The way I lived, I grew up in a time where people would take your shoes, they'll take your jacket, they'll take your cheese without a gun. So people would jump on you - this was like fourteen, fifteen years old. So it always taught me that you gotta have your crew, in some ways you gotta move, don't put your self in harm's way, and definitely if you're a street dude and want any kind off credibility, don't put yourself under the mercy of anybody else, or you'll be at their mercy; they can do what they want to do to you.
Gucci ManeI watch the people I hang around, 'cause if you hangin' with people who still got their foot in the street, that really involves you as well. It's definitely all about the company I keep. If you don't want anything to do with the streets or whatever, but you got everybody around you in the street, you just as much a part of it as they are. A lot of times it's very hard; you gotta straight cut off people, you know what I mean? If it ain't good for you, you just gotta turn your back to it.
Gucci ManeA lot that was happening in 2005, 2006, good and bad, the beats reflected it. It was a lot of money around. People was making music to throw money to.
Gucci ManeI value my core fans I got from the hood. I think a lot of things might hit home with them, like problems with the law or how I talk about partying - all the different topics I cover when I do rap. But I also value my suburban fans who take a liking to my music and like the way I change cadences. I appreciate all of them cause both types of fans push me to record all the time, both push me to give my best when I do a show. Both push me to be the best rapper and not just do it as a hobby, but do it as a job and take it seriously and put pride in it.
Gucci Mane