With 'Truth,' are Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy beefing again?

By August Brown

Oct. 15, 2012 12 AM PT

Gucci Mane may swear that “for the record,” his new song “Truth” is “not a diss record” aimed at Young Jeezy. But if this switchblade of synth-goth menace is just an innocent promo for his forthcoming “Trap God” mixtape, we’re scared to hear what an actual warning shot sounds like.

The beef between the two Atlanta rappers stretches back nearly a decade, when Gucci (born Radric Davis) was arrested in the shooting death of an alleged Jeezy associate after a break-in at his home. Davis claimed self-defense and was acquitted on lack of evidence, and while the two appeared to patch things up in recent years, a September scuffle between Jeezy and Rick Ross’ crews at the BET Awards seems to have re-ignited the tensions.

“Truth’s” beat is a beautiful bit of trance synth filtered out to minimalist smoke rings. Gucci, who has been in the news for some erratic behavior in the last few years, is in absolute top form, and his usual syrupy delivery sounds just demonic in this setting. Gucci’s disclaimers don’t do much to dissuade listeners from believing this is a cut-and-paste ransom note to Jeezy, considering references to Jeezy’s relationship with Keyshia Cole and Gucci crashing rapper (and longtime Jeezy friend) T.I.’s birthday party. The video even starts with a snippet of Gucci and Young Jeezy’s 2005 collaboration “So Icey,” which helped establish each of their careers.

The song comes right after Jeezy dismissed all talk of a Gucci beef in an interview with Power 106 FM’s Big Boy. In referencing Gucci, Jeezy said: “Nobody taking him seriously, man. He got an ice cream cone on his face. ... I can’t take him seriously. Nutty buddy.”

Ice cream cone tattoo or no, “Truth” sets a high bar for the star-packed “Trap God” (with cameos from Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wacka Flocka Flame and Future), and we’re now very eager to hear what comes next.

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