 2 n'a rien à envier à son ainé. Invité d'honneur en lieu et place de Future, Young Scooter est alors au top de sa forme, propulsé par le succès de « Colombia ». Armé de son meilleur « lazy flow » le boss du Black Migo Gang prêche la quête du cheddar pendant que Gucci, alors noyé dans toutes sortes substances, dénombre les pêchés qu'il a commis et qu'il compte commettre. Coté production, les habituels complices du Squad de la brique sont toujours là (Zaytoven, Mike Will...), et en forme qui plus est. Contrairement à Free Bricks où Future et Gucci développent très distinctement leur propre son et flow, Free Bricks 2 semble être l'occasion pour Scooter et Wop de s'influencer mutuellement. La nonchalance de l'homme à l'Ice Cream Cone paraît décuplée sur certaines pistes alors que Young Scooter semble lui, gagner en vivacité et en énergie sur d'autres. Bien que l'alchimie n'arrive pas au niveau de celle que Future et Gucci avait pu developper sur le premier volume, et malgré un coté « compilation », ce projet reste excellent : sombre et truffé de perles. On salue également l'apparition de Young Dolph, aussi efficace qu'à son habitude sur un piano particulièrement entêtant (re-up). (D.Kleinfeld)
– Track : Dead Man — Gucci Mane & Young Scooter

Young Dolph, Gucci Mane, Peewee Longway - Felix Brothers (18/06/2014)
Eté 2014. Alors incarcéré pour possession d'arme à feu en tant que repris de justice, Guwop continue sa lancée stakhanoviste. En quelques semaines, il sort en effet les World War 3D (les Green, Purple & White albums où il invite sur chacun un rappeur différent), le volume 4 de la série Trap House et une mixtape collaborative libellée Felix Brothers, tirant son nom du cartel de Tijuana dirigé par la famille Arellano Félix, aux côtés de Peewee Longway & Young Dolph. Sans être la plus extraordinaire des mixtapes sorties par Radric, celle-ci a le mérite de proposer 15 titres oscillant entre solos et duos complémentaires, même s'il est fort probable que l'on ait face à nous une compilation de morceaux studio héritées de sessions d'enregistrement différentes plutôt qu'une réelle volonté d'album commun... Un autre point appréciable est la diversité qualitative des producteurs présents (Metro Boomin, Zaytoven, Lex Luger, Honorable CNOTE, DunDeal, DJ Spinz et Purps), qui servent une palette variée d'instrumentaux accueillants les références du crime organisé développées tout au long de cette tape. Quelque part, ce projet constitue une très bonne suite aux collaborations entre les 3 compères déjà présents sur la série World War 3, sortie l'année précédente. (Tis)
Track : Contaminated — Gucci Mane, Young Dolph & PeeWee Longway

Gucci Mane & Chief Keef - Big Gucci Sosa (31/09/2014)
Etrangement signé sur 1017 Bricksquad en 2013, Chief Keef sort l'année suivante le projet « Big Gucci Sosa », en collaboration avec un des rappeurs qui l'a le plus inspiré : Gucci Mane. Sans concession et ignorant au maximum, l'album est à l'image de ses participants. L'alchimie entre les deux personnages que sont Gucci Mane et Chief Keef donne évidemment lieu à une surenchère d'égotrip. Avec des basses profondes et spatiales, des effets sonores en tout genre et des mélodies travaillées, l'album est particulièrement bien produit. Le ventre rempli de codéine, les deux rappeurs abusent de la nonchalance de leurs flows sans que le projet ne soit ennuyant. (George De La Maille)
– Track : Semi On Em — Gucci Mane & Chief Keef

Cadeau d'anniversaire : Un mix de Jocelyn Anglemort sur une sélection de la rédaction.

– Télécharger le mix

Liste des titres :

Shooting Star (Feat. Gucci Mane) — Young Thug
So Much Money (Feat. Chief Keef) — Gucci Mane
H.A.T.E.U. (Remix) — Mariah Carey Feat. Gucci Mane, Oj The JuiceMan, Big Boi
F*ck The Club Up — Gucci Mane Feat. Slim Dunkin & Pastor Troy
Semi On Em — Gucci Mane & Chief Keef
Stevie Wonder — Gucci Mane & Future
Dead Man — Gucci Mane & Young Scooter
PMBB (Feat. Sean Mack) — Ice Burgandy
No Romance [Prod. By Lex Luger] — Wooh Da Kid
Contaminated — Gucci Mane, Young Dolph & PeeWee Longway
15th And The 1st (Ft. YG Hootie) — Gucci Mane And Waka Flocka Flame
Bustin At Em' — Waka Flocka Flame
My Shadow — Gucci Mane
Look At My Watch — OJ Da Juiceman

Edito : Napoléon LaFossette
Cover art et bannière : Dirty Noze
Mix : Jocelyn Anglemort
Édition : George De La Maille

Progress Involves Risk Unfortunately

DrNoze — 2016-10-17T14:13:00Z

Originaire de Los Angeles (Inglewood), Ice Burgandy tient une place à part dans l'équipe du Brick Squad Monopoly, le sous-label du 1017 Brick Squad géré par Waka Flocka et sa génitrice. La force de Burgandy c'est le mélange des genres. Il traine sa décontraction californienne sur les instrumentaux secs et nerveux typiques de la capitale de la Georgie, ici principalement ceux de Purps.

