Gucci Mane
Photo: MTV News

Artist: Gucci Mane

Representing: The Eastside of Atlanta

Mixtape: Writing on Da Wall

411: He has his face on almost as many mixtape covers as Lil Wayne and the streets have been shouting his name for a while — Gucci Mane is home and he doesn't want to stop working.

"I was very excited about the new popularity I had," Gucci said about the fresh batch of fans he gained during the past seven months he spent in jail. "I got a bigger audience to dig my new stuff. I'm always making music, so to do it in front of bigger audience so more people can tune in ... I got more listeners now."

While he was incarcerated, Gucci's camp and friends launched a campaign to help keep his name in people's ears. He had over an album's worth of material circulating through the underground, including tracks he recorded for himself or guest appearances on other artists' songs. He wasted no time in getting back out there after he was released from the big house.

"My new mixtape is called Writing on Da Wall," he explained in Atlanta recently. "I started working on it when I got out of jail. ... I put some of the best verses I think I ever wrote on it. I'm gearing them up for my album ... I just went hard in on 'em. Me and DJ Holiday came up with a concept and put a lot of lifetime experiences on them songs."

"Gucci is one of the best artists I've ever worked with because he has a creative mind," Holiday said. "He paints a picture."

The Gucc and Holiday hooked up last year for the E.A. Sports mixtape which spawned the shameless hood hit "Bricks." Holiday later helmed the remix of the record.

"You gotta respect the grind of n---as," singer Sean Garrett said. "Gucci came up, he's been grinding. DJ Holiday's been grinding. I seen a lot of these cats three, four years ago. Same with me, I've just been working since I got back to Atlanta."

Joints to Check For

» "First Day Out." "It's a banger, man," Gucci said. "It might be the intro to the mixtape. It's stupid crazy for 12, 16 bars, man — just a gangsta intro for Writing on Da Wall to start the pace off right."

» "Heavy Trafficking." "That was another banger right there," Gucc explained. "My boy Zaytoven produced it. No hook, just raw stuff — raw music, gangsta rap at its best."

» "Going In." " 'Going In' was three verses and a hook," Mane said. "It's an original song, original track for the mixtape. Fat Boy on the beat. On this mixtape, you're hearing what's going on my life, what's going on in the streets of Atlanta, what's going on in the world."

Don't Sleep: Other Notable Selections This Week

» Backwoods Fam - self-titled
» DJ Good Money - Fresh Out the Bakery
» Big Mike & Styles P - Phantom Empire
» Evil Empire - Interstate Trafficking 7.0
» DJ 31 Degreez & Young Buck - Still Ten-A-Key 2
» Evil Empire Presents Rick Ross - Maybach Season

'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar

» Shawty Lo (featuring Mya) - "About My B.I."
» Q-Tip (featuring Kanye West and Consequence) - "We Fight, We Love" remix
» UGK - "The Pimp and the Bun" and "Steal Your Mind"
» Cassie (featuring Akon) - "Let's Get Crazy"
» Pleasure P (featuring Ghostface) - "Boyfriend Number 2" remix
» Ludacris and Shawnna - "Drunk As F---"

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

A 50 Cent mixtape is coming, according to DJ Whoo Kid. Apparently Fif is in Las Vegas now working with Dre on Before I Self Destruct, and somewhere along the way, he's going to put aside material for a street CD.

"I heard they locked it down this weekend," Whoo Kid said. "[The album] is still in the oven. It's so many records, so it's kind of hard to choose which one to really showcase immediately out there. But as he's doing his "Pimpin' Curly," annihilating Rick Ross, he's working on a mixtape and getting it cracking out there. Same with Banks. Banks killed iTunes with his freestyle, so we're trying to figure out how the next couple of weeks are going to work out. But mixtapes are in the works. You know mixtapes are in the works. [Banks] don't play when it comes to freestyles."

Whoo Kid said the entire G-Unit are in "hungry dog" mode.

