JEEZY VS. GUCCI MANE: A MONUMENTAL HIP-HOP NIGHT
By: CaraG @exclusivelycarag
On Thursday, November 19, Verzuz kicks off season two with the Jeezy vs. Gucci battle. Two of Atlanta’s most influential rap MCs went head to head with some of their best classic records from over the years. The face-off brought in 9.1 million views, which was reported to be higher numbers than the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards and NBC’s The Voice.
Gucci Mane and Jeezy engaged in a 15-year feud filled with diss track records and physical altercations. The beef started when the two collaborated for the hit single “Icy.” Jeezy assumed that the billboard record would feature on his album, but Gucci put it on his project “Trap House.” Jeezy later claimed Gucci never paid him for his feature on the track and released diss song “Stay Strapped.” The rap feud escalated when Jeezy was behind sending his right-hand Henry “Pookie Loc” Clark and three others, to perform an armed robbery at Gucci Mane’s home. Gucci retaliated by shooting and killing Pookie Loc, later justified in court as self-defense.
When the rap legends stepped on stage to their thrones, you could feel the tension and animosity come through the screen. Gucci didn’t come to play any games. Immediately Gucci said, “aye, cut the music man, let’s get to business.” Jeezy tried to speak, but Gucci interrupts, “hold up homie…this the Gucci Mane show,” and proceeds with what he had to say. Gucci continued to blatantly disrespect Jeezy, speaking on how he killed Jeezy’s friend, Pookie Loc. He continued, “Send some more, I’m a send them the same way…in a box back to ya.” Luckily, Jeezy held his composure.
Jeezy decided to take the high road and say his peace, “I brought you here to show you the world cares about what we got going on ’cause we are the culture.” Jeezy brings up the recent lives lost in the hip-hop culture, such as King Von, Nipsey Hussle, and many more. He continued, “These kids out here doing what they do because they saw what went on with us.” This beef still holding relevance 15 years later shows what the two rap genius’ mean to Atlanta and the impact they have on the hip-hop/rap culture.
The two ended the show by performing the 2005 hit song “Icy.” Gucci salutes Jeezy, “I appreciate you throwing out the olive branch, I accept that.” Following the monumental hip-hop moment, Jeezy did several interviews opening up about taking his ego out and controlling the situation. Gucci took to Instagram to say, “I did this sh*t for the culture.”
