This marks the third album, that Gucci Mane dropped after only being released from jail 6 months beforehand. Today I take a look at his tenth studio album The Return of East Atlanta Santa
 |
| Cover art for The Return of East Atlanta Santa |
Tomorrow Gucci releases his seventeenth studio album Ice Daddy, so today I review his 2016 album The Return of East Atlanta Santa, which is his tenth studio album.
The album was released as an Apple Music Exclusive on December 16th, 2016. And a week later on all the other platforms.
Gucci had been in prison for half of 2016 and this marks his third full-length LP since he was released from jail. It's incredible to deliver 3 full-length LP's in half a year, but quality over quantity and I think you can feel a small lack in quality.
It's a trap-themed album with Gucci providing his well-known, kinda same-sounding trap flow. On some of the tracks like "Both" featuring Drake he switches it up and brings a not-much-heard flow and feeling.
Overall the album has multiple different tracks, which are really good-sounding and enjoyable to listen to, but it also sees it's lack in quality as tracks like "Bales" are just monotone, too uniform tracks.
Gucci touches on multiple topics in the album, mainly keeping focus on presenting his wealth, status and fame, along with talking about the women he gets with. "Both" is a perfect addition to the album, as it presents Gucci in a more open way with him and Drake displaying their feelings more.
Rating:
Vibe - 4/10
The album is not an album to vibe to. It goes too hard and isn't really surrounding the lyrics as much as the other albums to vibe to. Except on "Both" with him and Drake bringing a vibe not to mess with.
Lyrics - 6/10
Gucci isn't the type to provide really insight full and well-thought lyricism, what he do maintain to provide however is clean rhymes, some well-written analogies and some well-thought metaphors.
Flow - 7/10
The trap flow Gucci can deliver is sublime. It's raw, rhythmic and playful. What he doesn't do it switch up, and that isn't really necessary, but if he wants the 10/10 flow rating it is.
Music - 8/10
With production from Metro Boomin, Southside, Bangladesh, Zaytoven, Mike WiLL Made-It and Murda Beatz it's guaranteed not to fail. And it doesn't the beats provide the opportunity for Gucci to display his unique trap sound. Overall a really well produced album.
Overall - 6,4
The album has bangers on it, but the sound becomes too uniform and same-sounding in the long run. Throughout the album Gucci maintains to provide interesting rhymes, good rhyme schemes and a hard flow.
Tracklist:
St. Brick Intro: 7/10
The intro track for The Return of East Atlanta Santa is produced by Zaytoven.
Gucci speaks about how he's the "East Atlanta Santa" from the hood, where he sells dope and murks people. A trap track, where Gucci shows off multiple word plays:
"I'm a neighborhood philanthropist
I'm sellin' bales of cannabis
Preachin' like an evangelist
But I don't fuck with amateurs
I drive spiders, yeah, tarantulas"
His flow, delivery and lyricism works out on the track, and he delivers a trap banger.
I Can't: 6,5/10
Metro Boomin is the producer behind the second track, on where Gucci speaks on his life as a rapper and what he's all about.
On the chorus he makes a list of things, that other people do, but he can't.
A trap track, where Gucci gets to display his arrogant side, giving a clear intention that he's the best. The way he keeps comparing himself to "you" creates the feeling, that he's about what he's talking about.
Walk on Water: 6/10
On this third track of the album Gucci, the Trap God compares himself to the Christian God. Jesus supposedly walked on water, which Gucci references in the chorus:
"I'm the Trap God and I walk on water"
The line is used to symbolize what Gucci is capable of, which is everything. He displays the pure arrogant trap, which he is well-known for.
Both (feat. Drake): 8,5/10
This track is another Metro Boomin production, where Gucci teams up with Toronto rapper Drake for the second time.
On the song, Drake and Gucci discusses multiple different topics including Lil Yachty, the luxurious lifestyle and stuff Drake don't usually discuss with people, due to his state of mind.