Le rappeur enchaine les prouesses vocales avec une fluidité déconcertante, et, comme d'autres s'enfilent un Gin & Juice en flip flop, lui enchaine fanfaronnades de trafiquant de drogues et autres menaces de morts sur de la grosse trap music taillée pour partir à la guerre. Après avoir sorti 3 mixtapes estampillées Trap-A-Holics en 2012, Burberry Burgandy, Rhythm and Burgundy et Progress Involves Risk Unfortunately (très certainement sa meilleure), il semble s'être mis en pause prolongée. Est-il tout simplement en panne d'inspiration ou s'est-il fait enlever par des extra-terrestres à la solde de la CIA ? Toujours est-il qu'en 2016 on attend toujours un retour du rappeur aux rayures Burberry derrière un micro.

Précédemment publié dans notre dossier "1017 Brickz".

How Gucci Mane Made His New Album In Six Days

2016-07-19T13:31:25Z

To let the snaps and the Instagram posts tell it, the mythologically tormented Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane is in a very good place right now. Having just come home from a three-year prison stay and despite his house arrest conditions, he's in better physical — and seemingly mental — shape than he's ever been.

For that he has himself to thank, and perhaps also some friends. So much of personal well-being is a function not just of being in the right headspace, but surrounding yourself with the right people, socially and creatively. For his upcoming album, Everybody Looking, recorded in just six days and set to drop on July 22, Gucci reunited with two of his closest friends and collaborators : Zaytoven, the Grammy-winning, church-and-trap pianist behind many of Gooch's early classics, and Mike WiLL Made-It, the producer now known for his work with the likes of Beyoncé, Future, and Miley Cyrus, and who first cut his teeth working under Gucci as a teen.

We spoke to Mike about the trio's newfound studio synergy, Gucci's legendarily feverish recording pace, and the sonic motivations behind their new album. That conversation is below, along with photographer Gunner Stahl's inside look at Gucci's home in suburban Atlanta, where the album was recorded and where, on one recent day, Young Thug stopped by for a video shoot.

All my Children

D.Kleinfeld — 2016-06-24T12:19:49Z

Gucci s'adresse à sa progéniture avec son nouveau titre

Gucci est libre, et en forme olympique. Après First Day Out The Feds produit par son ami de longue date, Mike Will, Guwop revient avec son deuxième titre solo depuis sa libération le mois dernier, All My Children.

Le Big Guwop profite de cette livraison pour enfin revendiquer clairement la paternité des innombrables rappeurs qu'il a pu influencer au fil de sa carrière, et dont la scène rap regorge aujourd'hui.

Comme le disait d'ailleurs un grand penseur français, dont le dernier ouvrage est depuis peu disponible (Sadisme & Perversion), "tous ces rappeurs savent bien que [c'est] leur daron".

Petit rappel si vous êtes passés à coté des dernières collaborations du boss du BrickSquad, c'est par ici, et ça vaut le coup :

– Drake ft. Gucci Mane - Back on road
– Kodak Black ft. Gucci Mane - Vibin In Dis Bih
– Dreezy ft. Gucci Mane - We Gon Ride
– Kanye West ft. Gucci Mane, G.O.O.D Music, Quavo, Yo Gotti and 2 Chainz - Champions

Voir en ligne : Sur iTunes

Street Lottery 3

Mugen le druide — 2016-06-10T09:11:00Z

« When you call a nigga phone and they don't answer for you, that mean that nigga never gave a fuck about you »

Cette phrase rappellera à certains de lointains souvenirs. Nous sommes en 2013 et Kenneth Edward Bailey alias Young Scooter vient de sortir Work. Un hit qui va inonder les rues d'Atlanta pendant de longs mois. Quelques notes de piano, un couplet de Gucci Mane, et des paroles arrachées a même le béton des quartiers d'East Atlanta, feront de cette chanson le porte-étendard de la "motivation music". Le titre Colombia viendra encore augmenter sa notoriété, faisant du premier opus de Street Lottery la mixtape qui lui apportera ses premières lettres de noblesse.

Proche de Future qui est un ami d'enfance, et de Gucci Mane qu'il considère comme son mentor, Scooter évoluait à l'époque entre le Freeband Gang du premier et le Bricksquad du second. Il oeuvre depuis sous la bannière du Black Migo Gang (BMG), qui fait référence au quartier de Kirkwood que lui et ses comparses ont rebaptisé Little Mexico.

S'il y'a bien une chose que la rue a apprise à Scooter, c'est la culture du travail sans relâche. Logique donc de le voir sortir plusieurs mixtapes par an, quitte même à rafistoler des chutes de studio pour en faire des projets entiers quand les aléas de la vie prennent les devants. Entendez par la un petit séjour de huit mois par la case prison ("probation violation", like always) où il partagera, non sans ironie, la cellule avec Gucci Mane.

Le prix à payer de ce rythme effréné, c'est la qualité intrinsèque de ses différents projets. On peut le dire, Scooter manque cruellement de régularité. Par des choix de prods par toujours de très bons goûts, ou simplement par manque d'inspiration, et des projets qui manquent de consistance et de titres marquants. Mais peut-on lui en vouloir d'évoluer dans une ville qui ne dort jamais, où la concurrence est l'ennemi numéro un. Bien heureusement le bougre se maintient dans la liste des rappeurs à suivre avec quelques fulgurances qu'on ne voit jamais arrivée. Pêle-mêle : Fake Gold, Cocaina Mota (prod C-Sick), la magnifique Irrelevant, Play Wit Dem Keys avec Future ou encore Listen To The Streets avec Dolph.

