BE REVIEWED: Gucci Mane Presents The State vs Radric Davis
Written by Brian
It must BE DecemBURRRR 2009...
Make sure you check out our review on Gucci Mane's The State vs Radric Davis!
Radric Davis has spent the better part of 2009 right on the cusp of mainstream success. Mariah's "Obsessed" would hardly be an obsession without him. Neither would the summer anthem "Break Up" featuring Mario and Sean Garrett. And what about Gucci's offering on Lil Wayne's "We Be Steady Mobbin?" Loyal followers of Gucci Mane may find his first official commerical release, THE STATE VS RADRIC DAVIS (So Icey/Asylum/Warner Bros.), in stores Tuesday, DecemBURR 8th, somewhat commercialized. One could argue his mixtapes offer a grit that the album doesn't. Critics could also argue that the better songs on album such as "Wasted" featuring Plies, and "Spotlight" featuring Usher have already dropped and thus there's not enough to look forward to on the album. Add to that the fact that we have releases today (December 8th) from plenty of hot artists, including Chris Brown (Graffiti), Snoop Dogg (Malice N Wonderland), The Clipse (Til The Casket Drops), Timbaland (Shock Value II), and BG (Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood), and you have plenty of reasons not to invest in Gucci's major-label debut.
Both of these arguments are short-sighted because the 20-track offering from Gucci is already one of the most anticipated rap albums of the year and the music largely delivers on it's word. The music seems to be a hybrid between a polished set and raw mixtape offerings - Radric Davis appears to know how to maintain his current relationship with his audience while attracting more mainstream fans to the movement. Notable is Mike Epps, who provides comic relief at intervals throughout the record. Also notable is strong production the througout the album, with Zaytoven, Drumma Boy, Bangladesh, Fatboi Beats, Mannie Fresh, Shawty Redd, and Scott Storch. [continued below]
My favorite track on the album is, "Bad Bad Bad" featuring Keyshia Cole, who may be inspired by the chorus she laced - could it be she feels the same way about how BET is exploiting her family? She could do bad, bad, bad all by herself! Gucci Mane himself makes sure to make his presence felt on every track - he doesn't allow his debut effort to be outshined by his many co-stars.
When interviewing Zaytoven (Usher "Papers"), who is a longtime collaborator and producer of some of Gucci's most successful hits to date, he said "Gucci has a way of always knowing the right thing to say on a track." I couldn't agree more. Gucci poetry and lyricism are uncanny. It's hard not to like how he puts his words together. If Gucci can avoid further legal trouble (listen to Track 19, "Worst Enemy") and focus on contining to grow artistically, the sky's the limit for success in his career.
Thumbs UP > "All About the Money" featuring Rick Ross, "Gingerbread Man" featuring Oj da Juiceman, "Lemonade,' "I Think I'm In Love" featuring Jason Caesar, "Stupid Wild" featuring Lil Wayne and Cam'Ron, "Heavy," "Kush is my Cologne," featuring Bun B, Devin the Dude and E-40, and "Worst Enemy"
Thumbs DOWN > "Bingo" featuring Soulja Boy and Waka Flocka Flame, "Sex in Crazy Places" featuring Bobby V, Nicki Minaj and Trina, "Movie," "Volume" featuring Wooh Da Kid
