Credit: Wikimedia

Gucci Mane may be one of the biggest rappers out of Atlanta with arguably the most stacked music catalogue in the city, but he wasn’t always a rapper. When he was six, his half-brother introduced him to hip-hop music, bringing him to a Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, and LL Cool J show. Gucci dealt drugs during his childhood years and got his first taste of rapping alongside OJ Da Juiceman, freestyling with one another in high school.

The 45-year-old rapper (real name Radric Davis) was inspired to start a career in music by various rappers, including Cash Money’s BG and Project Pat. He admitted that he didn’t feel good enough to rap like Lil Wayne or Fabolous, but the former artists gave him confidence that he could make a career out of hip-hop.

Gucci also witnessed Birdman’s success as the co-founder of Cash Money Records. According to Gucci, Baby was an average rapper with a colossal career, so he felt it would also be possible for him. “By the time I started trying to finance my own first tape, maybe ’99 or 2000, those were the key people I could relate to — BG, Project Pat,” he told The New York Times. “Like, OK, this dude just got out of jail, and everybody in the hood listens to that. I’m going through the same things at the same time.

“I didn’t feel like Project Pat was the best rapper, but he made me feel him. I’m like, can’t be Fabolous or Lil Wayne, but I can do this. I was late in the game, but I didn’t have to be scared to try. I was going to spring break in Daytona, and it was the whole summer of Project Pat and Big Tymers. I started doing the stuff they were rapping about — like, ‘I’m going to be the CD that I’m listening to.’”

He added, “That’s really how this started. It wasn’t even a love of hip-hop; I’m a hustler. I’m like, ‘Damn, I really don’t want to sell dope all the time. It’s too risky.’ If Jermaine Dupri can put out Kris Kross, Birdman ain’t really a good rapper and I got a little money — I can get in this.”

Despite criticising his rapping ability, his comments don’t shade him as an artist. Birdman has continued to inspire Gucci throughout his career. In 2013, he released a track called ‘Birdman’, named after the New Orleans mogul. The song appeared on his State vs Radric Davis 2: The Caged Bird Sings mixtape.

On the track, Gucci notes Birdman’s influence and claims he has a similar stature in Atlanta. He raps, “BG n*gga all on you/ I got shooter’s shooting I’ll shoot some too/ You know who fuck these n*gga’s in my crew/ These young n*gga’s will hurt mane/ Murkin n*gga’s with my work mane/ Ain’t got money like Birdman but in the East Atlanta I’m Birdman.”

Gucci and Birdman have collaborated on several songs in the past, including ‘Mouth Full of Gods’, ‘Get Lost’, and ‘Out of the Ghetto’. This proves there have never been any issues between them—just a truthful evaluation of pros and cons.