Si Scooter ne rêve pas d'une hypothétique signature sur un grand label, c'est parce qu'il sait sa musique clivante et préfère rester indépendant. La plupart de ses titres n'ayant pour cible que ceux qu'il appelle les roadrunners : ces soldats qui arpentent les rues en quête d'une liasse à ramasser. Et si les thèmes qu'il aborde peuvent paraître répétitifs, n'y voyez pas un manque d'imagination ou une quelconque carence créative. La rue, il n'a connu que ça, et la revente de cocaïne sous toutes ses formes à une place centrale dans sa musique, qui rappellerait presque les grandes heures des Clipses. "Born in the eighties crack baby" clames-il sur 80's Baby, faisant allusion à un père consommateur qu'il voyait à peine une fois dans l'année. N'espérez donc pas de sa part une allusion à un paysage autre que celui dans lequel il vit, puisqu'il n'en est pour ainsi dire jamais sorti.

Dans cette optique, Street Lottery 3, baptisé du nom prestigieux des ses aïeuls, perpétue la tradition en matière de qualité et s'avère même être la meilleure mixtape de Young Scooter depuis un bon bout de temps. La majeure partie du projet offre a l'auditeur ce que Scooter sait faire de mieux, de la "motivation music", qu'on pourrait assimiler à une descendante direct du classique Thug Motivation 101 de Jeezy. Gimmick breveté, l'essentiel de Street Lottery 3 est un concentré de pure "Count Music" à tous les étages. Doin' Numbers, Rarris & Bentleys, où le génial In The Bricks produit par Southside, sont des titres qui marquent des la première écoute. Si le titre avait déjà fuité il y a quelques mois, notons la très sympathique apparition de Kodak sur un I Made It Out The Hood plein d'espoir. L'excellente The Grind Dont Stop sera elle l'occasion d'inviter Future, qui ne vient pas les mains vides, mais avec un refrain chanté, comme lui seul sait les faire. Mention spéciale pour le violent I can't get enough avec la voix torturée de VL Deck, qui ressemble comme deux goutes d'eau à celle de Casino.

Comme tout artiste d'Atlanta qui se respecte, impossible de boucler un projet sans que quelques notes de piano signé Zaytiggy ne fassent apparition (Lire l'article de Pierre Leskuuurt à propos de Zaytoven) et ce n'est sûrement pas un hasard si Real est un des meilleurs morceaux du projet. Un refrain entraînant dans lequel on sent un Scooter sur-motivé, avec ce bon Young Dolph qui balance un couplet de haut vol, chose assez régulière quand on l'invite en featuring. Et ne vous imaginez pas que leur relation est purement professionnelle, les deux rappeurs ont déjà a leurs actifs plusieurs collaborations. Non seulement leur zone d'expertise est sensiblement la même, mais ils se croisent régulièrement. Il faut garder en tête que Dolph a déménagé a Atlanta il y'a plusieurs années maintenant. Ceci explique en partie sa bonne entente avec les rappeurs du coin. Ces deux là ont d'ailleurs annoncé un projet en commun qu'on a vraiment hâte d'écouter, en priant pour que ce ne soit pas qu'un effet d'annonce comme Eagles Landing, mixtape en commun avec Young Thug cette fois, dont-on a aujourd'hui plus aucune trace si ce n'est un magnifique artwork..

L'espoir n'est pas perdu puisqu'on retrouve Thugga sur le sombre Live Or Die, où Scooter rêve d'avoir la vie éternelle pour ne jamais quitter ses enfants, et remercie dieu de l'avoir laissé en vie. C'est ce genre de petites touches d'emotional rap qui manquait dans ses précédents projets et qu'on retrouve aussi sur Ass Shot avec un Boosie qui est absolument partout depuis sa sortie de prison. Là aussi, l'invitation n'a rien d'hasardeuse. La chanson Down bad viendra s'ajouter à la liste, revenant sur les différentes périodes de vache maigre que le rappeur a connu, racontant son incarcération et celles de nombreux de ses proches, et rendant hommage a ceux qui sont morts avant d'avoir eu 30 ans.

Plus improbable par contre, la présence d'Akon dans Ice Game chanson faisant par belle aux bijoux scintillants si prisés des rappeurs du sud.

Impossible de cacher sa joie en écoutant cette nouvelle mixtape. Des prods bien choisies aux invités de luxe investis, en passant par des refrains efficaces, tout s'est parfaitement mélangé, chacun des éléments augmentant à sa manière la qualité générale de l'ensemble. Sans être l'artiste le plus talentueux du monde, le rappeur d'Atlanta prouve qu'il est capable de tenir la cadence sur une mixtape de 16 titres. Motivation music certifiée, à consommer sans modération. Count up !

– Télécharger Street Lottery 3

Hard to Kill

2016-05-31T15:26:49Z

Radric Davis is only 35 years old, with 9 lives behind him. Here, 20 associates tell the story of how Gucci Mane rose, fell, and rose again.

