Within our “pro-gun” culture that’s also known as American culture, it is a high magnitude of casual violence within urban communities that is being exploited and glorified by hip-hop’s money men.

It was almost like it was yesterday when the super powers of Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane collaborated to form the hit single “So Icy” on Gucci’s debut album Trap House (Big Cat Records, 2005). Two up and coming hungry artists, thriving in the fruitful Atlanta scene, came together to create magic, “dope boy magic.” It was like it was their destiny to create the “Icy” song. To the untrained ear it sounded as if there was just one rapper on the entire song with no guest appearances. It sounded like both rappers were one in the same with the similar flow styles and illuminating swagger or to some; one rapper just simply outshined the other. From this song spawned a historic southern-bred beef that was unfamiliar to hip-hop fans below the mason-Dixon line. Diss records were thrown back and forth between each rapper violently with so much hate that the “Snowman” (Young Jeezy) resulted in ordering a bounty on Gucci Mane’s chain for $10,000 through a mixtape song called “Stay Trapped”, which was a playful remake of T.I.’s hit song “A.S.A.P.” The ending result of the lyrical quarrel ended with one of Jeezy’s assailants attempting to obtain Gucci’s “chain”. That was when Gucci was charged and sent to prison for murder after shooting the night stalker dead. While incarcerated Gucci found more trouble and witnessed the wrath of an affiliated gangster in Jeezy after reportedly being almost beat to death. The December 2005 issue of “The Source” magazine showed the after effects of this heinous act of prison violence where it showed a swollen faced disgruntled Gucci Mane. After appealing his murder case and garnering his freedom back, Gucci is back with vengeance on his sophomore album release, rightfully named Hard to Kill.
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