"Rabid on the equipment," the DJ said. "You don't wanna go over there, it's vicious. You see how bad it gets with 50 when it come to revenge and beef — I'm scared to go over there."

Speaking of scared, Eminem's camp is wary of Whoo Kid getting anywhere near the new Slim Shady record "We Made You." The Queens native laughed that they are afraid of him leaking the track.

"They're stressing me not to come to the studio so I don't Bluetooth their computers," Whoo Kid laughed. "They're mixing it down in Vegas. It might be today, tomorrow — but it's definitely gonna come out." ...

Only for the fans of lyrics — Keith Murray and Canibus are recording an independent rap album together, with Erick Sermon supplying the beats.

"What happened was, I think Keith Murray and Canibus were doing shows [and came up with the idea]," Sermon explained. "They've been doing shows for the last six months back and forth. I guess somebody stepped to them about putting something together. They called me to do the album. I think they're two songs deep so far, but it's kinda ill to hear them. Keith Murray is out-there, lyrically, and now Canibus is a step way further out-there than he is. It's a dope mixture."

Sermon promised that there will be no commercialism on the album — the duo aren't going for airplay, they just want to capture the underground audience.

"It's only for heads," E said. "I don't think there's gonna be one radio record on there, just rhymes and concepts."

Expect the concepts to get really weird — Canibus has made records where he raps from the perspective of the AIDS virus, while Murr can go interplanetary like he did on "Escape From the World." Sermon says the two are definitely going for the jugular.

"The whole thing that made EPMD dope, that's what made Redman and Method Man dope — you kinda battle each other in between. You get busy. We do a track together and I'm like, 'Damn, he said something!' You go right. ... If Canibus says something, Murray gonna try to [say something better]. But it's friendly so far. What I've experienced so far has been really, really crazy."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Monday, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines.

• Mixtape Monday Video: Gucci Mane, Erick Sermon & More

• Gucci Mane
• 50 Cent
• Canibus
• Keith Murray

Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda and the Roots' Black Thought at the Grammy Style Studio
Photo: Amy Graves

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — On Saturday night at the Key Club, the Roots held their annual Grammy all-star jam session. And while in previous years a plethora of well-known performers like Common and Erykah Badu got down with the group, this time around the Illy Philly funksters had the star in attendance — Tom Cruise.

Hollywood's Top Gun didn't get onstage, but he did take in the sounds of hip-hop's top band and of his friend Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Smith, dressed in a Baltimore thug-style black hoodie and jeans that surely made Tupac look down from heaven and crack a smile, started the night off early by leading her band, Wicked Wisdom, in a rowdy punk-rock-flavored set.

Either Jada really loves rocking the mic, or she had her acting skills working for her, because she bobbed her head and flailed her arms like a seasoned rock star. After her show, the petite performer chilled with Tommy C.

When the Roots took the stage, they kept the night moving with a medley of covers of old-school jams and their own ditties, like "Star."

"Introducin' the band you gotta see to believe," rapped Black Thought. "He got the mic in his hand, so keep the heat up your sleeve/ It's Black Thought, he rockin' sharp so the speakers'll bleed/ I run a triathlon, you wouldn't see me