Love him or hate him, one thing's for damn sure : there's no denying Gucci Mane. Born in the outskirts of Birmingham but made in the streets of Atlanta, the marble-mouthed MC with the snot-nosed flow has spent the better part of the past 15 years overcoming just about every obstacle thrown his way—including many of his own making. His realness is of fantasy proportions. He has released more mixtapes than anybody, got in more trouble with the law than anybody, spun off more protégés, recorded more regional hits.
When I first caught up with him for a 15-minute phone interview in the spring of 2009, Gucci was fresh out of Fulton County Jail and riding a wave of excitement into what would prove to be the best summer of his career. A year or so later, I went to Los Angeles to shadow him during BET Awards weekend for a feature slated to run in SPIN. Those days were strange—Gucci spent a lot of time standing around the lobby of the W Hotel in West Hollywood, surveying the scene and not saying much. Late one night, he invited me to join him and a young woman he'd just met for an intimate conversation at a small lounge table that felt better suited for two. We hustled in and out of a Hollywood nightclub with Suge Knight and hit the studio with Pharrell. Gucci visited the BET Awards gifting suites, but skipped the actual award show, hanging with the folks in the lobby instead.
I remember being struck by how closed off and guarded he was generally, and how dramatically he came to life when we were in the studio and there was music to be made. In L.A., our proper interview never materialized. Later, when we finally talked over the phone, the conversation was brief. Gucci dodged or shut down anything too personal ; he abruptly ended the call when I started fishing, looking for anything to open him up. In the days that followed, he failed to show up to the photo shoot for the story, which SPIN ultimately scrapped for the print edition and published online instead.
When his next album failed to connect and news came that he'd been arrested again, I figured that was it. I thought he'd blown all of his shots and wasn't destined to be one of the greats—that the Gucci Mane era was done. I should have known better. He hadn't accepted defeat before, so why would he then ? In fact, Gucci's whole career refutes the idea that artists are either winners or losers. The lane he carved was all his own, and wide enough not just for himself, but a slew of other MCs, DJs, and producers in what would grow to be one of music's most electric and enduring scenes.
Since, Gucci has continued to release music at an astonishing clip. His story has become a saga, touching artists and executives across generations and fans around the world. Yet even as his life has played out in public, much about Gucci Mane has remained a mystery, clouded by speculation and myth. In the following pages, 20 of his collaborators tell their stories, together drawing a portrait of a complicated man with a strong creative drive who has a good shot of being remembered as the hardest working MC since Tupac and the best A&R in Atlanta, if not the best A&R that hip-hop has ever seen. Spanning more than a decade, even this is an incomplete picture : emails to several key players went unanswered, and still more declined to talk. Gucci Mane also chose not to participate.
Today, he sits in the United States Penitentiary, in Terre Haute, Indiana, two years into a three-year sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, speaking from the bench at the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones told Gucci Mane, then 34, “You're a young man. You have a full life ahead of you… [but if you continue to break the law] you're going to wake up one morning broke. You're going to wake up one morning back to prison.” Judge Jones then reportedly added, “I don't mean any disrespect, but according to young people, my nieces and nephews, you are quite cool.”

– Lire la suite

Voir en ligne : Lire sur Fader

How is Gucci Mane Releasing Music From Prison ? Meet Sean Paine

2016-05-15T13:41:00Z

Gucci Mane has been locked up on weapons charges since 2013, and nobody's sure exactly when he'll get released. It could be as late as 2017, but there are rumors that he'll be out earlier than expected. If you're following Gucci on Twitter, though, you wouldn't know that he's in prison.

His official account sends out tweets on a daily basis, and a lot of them point to new projects. Yes, Gucci Mane is putting out albums full of unreleased music while he's in prison. He's dropped 24 projects in total, and all of them are available to purchase on iTunes. He reportedly made $1.3 million in 2014 alone, while incarcerated for the entire year. Oh, and he's planning a movie and writing a book.

So, what's really going on here ? How is a man who doesn't even have cell phone access coordinating album releases, autobiography plans, and book deals ?

It all comes down to one very hardworking man named Sean Paine.

How did you get connected with Gucci ?
I met him through Cory, his engineer at the time. And I met Cory through my brother. I was interning at Patchwerk Studios.

So he was just in there recording and you were in there working at the same time ?
Let me start at Morehouse. I went to Morehouse College, and so did my brother. That's where my brother met Cory. That connection began like a Morehouse brotherhood thing.

I used to come down to Atlanta to get my songs out because I rap. I had built a relationship with Cory through my music, but I was still out in Michigan, and I was like, “What am I gonna do with my life ?” I was always in my basement, engineering and recording everybody in the neighborhood out in Michigan and my brother was like, “Why don't you go to Full Sail [Recording Academy] ? That's where Cory went.”

So I applied to Full Sail and got accepted. I called Cory to tell him Full Sail accepted me, and he was like, “Hit me up when you're done.” I already had my Bachelor's degree from Morehouse, and so I was expedited through the program at Full Sail—I didn't have to stay the whole two years because I had a lot of credits coming in.

The day I graduated, I was driving home to Michigan. I had been calling Cory throughout the year, but there weren't any positions open. So I'm driving through Atlanta on my way home, and I called Cory to tell him I was in town. He was like, “Just hang tight for a week or so. Just hang tight and I'll see what I can do.”

So I went and got a room for a week, and stayed down [in Atlanta], and then he interviewed me and hired me as an intern. So from there, I was working. I was a runner, running errands. That's how Gucci came to know me. I was just running errands for Cory. Eventually, Cory invited me in to start sitting in on sessions. So I started sitting in on sessions, and Gucci knew who I was by name. Before long, I started engineering. I started tracking a couple of people. They started testing the waters with me.

The BET Awards week was a big turning point for me. It happened in Atlanta, and all the staff engineers were out of town and busy during that weekend. But all the celebrities were in town, so I went to work. So these big names are in there, and nobody's around. But I was trying to work, telling them, “I can do it.” So I got booked for a French Montana session, and I nailed it. I recorded about eight songs with eight hooks, and that same day, right after the session, they asked if I could work another one. Then Puffy came in. So I worked with Diddy. Diddy had his own engineer but he needed an assistant, so I was in there being the assistant to the engineer.