Gucci delivers brings a sublime trap-flow, starting his verse with the bars:
"I got so many felonies, I might can't never go to Canada
But Drake said he gon' pull some strings, so let me check my calendar"
The bars are used to show Gucci's connection with the criminal-lifestyle, along with Drake's fame and ability to influence Canadian border control, which you have to be a high-profile to be able to.
On the chorus Drake speaks about a feeling we all know. He's both drunk and high, and even though he doesn't usually speak about his feelings and inner-self, the cross-faded mind state he's in got him
talking about his life:
"I don't usually do this 'less I'm drunk or I'm high
But I'm both right now, got me talking about life"
A relatable track for sure, where Gucci's trap gets combined with Drake's vulnerability to craft an add to the sesh playlist for sure.
 |
| Drake released his fourth studio album Views in 2016 |
Stutter: 6/10
"Stutter" is a strip club anthem, where Gucci expresses his love for curvy women. First he focuses on women in particular, then he turns his attention towards a foursome with three fine women.
Gucci gets a stutter from how fine the ladies are, which both is a compliment for the ladies but also for himself, since he's able to hook up with them.
A track with the classic Gucci-flow with a story about the women he gets with.
Drove U Crazy (feat. Bryson Tiller): 5/10
On a try of a smooth fusion between Gucci's trap and Bryson Tiller's R&B, they speak on the daily rich activities, street credibility and the burdens of past relationships.
Gucci delivers a firm verse, but the chorus is Bryson Tiller repeating the same words, which brings the whole track down.
Bryson Tiller's verse doesn't go hard, and doesn't really fit in with the vibe or Gucci's flow.
Crash: 5,5/10
The seventh track of the album is a diss towards Blac Youngsta after he released his track titled "New Guwop".
Gucci explains, why he's higher status, along with saying he's ready to "crash", indicating that he's ready to settle the beef in street manor.
Gucci displays how superior he is to Blac Youngsta, using lyrics like this:
"I'm the one you wanted to grow up to be
Lil' n*gga
But you'll never, ever, ever be me
Lil' n*gga"
 |
| Blac Youngsta is a trap rapper from Memphis |
Yet: 3,5/10
A typical trap track from Gucci Mane. He raps about his fame and wealth. Not much more to say.
Nonchalant: 5/10
On the ninth track on the album, Gucci doesn't hide that he's better you. A theme, which we have seen a couple of times by now.
He brags about jetting to red carpets, having any girl he wants, being a target of the Feds, his cars and his wealth in general.
The chorus is this repeated:
"In the strip club chillin', so nonchalant"
Nonchalant means lazy and Gucci says he's been in the game long enough, so he can sit back and relax, while in the strip club.
Last Time (feat. Travis Scott): 7/10
On "Last Time" Gucci teams up with Travis, who actually also released his sophomore studio album Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight on the same day this released. Zaytoven is the producer behind this more relaxed trap beat.
Gucci addresses his past drug use and set the record straight about the clone rumors that were out on the internet after his release from jail.
A nice addition with another feeling on the album and a great feature.
 |
After Gucci's release from jail there was a conspiracy theory to whether or not he had been cloned
|
Bales: 2/10
On the eleventh track of the album Gucci raps about his relationship with drug dealing. A topic which could have been displayed in a so much better way. To be honest it's boring, same-sounding trap on this track.
No Smoke: 6/10
On "No Smoke" Gucci delivers a diss towards somebody and there has been speculations to whether that somebody could be Soulja Boy. Gucci asks why he flexes since he doesn't want smoke.
The verses are hard-ass with a relaxed chorus, showing Gucci's dominance in the beef.
Greatest Show on Earth: 5/10
The last track of the album is produced by Mike WiLL Made-It.
Gucci brings a calm, arrogant flow with lyrics displaying how his album is the greatest show on earth.
A nice production behind it, but Gucci sounds monotone compared to his other tracks.
Comments
Post a Comment