Gucci Mane

I just want to start off by admitting how much I dislike Gucci Mane. He spews about his hate of unrelateable music yet ends up doing the same thing. Bleh. I’m only referring to the songs where you can just tell he really thinks he’s the greatest thing ever...like I need to listen to that. But of course, since I’m not black and I didn’t grow up in the same circumstances he did I can’t say anything about the songs where he relates that part of his life. Those are somewhat interesting but it’s not like I can vibe with them.

But I thought this was a well-written autobiography. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the man that has maybe too many songs. It’s funny how at one point I thought he was sharing the wrong sort of details when he should have been focusing on other things but it’s also kind of how I felt about some songs. Sometimes I think he just releases things so that he’s still on the public’s minds but the songs are just mediocre. I liked his sense of humor but that cockiness that flows out of him was written all over this book. Though that is also the main reason why I liked this so much, it just sounded like Gucci Mane wrote this book. No one else could butter up this guy more than the man himself. If you want to get to know him, this book is the perfect start.

Oh and then after finishing it make a playlist of all the songs he mentioned and relive the reading experience but through his biggest hits/favorite tracks. That was quite a trip.… (mais)

Gucci hit it out of the park with this one. Along with the braggadocio Gucci brings us his meaningful code of honor, his acceptance of responsibility for his actions, a sensitivity to the needs and motivations of others, an occasional dash of humility, some surprising olive branches, and even more surprising a willingness to be vulnerable. There is a story arc here, we see his growth, his lessons learned. It is downright inspiring. It is also really funny. Gucci has some stories, and not all of them are set at Magic City (though some are.)

Musically my ATL rap (and trap) tastes run more Zone 4 than 6 (or 3, where Gucci's discoveries seem to hale from), so I did not have an interest in this book. But then Roxanne Gay gave it an effusive 5-star review, and I thought "sure, why not." Thanks Roxanne! I lived in Atlanta for 16 years, and I tried to know my city and its stories, but Gucci told me an Atlanta story that surprised me in many ways, and one I didn't know I wanted to hear.

I listened to the audio and recommend it, One nit to pick: the reader (who was otherwise excellent) was clearly not from the 404 and could not pronounce DeKalb correctly (or as we pronounce in Atlanta). Given how frequently Gucci found himself in DeKalb County lockup or tangling with county law enforcement this was a significant irritant.… (mais)