I was with the big-time celebrities, just thinking, “Damn, this is crazy !” When Puffy left, he still had time in his session. I asked Matty, his engineer, if he was coming back, and he was like, “Nah, he isn't coming back.” He left, but I was still in there, waiting, and lo and behold, about four or five in the morning, Puffy comes, walking in with his shoes off. He's walking in their with his socks on, and Matty wasn't there. So I ended up recording Puffy.

From that point, they were like, “Damn, the little intern can handle this stuff.” So they took me off the intern list, and I started tracking. But it was still kind of a struggle. Then Gucci called. Mike answered the phone, and Gucci was like, “I need an engineer. Who's there ?” And Mike was like, “Nobody's available ; I got an intern.”

I was like “Let me do it.” That was Gucci. That's pretty much the whole reason why I came to Atlanta. The whole reason was to get to work with Cory, to get with Gucci. That was the whole reason why I even went to Full Sail, you know. So like, “Wow, it's happening.”

I recorded him, and he loved it. From then on, he started requesting me. More and more and more. It got to the point where I was tracking all the records for Gucci and Cory was mixing. And Gucci and me got real cool. It went from that to him going to Miami, he took me down there, because he needed someone down there who knew how to record. So I kinda started going on the road with him and working with him more and more.

I left for a while during Christmas break then came back to town, and he was like, “Yo the song you recorded hit the radio !” That was my first placement. It was “Bussin Juugs.” I'll never forget it. That was my first placement. And then the second one was “GuWop Nigga” with Trinidad James. Those were the songs I mixed.

Can you talk a little more about that first night ? Like what do you think it was that made you two work together so well ? Do you think it was a personal thing that he looks for ?
It's not like I reinvented the wheel. I was quick on my feet when it came to tracking. I didn't have to redo much, or lose tapes. All that type of stuff really matters.

After I got a little taste of it, I got hungry. How it works is, if you're around, you get sessions. I was interning, but on my days off, when I didn't need to intern, I was still at the studio. I was grinding. I was doing extra stuff that people wouldn't do. Like, when Gucci comes in to record, he always sent me to the store to get Swishers, a couple of cups, and some ice. Every time.

So I started putting that on myself. When they called and told me Gucci was coming, I would just go to the store myself and get all the stuff, and as soon as they pulled up, I got it. They were like, “Damn, dude on his grind. Beat me to the punch.” I'm doing a little extra stuff that the other engineers weren't doing. If he's like, “Roll this up for me,” I'm in there recording and rolling blunts. He comes out and I've got blunts rolled for him. I'm doing everything. It's a service. I'm going above and beyond for real. There was a little conflict, though. People were telling me I was getting too close to him.

Who said that ?
Kurt at Patchwerk. Gucci started smoking at sessions—they wanted to smoke in the room, and I let him do it sometimes. Once they started smoking, and you in there with all these goons, you're not gonna be like, “Hey man put that out.” You let the session go on and just clean the stuff out after. I didn't wanna cause no strife. That's kinda what I think they were attracted to.

They used other engineers as well, but they just felt more comfortable [with me]. I really appreciate Patchwerk though. They really, really looked out for me. I learned a lot from them. All the engineers taught me… you know, everyone has their own little way of doing things—plugging, vocal changes, all that. So I just learned it from them, and then developed my own. Cory gave me a template to start off with so when I did record Gucci, it was his sound. It was already familiar to him.

So when you started working more closely with Gucci, did you leave Patchwerk ? Or were you still doing that ?
I was still at Patchwerk. Gucci was at the studio five days a week. If he isn't on the road, he's at Patchwerk. He kinda lived there. Some days, he'd only do two songs, and he'd be there for twelve hours. He'd be in there asleep. He just living there, it was like his home.

It got to the point where he didn't even call me. I stayed down the street. Then they would just say, “Gucci's here.” And I would just pull up. I freed my schedule so I could work. It was good money that I was making, you know, like $25 an hour. Eight hours. That's $200 a day. Cool for me. For the whole year working for free, interning and stuff, it was my big break. I had the top artist at their studio wanting to work with me.

This wasn't always your plan, right ?
My plan was to become an investment banker on Wall Street. It still is. I'm studying for my GMAT now, and I'm trying to go to Harvard. I studied Finance and Economics at Morehouse, and I was top of the class. Unfortunately, some things happened while I was in college, and I had to get out of there for a second. That's kind of what got me started on doing the music thing.

What happened at college that made you wanna get out of there ?
Well, I didn't really want to get out of it. My crib got raided. I was dibblin' and dabblin' in the streets while I was in college. I was a top-tier student, but I was also selling drugs. That's what was going on. I was the weed man. And my crib got raided one time, a lot of stuff happened, and I had to get out of there. I abandoned school. I just withdrew because I didn't want to mess my GPA up. I withdrew from all my classes, and I went up to Michigan. And that kinda stopped me for two years. I had all my classes done except for Spanish.

Eventually I finished up Spanish and got my degree. I didn't graduate with the class I was supposed to ; I graduated in '08. I was supposed to get out in '06. I kind of got shell-shocked when I got raided, and it threw me off. I was taking 18 hours of classes a semester. A lot of people only take 12. I was maxing out every semester, and I was killing it. I was literally getting all A's some semesters. I had a 3.7 when I graduated. I'm very smart when it comes to books. That's why I'm trying to go back to that route now. Even now with Gucci, I'm his engineer, but I'm his personal assistant as well.

That's what I want to get to next. How did you get to that point with him ?
Well, I was working at Patchwerk and Gucci ended up buying his own studio. I didn't know nothing about it. Patchwerk called me, and said, “SP, Gucci's here. Pull up.” And he was like, “Hey man, I really ain't working today. I bought my own studio, and I need you to come with me—what's up ?”

