Gucci appeals to rap fans

Burrr! I'm not saying that because it's winter; rather because the king of ice, Gucci Mane, is out of prison and has finally…wait, scratch that first part (more on that later). Anyway, he has finally released his newest album. Why care? Well, because Gucci Mane has become a Southern rap star, his ad-libs ("burr") becoming omnipresent on the radio and surpassing most others in output and guest appearances.

Gucci Mane, born Radric Davis, began his career by independently releasing debut album Trap House in 2005. Its popular street single "Icy" featured fellow Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy. Disputes over rights to the song began a long-lasting feud between the two, not being resolved until recently. Gucci followed up in 2006 with "Hard To Kill," which yielded the successful single "Freaky Gurl." His first studio album, "Back to the Trap House," was released in 2007. Soon after, Gucci began flooding the Southern market with mixtapes and appearing on many other artist's singles, even big names like Mariah Carry and Omarion.

Recording hundreds of songs, he was eventually named "#6 Hottest MC in the Game" by MTV on its 2009 list. Amidst all the hype, Gucci dropped his second studio album, "The State vs. Radric Davis," on Dec. 8, 2009, which became his most successful album to date. But all was not well in Gucci Land. On Nov. 12 he'd been sentenced to a year in prison for violating probation. Nonetheless, the success of the album prompted Gucci to announce from jail that "The State" would be the first in a trilogy of albums to follow in 2010.

"The State" opens with "Classical," an orchestral, piano-driven track. Gucci Mane impresses with a speedy delivery, setting up what he's all about. This is followed by the first of three humorous skits highlighting his prison interactions with an inmate referred to as "Toilet Bowl Shawty." Thankfully, such digressions are few and far between.

In the following track, "Heavy," Gucci spits aggressive rhymes tinged with intriguingly self-conscious musings on the burdens of his ventures over scratchy, frenzied synths. Gucci then goes on to lighten the mood with "Lemonade," a slow drawl tribute to the color yellow (presumably his favorite). The pianos skitter in and out of the relaxed, syrupy bass to create an enjoyably light track. "Bingo" features ascending notes chaotically thrown together into a driving beat as Gucci spits self-indulgent verse. Everyone's favorite toy soldier, Soulja Boy, attempts to do the same. However, his nursery rhymes do nothing except let you know that he is, in case you haven't heard, "icy as an icicle." Ugh. What should be done with this track? Bingo! Throw it out the window!

"Spotlight," the album's first club track, ticks along over groovy slow synths. Gucci charms with his humorously over-the-top rhymes about the ladies, with Usher lending his pipes to the effort (though he does so with perhaps less shamelessness). The slow, entrancing Zaytoven beat of "I Think I'm In Love" features descending steel drums, with Gucci the playboy again attempting to charm a lady through goofy materialism: "I like your voice, I like your swag/so let nature take its course/Maybe in the future, gorgeous, I can buy you're a** a Porsche."

The trunk-rattling beat of "The Movie" is perfect for Gucci's flamboyant style; the rapper celebrates life in all its excesses, comparing it to a movie (the "Gucci Mane movie," of course). The album's hit single, "Wasted," has Gucci teaming up with super goon Plies to proclaim just how much they love to, well, get wasted. Combined with energetic, winding synths, the song is made for partying.

"Worst Enemy" is the album's best track. The chilling, minor key notes and subdued guitar riffs produce a perfectly somber atmosphere for Gucci. He delves into personal issues, addressing his disputes with other rappers and outlook on his position: "Think about the past and all the many things we talked about/Think of all the people influenced by what comes out our mouths."

"The State vs. Radric Davis" is ultimately a frustrating album. It checks all the boxes of modern rap, yet none are particularly extraordinary. It showcases more of Gucci's personality than ever before, but you're left feeling that, although you've gotten a great idea of just who he is, you'll wish that he showed more of what he's thinking e.g. "Worst Enemy." That doesn't take away from the fact that this is enjoyable, well-produced Southern hip-hop, whose charms will satisfy fans and the casual listener alike. In the case of "The State vs. Radric Davis," the verdict is…burrr!

Wyatt Erchak is a sophomore and history major from upstate New York who knows the stakes are high.