	"Whatever Happened To Fiona Apple? Online Campaign Tries To Find Out". On the big night, February 8, be sure to tune in to MTV at 7 p.m. for our "All up in the Grammys" preshow. Plus check out videos of the nominees and more right here on mtv.com. Related Artists The Roots Linkin Park Canibus Fiona Apple ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496907/20050213/roots.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496907/20050213/roots.jhtml 13 Feb 2005 05:54:00 EST 'Beef II' DVD also includes LL/Canibus dust-up. By Shaheem Reid Eminem (file) Photo: John Shearer Related Artists D12 Foxy Brown LL Cool J Canibus Cypress Hill ]]> http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/080904/ News Article http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/080904/ 6 Aug 2004 10:34:00 EDT Mya in the "My Love Is Like ... Wo" video Photo: Interscope For Jane's Addiction's first studio album in 13 years, the godfathers of alt-rock deliver moody melodies on Strays. Celebrating a collective, newfound sobriety and generosity of spirit on songs like the disc's lead single, "Just Because," Perry Farrell and company have transitioned into a band just as focused on achieving a harmonious society as on making music. Meanwhile, Mya's Moodring indicates she's feeling randy. On her latest album, the former good girl focuses on her sexuality, as seen on songs like the lead single, "My Love is Like ... Wo," and "Anatomy One-on-One." Kiss' bigger-is-better ethos is evident on The Kiss Symphony: Alive IV, which finds the rockers backed by the Melbourne Symphony on most of the tracks. As for the rest of them, Kiss stripped down to their regular rock and even included some acoustic versions of their classics. Bob Dylan not only stars as a troubadour alongside Jeff Bridges and John Goodman in "Masked and Anonymous" but his music comprises the soundtrack as well. Also this week, the Super Furry Animals show their Phantom Power, Canibus introduces us to Rip the Jacker and the 13th volume of Now That's What I Call Music! delivers the compilation's usual mix of popular songs. In this case, that includes Justin Timberlake's "Rock Your Body," Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Glad," Sum 41's "The Hell Song," Coldplay's "Clocks" and Jay-Z's "Excuse Me Miss." Finally, two old-school pop stars re-rear their Stiff Stuff-sprayed heads: Vanilla Ice releases the CD/DVD Hot Sex, with special guests the Insane Clown Posse, and former New Kid on the Block Danny Wood shows his Second Face. Does this one have a braided rattail on the back of it, too? Out Tuesday, July 22: 311 - Evolver (Volcano/Jive) Read: "New 311 Album Aimed At Old-School Fans, 7-Year-Olds Alike" Buy Now: Evolver (Volcano/Jive) Muriel Anderson - New Classics for Guitar and Cello (Valley Entertainment) The Appleseed Cast - Two Conversations (Tiger Style) Armik - Amor de Guitarra (Bolero) C-BO - The Mobfather (Return of the Bald Headed Nut) (West Coast Mafia) Victor Calderone - Resonate (Statra) Canibus - Rip the Jacker (Babygrande) Buy Now: Rip the Jacker (Babygrande) Cheap Trick - Special One (Big 3) Dane Cook - Harmful if Swallowed (Comedy Central) Larry Coryell, John Abercrombie and Badi Assad - Three Guitars (Chesky) Marshall Crenshaw - What's in the Bag? (Razor & Tie) Guy Davis - Chocolate to the Bone (Red House) Deep Dish - Global Underground Toronto: Sharam Afterclub Mix (Global Und) Gavin DeGraw - Chariot (J) Dungeon - A Rise to Power (SPV) Mark Eitzel - The Ugly American (Thirsty Ear) Kurt Elling - Man in the Air (Blue Note) Chris Emerson - Chris Emerson (Empire Musicwerks) Endo - Songs for the Restless (DV8/Columbia) Eve 6 - It's All in Your Head (RCA) Read: "Eve 6 'Think Twice' About Trying To Be Something They're Not" Buy Now: It's All in Your Head (RCA) F.E. - What We Do (Up Rise) FM Static - What Are You Waiting For? (Tooth & Nail) Fu Manchu - Go for It ... Live! (SPV) Adam Green - Friends of Mine (Rough Trade) Haujobb - Vertical Theory (Metropolis) Danny Howells - 24:7 (Global Underground) Indigenous - Indigenous (Silvertone) Ken Ishii - Future in Light (:\ run) J-Zone - $ick of Being Rich (Fat Beats) Jane's Addiction - Strays (Capitol) Read: "Jane's Addiction Stop Waking Up With Strangers, Start Servicing Others" Buy Now: Strays (Capitol) Jay Tee - High Caliber (40 