I didn't really have no choice, because at that point, I wasn't even living at my apartment no more. Nobody knew this, but I was sleeping in my car. I was engineering all these folks, and at the end of the night, I'm going to my truck, laying the back seat down and sleeping in my truck behind Wal-Mart. It was tough. I had to grind it out. Then he was like, “You can come live with me.” And I did it—that's how it started. That's when I went from being an intern, to a recording engineer, to basically owning my own studio within a year. Who wouldn't take that opportunity ?

So where were you actually living ? What was the set-up ?
In the studio. I lived in the studio. At first I was there maybe two days. And then we drove to the studio—I think my car broke down or something—and he drove me out there and dropped me off. He kind of just took me hostage, man. [Laughs] It was his plan the whole time ! I didn't know he'd set me up like that. So yeah, he dropped me off there and just left me.

So now I have this nice home, I'm in the studio with the guy that was helping me start it off. When he started it off, it was just a building. He didn't have a studio in there yet. I knew everything, so I had to go from ordering gear, treating rooms, checking up the whole studio, because I'm running it, handling business with the maintenance people. There was a lady next door to the studio. She was kind of like the groundskeeper and handled all the paperwork and all of that. She and I were real close. Rest in peace to her ; she passed away.

So that's how the engineer role kept going. And from there, I would bring artists through to Gucci—I was kind of playing the A&R role. Some days, I didn't sleep. Sometimes I went two days without sleeping. That's just how my schedule was. That's how hard I work. I actually ended up at the hospital one time because of that. I almost died over that.

Just from exhaustion ?
Yeah, exhaustion. They said it was sleep deprivation or something. I almost died, dog. What kind of played a part in that was, you know… They'd be drinking lean and all that, and they'd leave their cups, and I'd make my own cup out of all the leftover cups, and now I've got this big cup of lean. [Laughs] I was doing too much, man ! They leave roaches around, and now I got a nice blunt and a cup of lean. But it just caught up to me, and I couldn't put my body through that.

I just feel myself collapsing, like I almost fell to the ground but I grabbed the handle to my truck, and I pulled myself up. I took my shirt off, and I was screaming. I was in an underground parking lot, so I was screaming, “Somebody help me !” but nobody was there. So I figured this ain't gonna work. I jumped into my car, and I just hit the gas because I was in a panic. I called my girlfriend, and said, “Stay on the phone with me, I'm dying.” She didn't believe me. But I couldn't even talk to her ; words weren't even coming out no more. So I was speeding, I ran through every light, all the way to the hospital. I drove myself to the hospital, flying. I seen this guy, and I was like, “Hop in with me, hop in with me, I'm about to die !” So he got in my car and helped me drive to the top and parked. And I just ran into the ER. I ran in there and fell face-flat. [Laughs]

That's scary, man. Who's the person who jumped into the car ? Was that somebody you knew ? Or just somebody you saw ?
It was a random person that was at a stop sign ! I was just like, “Hop in, I'm dying !” And I just ran in there, and just fell flat on my face. I'll never forget this. I was like, “I need help ! I need help !”

By the time I got out of there, I had to go quit another job I was doing at Music Box. I told them, “I can't do this anymore bro, I'ma die.” So I kind of just worked at Patchwork only from that point on. This was before Gucci told me to go to his studio.

I got to apply my business skills when I started to run his studio, handling calls with people… I didn't really get to apply it as much as I get to now, because he's putting out his movie. And he just set up his LinkedIn.

Since he's been locked up, though, a lot of files hadn't been finished. So I reach out—all these features that are popping up with all these people… I'm the reason. I'm reaching out.

How does that happen ? Are you in touch with him while he's in prison ?
Yeah, I talk to Gucci every day, all the time. We communicate via email. At first, he could call me. So I would be playing the songs for him. He'd call me, and I'd be wired to my hard drive at my house, and I'd play his songs for him. And he'd be like, “Yeah pick that one. Keep going, keep going.” He'll pick what he wants for his CDs. And then he got to the point where he couldn't call no more. So he just kinda trusted me to do it.

Why couldn't he do phone calls anymore ?
Because he went to the [federal prison]. He gets one call a week. At first he could call whenever he wanted. But now he's only got one call a week, and you know, you gotta call your girl.

So he can still email you ?
Yeah, there's something called CorrLinks. And that's how he and I communicate. So all the moves that are being made, he kinda tells me, “Yo I wanna do this,” and then I put my sauce on.

How did the Fetty Wap connection happen ? Was that you bringing the idea to him ?
He actually brought that idea to me. He said, “Put me on ‘Trap Queen.'” That's what he said. That's when I first started taking verses and making them work for a song. I wanna say I invented that—honest to God, I do.

He got an archive of music, though. We recorded all day long, that's why. Me, him, Thug, PeeWee, Scooter, Waka, Cashout, Wale…

Image via Sean Paine
Image via Sean Paine

Does he have hundreds of songs ? Thousands ?
I mean at the moment, he's got three hard drives full of music that I ain't even touched yet. Those are songs that I ain't even heard. Those are songs from before I started working with him. He just got stuff on deck on the low. At this point, flood 'em with music. We slowed down a little bit because we thought he was getting out… and he should be getting out soon, but nobody knows when.

So no one knows when he's getting out yet ?
Nobody knows when he's getting out, man. He did the movie, and it just got finished. Now it's time to put out that movie. He told me that in jail, he met somebody who told him about LinkedIn, about how it's a place for business connections. He told me to do that. So I set up LinkedIn for him, and now how we do it is… you know, I go through it, and see what good leads there are, and I send it to him. He can't do it so I do it for him.

