Gucci’s comments to me about his rivalry with Young Jeezy, his feelings about T.I., and his song “My Own Worst Enemy” got all the hype….but personally, I enjoyed our conversation about his teenage years much more. I wanted to know why (seriously, why?) he wanted us to sit outside in the drizzling rain, freezing, in the middle of East Atlanta’s Bouldercrest housing complex….amongst rows of boarded up townhouses…

So, Gucci explained that we were sitting in front of the 2 bedroom apartment where he grew up, below the window where he watched the trap unfold every day, and by the bus stop where he (and OJ da Juiceman) eventually worked his own hustle (away from the watchful eyes of his mother).

While I’ve heard a similar story many times before, in my own interviews, in music, in movies (and the scene definitely reminded me of The Wire)…what surprised me was Gucci telling me that he and his older brother balanced their drug hustle with their high school studies (both eventually being offered scholarships to college!?!) out of sheer respect for their mom.
Now, what’s missing in this edit is where Gucci expands on that respect, saying that he grew up in a supportive household, and that “even though we were poor, I never knew we were poor as a kid,” because his parents (including his namesake, dad Big Goochie) worked constantly to provide for them.
Definitely a side of the man that was interesting to see.

(PS: elsewhere in the interview Gucci tells the story about when and how his double life came to an abrupt end, and his rap career began…maybe that will be the final clip)

Previously:

Gucci Mane x Miss Info: the story behind Usher’s “Love in the Club”

Gucci Mane x Miss Info: “My Own Worst Enemy” and a message for Young Jeezy

UPDATE: Wow. Diplo (“Paper Planes”) is going to remix Gucci’s Cold War mixtape? That should be interesting….I’ve heard Diplo is a big trap music fan.

“Gucci Mane is an underdog, and a divisive artist. I thought it would be cool to have a bunch of kids and weirdos do some mixes of his songs. We all are fans and we are from different scenes. Gucci is a rapper that doesn’t try and be anything he is not; he’s straight up. Maybe it’s ironic and all, but I’m just a fan and have been since day one. Gucci Mane is the cool uncle I never had even though I’m pretty sure I am older than him.” -Diplo

LOL!!

After the jump…there is another short clip that came out last week on Global Grind, of Gucci talking about when he was blacklisted in the rap game