Ounce/West 80) Judge D - Judgement Time: From the Mouth of the Judged (Suburban Noize) Kiss- The Kiss Symphony: Alive IV(Sanctuary/Kiss) Kreator - Live Kreation - Revisioned Glory (SPV) Chris LeDoux - Horsepower (Capitol) Gary LeMel - The Best of Times (Concord Jazz) Ramsey Lewis Featuring Nancy Wilson - Simple Pleasures (Narada Jazz) Carrie Lyn and Michael Bannett - Friends Forever (Music for Little People) Mack 10 - Ghetto, Gutter, and Gangster (Ark 21) Brian McComas - Brian McComas (Lyric Street) Mt. Egypt - Battening the Hatches (Record Collection) Mya - Moodring (Interscope) Read: "Mya Gets Like ... Wo On New Album" Listen: The Leak: Mya Moodring Buy Now: Moodring (Interscope) Brad Paisley - Mud on the Tires (Arista) Queensrÿche - Tribe (Sanctuary) Cassandra Reed - Cassandra Reed (Peak) Renee Rosnes - Renee Rosnes with the Danish Radio Big Band (Blue Note) Sense Field - Living Outside (Nettwerk) Sonny Smith - This Is My Story, This Is My Song (Jackpine Social Club) Chris Smither - Train Home (HighTone) Smooth Africa II - Exploring the Soul (Heads Up) Stigmato, Inc. - Reality Check (Utensil) Stunt Monkey - Self-Titled (UTR) Supagroup - Supagroup (Foodchain) Super Furry Animals - Phantom Power (XL/Beggars Banquet) Superjoint Ritual - A Lethal Dose of American Hatred (Sanctuary) Teitur - Poetry & Aeroplanes (Universal) Three Days Grace - Three Days Grace (Jive) Thrice - The Artist in the Ambulance (Island) Read: "Thrice: Heavy-Music Gear Dorks Who Don't Write Tabs" Buy Now: The Artist in the Ambulance (Island) Tsunami Bros. - King's Harbor (Suburban Noize) Vanilla Ice - Hot Sex (Liquid 8) Danny Wood - Second Face (Empire Musicwerks) Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue (Capitol) Zero Hour - Metamorphosis (Sensory) Various artists – "American Wedding" soundtrack (Universal) Read: "New Avril Lavigne, New Found Glory Songs On 'American Wedding' Soundtrack" Various artists - "Baby Galileo" soundtrack (Walt Disney) Various artists - Back in Baroque: The String Tribute to AC/DC (Vitamin) Various artists - Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault (Dying Wish) Various artists - Bluegrass for Beginners (CMH) Various artists - "Camp" soundtrack (Decca) Various artists - Chilling You... Out (Valley Entertainment) Various artists - Dancehall Hits 2003 (Jamdown) Various artists - "Kim Possible" soundtrack (Walt Disney) Various artists - "The Last Minute" soundtrack (Palm Pictures) Various artists - "Masked and Anonymous" soundtrack (Sony Music Soundtrax) Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! Vol. 13 (UTV) Various artists - Pickin' on the Rolling Stones — A Bluegrass Tribute Vol. 2 (CMH) Various artists - Pickin' on U2 Vol. 2 (CMH) Various artists - "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" soundtrack (Walt Disney) Various artists - "Seabiscuit" soundtrack (Decca) Various artists - "Spy Kids 3" soundtrack (Milan) Various artists - The String Quartet Tribute to No Doubt (Vitamin) Various artists - "Tomb Raider 2 - The Cradle of Life" soundtrack (Hollywood) Various artists - A Tribute to Terri Clark (also Good Charlotte, Matchbox 20 and Puddle of Mudd) (Big Eye) DVD Chuck D - Hip Hop Hall of Fame Vol. 1 (Music Video Distributors/Cult) DVD Siouxsie & the Banshees - Seven Year Itch (Sanctuary) August 5: Various artists - The Neptunes Present: Clones (Arista) Read: "Summer Music Preview: Neptunes' Star Trak Presents ... Clones" August 19: Tamia - Still (Elektra) September 2: Mariah Carey - Remixes (Sony) Related Artists Jane's Addiction Mya Eve 6 Canibus Kiss ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1474418/20030721/janes_addiction.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1474418/20030721/janes_addiction.jhtml 22 Jul 2003 07:56:00 EDT Canibus "Shove This J.O.B." Video Shoot Perhaps only a mutual distaste for underemployment could unite the clown prince of rap, Biz Markie, and LL Cool J's former verbal sparring partner Canibus... or maybe it was the lure of a promotional tie-in. The two rappers teamed up to record a version of the Johnny Paycheck country anti-establishment anthem "Take This Job And Shove It" for the soundtrack to the upcoming live action film from "Beavis And Butt-Head" creator Mike Judge. The rappers' new version is titled "Shove This J.O.B." [Video Shoot, 28.8 RealVideo], and will join tracks from Ice Cube, Kool Keith, Scarface, Lisa Stone, Perez Prado, Geto Boyz, and others on the soundtrack. Canibus told MTV News while shooting the video for his track in Los Angeles. The soundtrack to "Office Space" will hit store shelves on February 16, while the film (which stars Jennifer Aniston) opens nationwide on February 19. Related Artists Biz Markie Canibus Ice Cube ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425858/19990202/biz_markie.