So he just called you up one day—or emailed you—and was like “I heard about LinkedIn, can you set me up ?”
He called me and said, “Hey, I need you to set up a LinkedIn for me, make it real professional, find the most professional photo of me with a suit on. I'm trying to set up this movie. And I wanna get some ideas.” He said, “I know you're good with the marketing stuff ; I just wanna see what other people have to offer.”

That's what's been going on now, so I guess I've been playing more of an executive role, which is cool. I kind of enjoy it. It's a break from the music.

It's more about emails than it used to be. He wanna know how the fans are reacting. He tells me what to tweet most of the time, like, “Hey, say this.” But when he tells me just to promote, I promote. When it's Gucci saying, “I would like to do this and that,” that's him ; that's really him saying that.

What I don't like is how when he's talking professional, and saying intellectual words, people are like, “That ain't Gucci.” It is Gucci. Y'all just don't know Gucci in that capacity. That's his wording.

So are you the only one who's doing stuff on his Twitter account ? Is that all you, or are there multiple people doing it ?
Everything's me, man. Everything. I'm the direct connect. I'm the keyholder. I'm his right-hand man. It's just me and Gucci doing this stuff. Everybody's helping, though—don't get it twisted. The relationships that I have are definitely helping. But I'm pushing the buttons for him. I'm the man on the outside.

He told me that in jail, he met somebody who told him about LinkedIn, about how it's a place for business connections. He told me to do that. So I set up LinkedIn for him.

Do you get paid for all this ?
Yeah. I'm on salary brother, I'm gettin' paid ! I'm an employee. I'm definitely getting paid. C'mon, I ain't gonna do that for free !

Have you talked about what happens when he gets out ?
When he gets out, I mean… I gave him an idea to write the book. I said, “Hey Gucci, you're locked up and you've got all this time on your hands, you might as well write a book about yourself, about your life.” So that's what he's doing now. He getting with Will Martinez, who was a writer for XXL and stuff like that, so that's who's handling the book situation—him and Will did the book. I'm just the music. I'm just the engineer. I'm the one with the music. But I gave him the idea to do that, and he was like, “Great idea.” I actually think it's crazy, because he's gonna do a movie to the book.

Nobody knows Gucci. Like, his life story. His autobiography. Despite the fact that it's about Gucci, it's a comedy. It's a movie for everybody.

What is his role in the movie ? Is he in it ?
I'm not sure. I haven't even seen the movie yet. I'll definitely check it out. I'm supposed to get some clips soon to start promoting.

It's his business, so he tells me, “SP I need this business done for me,” and I go and handle it in the best way that I can. It has actually been working. But I think if he wasn't who he is, it wouldn't work. He's helped so many people out and did so much stuff.

Yeah, it seems like ever since he got locked up, so many people that he's helped have blown up. Young Thug is now in the spotlight, and everyone knows it started with Gucci. It's a crazy situation.
I mean, that's how it's supposed to happen. That was the reason for them signing to Gucci. That was the whole purpose. He definitely is proud of them. It's not like, “Man, damn they blew up.” Nah, he's like “Hell yeah, good shit !”

Does Gucci talk about what he's gonna do when he gets out ? Is he gonna just get right back into things ? The music, the movie, the book ?
I mean, Gucci is a studio fanatic, so as soon as he's out he's going to the studio. Basically yeah, he's gonna go back to work. I know he's gonna go harder than he ever did, because he's got a point to prove now. Nobody ever thought this was gonna happen. When he got locked up and they was talking these big numbers, everybody thought it was over for him. God bless, he's gonna get out early. I just kept it alive when he was locked up ; that was my whole agenda.

When you guys talk, is it all business ? Or do you get any idea of how he's feeling ? Is he in a good mind state right now ?
He's in a great mind state. I think he's better than he's ever been, honestly. When you sit down, you got a lot of time to think. Being locked up is a horrible position to be in, I don't wish that on anybody, but he's more level-headed, he's strategically thinking of different ways to… basically, you know his brand, besides music, there are other streams of revenue. Other things you can do in the entertainment industry.

Right now, because he's doing this movie thing, it's kind of like a transfer of sale. We're trying to establish that now. When he gets out, he could start his own sitcom if he wanted to, you know ? Get a couple people in there, his friends, his industry homies. I mean if we had cameras in the Brick Factory ? We'd have a sitcom. We'd have a reality show right now. Man, it was crazy.

That'd be amazing if you two had a reality show.
It was just fun the whole time. Brick Factory was just fun, man. Recording with all them dudes ? They were hilarious. Nothing but smiles.

Basically, now it's like… I do come up with ideas. You know RiFF RAFF ? I know who's who, I see what's what. So I'm reaching out to these people. And I checked out RiFF RAFF, and I was like, “Damn, RiFF RAFF got it going on. We need to go ahead and get with this program, 'cause this is it.” So that's in the works. On the merch side, he'll have his own brand of clothing when he gets out. Stuff like that. So when he gets out, it's not like he's gonna have to pick up broken pieces. It's already moving. The machine is already moving. All he gotta do is hit the ground running.

But I really appreciate all these people that helping out, I really do appreciate all of 'em, man. I appreciate that they are helping. I reach out to people and they reach back… kinda like you !

Yeah man, it's exciting. Gucci's one of those characters who everybody thinks they know something about, but there are still so many questions.
Yeah, Gucci is like… Gucci man, he's a good dude. He's not what everybody's making him in their minds to be.

Is there anything that you think you learned about him, that surprises you ? Or that people don't know ?
I mean I ain't gonna lie… one time I was at the airport with him, and I was just looking at him, and he was just sitting down and shit, and I was like, “That man ain't human.” He ain't human, bruh. He just goes too hard. He just don't…. he just keeps working. He's a workhorse for real.

What's next for you then ? You were talking about going back to school.
I don't know when he's getting out. But when he gets out, I definitely will go on the road and get back to work. Right now I'm studying to take my GMAT. So once I get my scores and send it off to city schools—I wanna go to Harvard. I really want to go to Harvard. It's that or MIT. I wanna get into the stock market shit, man. That's what I really wanna do. I never got a chance to do it. It was always my dream to be an investment banker on Wall Street. I gotta fulfill that dream, even though everything is good happening now, you never get comfortable, man. That's what I did learn from Gucci, man. Keep working.

So you don't see this relationship with Gucci as a career for you ?
Aw yeah, man, I mean Gucci and I are gonna be friends forever, man. Bros for life. He said that the first time he went to jail : “Bros for life.” So like good or bad, we're bros for life. Remember that. And that's why, because I just dropped the album… or the mixtape… I got RiFF RAFF on it, I got Lil B on there, Hankro Fresh, Lil Flash, a guy name Iceland Fezzle… The first song I got RiFF RAFF on it. It's on Live Mixtapes now. I'm an artist as well. I got kinda bored, you know ? I'm doing all these Gucci records, and after I got all that shit done, it's like, “What else ?” I wanna keep doing something, you know what I'm saying ? I gotta get my stance up. So I used to rap before I engineered. I'm a producer, I'm a rapper, I do all that shit. I can do graphic arts. I do videos if I want, I do all that. But I did all that before I came to Atlanta and started taking it serious you know, I did those things as hobbies.

So when Gucci decides to release something, how does he decide which tracks go on it, where it's gonna live… ?
At first, he was telling me which tracks to put on. Now he kind of just says, “SP we need to drop three CDs this month.” He comes up with the ideas, the titles, and I get with KD Designs, he basically does all the cover art. I get with KD, and I tell him the names, and he comes up with his creative input. Usually he nails it right on the dot, and I'm like, “Boom ! That's it.” I'm doing all the mixing for the songs, and we shoot it over to iTunes.

Gucci tells me when he wants it to drop, too. He'll want it to drop at a certain time, and this, this, and this, I want to drop a new song at 10:17, and I go ahead and do what I gotta do to do that. Don't get it twisted. It's not like he's just in there, and I'm coming up with shit. He's guiding me through it. And then I come up with my own ideas. I see people say, “Gucci and RiFF RAFF should do a song.” So I go, “OK, I'm gonna make it happen then.” Because the fans want that. So I reach out to RiFF RAFF, Lil B, and that's how the stuff happens.

Is there anything else you want people to know ?
Definitely let 'em know that I have a website : mixnmusic.com. I just made it last week. I run my own business now and mix a lot of indie artists. Not gonna lie, I built that website, and I got hooked. I wanna get another website. I love websites now. It works itself. You could have 30 different jobs if you had 30 different websites.

How old are you ? Do you have a family ?
I'm 31. No kids ! Ladies : I'm single !

You've accomplished a lot.
I'm about to work on a new album. First one I put out was cool, but it was rushed. Right now, my focus is getting this movie out. That's my focus. That's what's going on right now. I'm working behind the scenes, trying to get this movie up and running. Get it out there the best way possible.

I wanna expand on that knowledge, though, so I can expand my business out here, not just with music. I want to create something that's going to be here forever. That's why I'm going back to business school. I'll still do the music, still work with Guwop for sure. But I'm trying to be a billionaire, man.

From Shootin' Dice in an Alley to Gambling at Caesar's Palace

2016-05-15T12:57:00Z

En décembre 2011 Gucci Mane sortait de prison pour la énième fois. Dans l'établissement pénitencier du comté de Fulton en Géorgie, où il a passé près de la moitié de son temps ces dix dernières années, il est devenu une figure familière :

« Ca fait plus de 10 fois que je suis enfermé ici, je sais comment gérer la chose » ; « Beaucoup de jeunes détenus viennent me voir parce qu'ils ne savent pas quoi faire, où aller. » ; « Je les invite à penser à ce qu'ils pourraient faire de positif en sortant. »

Ces longs mois passés en prison, Gucci Mane les occupe à lire et à écrire, ce qui explique sans doute sa capacité à littéralement inonder le marché de centaines de couplets par an. Ainsi, en 2011, et alors qu'il n'a été « en liberté » que 2 mois et demi sur 12, il a trouvé le moyen de sortir pas moins de 8 albums. Et s'il se contente parfois de recycler d'anciens couplets ou de jouer son personnage comme s'il utilisait un générateur automatique de Gucci Manières, il lui arrive encore d'avoir des petits moments de grâce… même si le mot peut prêter à sourire étant donné l'apparente lourdeur du larron.

Il est compliqué de parler objectivement de musique, et c'est une difficulté qui semble se décupler avec Gucci Mane. Rares sont les rappeurs ayant autant attirés les jugements aussi péremptoires et, paradoxalement, demandant systématiquement à être expliqués ; parce que dans une discussion sur Gucci Mane, vous aurez toujours tort de dire qu'il est mauvais, et serez toujours suspect si vous le trouvez génial.

Cela découlent directement de son personnage : à priori outrancier, lourd, jamais dans la nuance. Alors, avant de parler de sa musique, il faut peut être d'abord parler de lui ; parce qu'après tout, il n'est jamais question d'autre chose que de lui dans ses chansons.

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