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425858/19990202/biz_markie.jhtml 2 Feb 1999 02:00:00 EST Canibus Canibus drew a lot of attention earlier this year when he picked a verbal fight with rapper L.L. Cool J on his single "Second Round Knockout." But Canibus' much-hyped debut album, "Can-I-Bus," got a beating from critics and consumers -- and has failed to reach even gold status with only 300,000 units sold. Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean served as both Canibus' producer and manager, and was so dedicated to his protege that he was alleged to have pulled a gun on "Blaze" magazine editor Jesse Washington after reading a negative review of "Can-I-Bus" that the publication was planning to run, although Wyclef still denies that charge. A few months after the record came out, word came out that Jean was no longer managing the fledgling rapper, although Canibus told MTV that the split was amicable and the result of a professional decision rather than a personal one. "When we were on the Smokin' Grooves [Tour] and everything," Canibus said, "he was a manager, you know what I mean. [Wyclef] helped me get on Smokin' Groves. He helped put certain things on soundtracks, like the 'Bulworth' track. He helped me produce the album, and he was like a managerial source... We had a talk, and we kicked it and I feel like I should get management elsewhere, you know what I mean, because he's an artist and it's difficult for him to manage another artist." [28.8 RealVieo] In related news, Canibus performed along with Biz Markie at a benefit for World AIDS Day in New York City on Tuesday. The concert, which was sponsored by Levi's Jeans, raised funds for Lifebeat, the music industry's HIV and AIDS awareness programs, and the rapper talked with MTV about one of the new songs he premiered at the show. "We're gonna set it off man," Canibus said, "World AIDS Day and Levi's put [the show] together, and it's for the [next] record that I put out, and the song's called 'AIDS is Gold, HIV is Platinum." Cause people are dying. That's what the 2001 initiative is, it's zero transmission and they want it by the year 2001. So, I just did my part [for the benefit], make a hot record keep it moving." For more information on Lifebeat, call 1-800-AIDS-411. Related Artists Canibus The Fugees Lauryn Hill Wyclef Jean Pras ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426864/19981203/canibus.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426864/19981203/canibus.jhtml 3 Dec 1998 10:00:00 EST Canibus While Hole's "Celebrity Skin" generated a lot of noise when it arrived in record stores, Canibus is the one who will boast the loudest chart debut next week when his "Can-I-Bus" arrives at number two on the album chart. The Wyclef-produced rapper's debut sold more than 127,000 copies in its first week in stores, landing his a spot behind another friend of 'Clef, Lauryn Hill, who holds onto the number one spot for a third straight week. The other notable debut of the week belongs to Hole whose first album in four years will debut at number nine on the chart after selling just under 86,000 copies in its first week in stores. In a week thin with new releases, the next highest debut belongs to rapper Skull Duggery, whose "These Wicked Streets" debuts at number 21 next week. The Missy Elliot/Scary Spice-powered soundtrack to "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" also makes its first appearance on the chart next week, where it will arrive at number 55. Related Artists Canibus Hole ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426865/19980916/canibus.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426865/19980916/canibus.jhtml 16 Sep 1998 12:00:00 EDT Rob Zombie It's not easy to turn heads at the MTV Video Music Awards, but Canibus managed to do just that when he arrived on the red carpet Thursday night with silver metal flake face paint that made him seem more in line with the WWF than MTV. Canibus, who arrived with his mentor Wyclef Jean, of course was one of the few artists whose appearance rose above the already high-fashion bell curve. After all, it's hard to get noticed when Marilyn Manson is a few feet away sporting a full-length leopard fur coat. While Jennifer Love Hewitt went the Donna Karan route, Sean Lennon chose to fly under the high fashion radar in a suit that looked like it should have been on its way to a convention of insurance salesmen. Beck also went old school, only he headed to the new wave wing in a thin pair of red sunglasses that look lifted from the set of "Fast Times At Ridgemont High." The Beasties made a statement of unity as each Beastie, and Mixmaster Mike, all sported identical gray work shirts and blue slacks. Rob Zombie boasted perhaps the most elaborate accessory as he arrived in the original Munsters dragster that he sings of in his new single, "Dragula." Some artists let their follicles do the talking, like No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani who turned up sporting a fresh blue dye job twisted into horns on top of her head. However, perhaps Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt made the ultimate statement as he arrived at the show with a freshly shaved head. Less is more indeed. Catch all the sizzlin', star-packed VMA action direct from Miami on August 28. MTV News' preshow kicks things off at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, followed by big show at 8 p.m. Vote for the Viewer's Choice Award, see a timeline of MTV Video Music Awards history, and relive highlights of last year's event. And for more MTV Video Music Awards news, check out the MTV News VMA archive. Related Artists Canibus No Doubt ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426866/19980910/canibus.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426866/19980910/canibus.jhtml 10 Sep 1998 08:30:00 EDT Canibus After a high-profile feud with L.L. Cool J earlier this summer, rapper Canibus is set to release his debut album this week, and is determined to prove that he do it alone. Canibus fought the urge to load his album with special guest stars, as seems to be the trend in hip-hop. The rapper's self-titled debut does feature the help of his mentor Wyclef Jean and Wyclef's Fugee partner Pras, but is essentially all Canibus beyond that. "I would have liked to have a lot of people on my album," Canibus told MTV News recently of his approach to his album. Listeners can now make the final call as "Canibus" is in stores now. Related Artists Canibus ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426867/19980908/canibus.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426867/19980908/canibus.jhtml 8 Sep 1998 04:00:00 EDT Canibus Canibus is currently on the road with the Smokin' Grooves Tour, previewing material from his highly-anticipated debut, "Can-I-Bus," due out September 8. Those who haven't had a chance to catch the tour can tune in to the rapper's website, on which he¹s posted live footage and a preview of his upcoming debut album. "I've got some footage of the tour on there," Canibus explained to the MTV Radio Network, "and there are some of performance scenes from everybody, from Wyclef to Pras to (John) Forte to myself. I got about five clips from my album on there, so people can just log on and listen to it." "Most people already know what my album is gonna consist of anyway," he added, "and what type of music I'm comin' with, and how I'm bringin' it. But for those who still wanna doubt me, go ahead, go check out the site." Canibus, who logged some classroom hours in computer-related studies while in college, works closely with the people that maintain his website, located at www.canibus.com. As we previously reported (see "Canibus Lands Samuel L. Jackson, Naomi Campbell For New Video"), the rapper has tapped some high-profile appearances for the clip for his new single, "I Honor U," which Canibus dedicated to his mother. Related Artists Canibus ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426868/19980806/canibus.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426868/19980806/canibus.jhtml 6 Aug 1998 07:55:00 EDT