10 artists who prove that Gucci Mane is one of the best A&Rs in rap

10 artists who prove that Gucci Mane is one of the best A&Rs in rap

Gucci Mane has put in the work to be called the ‘So Icey King’. Starting his rap career in the ‘00s, Gucci became a pioneering star, showing off his sedated flows and sizzurp-sipping demeanour, which debatably started trap music (although T.I might disagree). Hailing Atlanta and the dirty South, Guwop was always trying to stay ahead of his peers by being the business-minded individual he always has been, including starting his own label, So Icey Entertainment, in 2007.

After many label reforms due to his problems in-house (mostly with his once-protége Waka Flocka and his mum Debra Antley, who actually is a legendary rap manager), the newly named 1017 Records is now where Gucci Mane gets to flex his A&R muscles. It’s about time he was recognised for his accurate picks on who’s the next big rap star. There are plenty of successful rappers today whose career Gucci has had a hand in – and we’ve put some of the best in a list for you.

Waka Flocka Flame

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It’s common rap trivia that, at one time in the late ‘00s, Waka Flocka and Gucci Mane were as thick as thieves. And, with Gucci’s old manager being Flockavelli’s mother Debra Antley, it was inevitable that rap would play some part in Waka’s life. Tagging along with his mother, he and Guwop became the best of friends, and when Waka wanted to become this glitzy rap star, Gucci Mane took him under his wing. He became the first-ever signee to Gucci Mane and 1017 Brick Squad, and the two were inseparable – the Batman and Robin of the trap game. It’s a shame they’re no longer on good terms with each other anymore.

OJ Da Juiceman

After meeting the So Icey King, who once lived in his apartment complex back in the early ‘90s, and watching him blow, the 39-year-old always been in the shadow of his famous best friend. Yet you can’t discredit Gucci Mane for introducing his talented friend to the world. Releasing his acclaimed 2009 debut ‘The Otha Side of the Trap’ under the old So Icey Entertainment, as well as his follow-up 2014’s ‘The Otis Williams Jr. Story’ under 1017 Records, OJ has been able to show off his lazy, nonchalant flow. He’s rocked with Gucci for over 30 years; this type of loyalty is rare in rap.

Young Thug

Before Thugger was dipping his foot in the A&R world with his record label Young Stoner Life, he was scouted by La Flare and signed to 1017 Records in 2013. Within his year-and-a-half at 1017 Records, Thug and Gucci were having loads of fun in the musical world; Young Thug’s fourth mixtape ‘1017 Thug’ was critically praised and featured on Best of Year lists, and the duo even did a joint mixtape ‘Young Thugga Mane La Flare’ in April 2014. Praised for his uniqueness by the big leagues, Gucci will forever have bragging rights as he did indeed sign the YSL crooner first.

Future

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Gucci wasn’t the first to find only one seminal rap crooner – he also discovered Future early into his career too. Right before Future’s huge record deal with Epic Records, Gucci made another one of his famous collaborative mixtapes with Future, lending some of his rapper icon clout to the budding star.

Gucci gave Future that little celebrity boost to bring up Future’s rap validity, proving the latter can roll with the big dogs. This was all happening in 2011, a confusing time for music since everyone was moving from the TV and radio to YouTube and Datpiff for the hottest songs, so a familiar name helped. And with his early Gucci Mane co-sign, Future was destined to be a force to be reckoned with.

Migos

Another shocking one! Of course, being an Atlantan himself, Gucci Mane seemingly knows where the talent in his hometown is at. Gucci certainly was one of the first mainstream stars to give them a verse, featuring on their 2013 third mixtape ‘Y.R.N’, as well as creating 2014’s ‘The Green Album’ with them (a part of the ‘World War 3D’ trilogy Gucci released from prison). They’re now managed by QC co-founder Coach K – who was Gucci’s ex-manager as well – and there seems to be a bunch of connections between the ‘Freaky Girl’ rapper and the younger pop stars. It doesn’t matter whether Gucci Mane did give them his chains or not back in 2013 (which lead to a huge Instagram beef in 2019) – he still proved he was ahead of his time by jumping on a Migos track all those years ago.

Zaytovan

Zaytovan has made a lot of hits in his time, but many don’t know that he too was once signed to 1017 Records under a management deal. In love with his beats, Guwop made Zaytovan his right-hand musical man, which was one of his smartest smart moves. The plethora of hits that the two have have together (like their 2005’s smash ‘Icy’ featuring Young Jeezy and Boo) is undeniable. Zaytovan and Gucci Mane have an almost indescribable, unmatchable synergy, similar to JetsonMade and DaBaby’s, and it’s all due to one of Zaytovan’s friends at Barber school introducing the two. How cool!

Peewee Longway

Known as the last rapper signed to 1017 Records before Gucci Mane’s three-year-long imprisonment for two counts of possession of a firearm, Peewee Longway had a lot to live up to since the rap world had their eyes on the guy who was meant to keep 1017 relevant. Longway became another one of Gucci’s acclaimed protéges as he too – just like the Migos – had a whole album with Gucci Mane on ‘World War 3D’, and — if that wasn’t enough — made a supergroup with fellow signee Young Dolph and the CEO himself, Felix Brothers. Gaining enough notoriety to be on tracks with Young Thug (fun fact: PeeWee put Gucci onto Thugger, according to Genius), GoldLink, and NBA Youngboy, PeeWee is this high figure only rap’s biggest fans know of.

Chief Keef

The Glory Boyz leader was definitely popular before he ever met Gucci Mane: ‘I Don’t Like’ was already a certified Chicago banger getting loads of airplay. After the hit went viral through the rap community in 2012 — with the help of the internet, especially Twitter — the bidding war for Keef was brutal; even trap legend Young Jeezy wanted him. So, after he was reluctantly dropped from Interscope in 2014, the 25-year-old allegedly actually signed a deal with 1017 Records. Whether it happened or not, Gucci didn’t really help Keef’s rap career because that was already thriving, but La Flare helped a lot with his production career. He produced 16 out of 20 tracks on their joint collaborative album ‘Big Gucci Soca’, which was the start of the Chicagoan’s producing career.

Asian Doll

A part of the dubiously dubbed SoundCloud ‘female rap’ influx, Asian Doll gained great Instagram and SoundCloud followings due to her knockout rap freestyles over popular beats like Playboi Carti’s ‘Lame N****s’ and Nicki Minaj’s ‘Itty Bitty Piggy’. However, she wasn’t getting much acclaim nor that many streams – somewhere along the line she wasn’t getting the exposure she needed except the small SoundCloud community. In comes Big Guwop himself, freshly out of jail and, doing a complete 180 degrees with 1017 Records, this internet star became the First Lady of 1017 Records, signing in 2018. Taking her from the phone screen to the red carpet at the 2018 VMAs, Gucci Mane was the first to help bring the rapper to the mainstream eye before her on-and-off-again relationship with late drill star King Von.

Pooh Shiesty

Yes: Gucci Mane is also famous for his signature ad-libs, most popularly his “brrrr”s. However, his latest protége – Tennessee star Pooh Shiesty – has borrowed them for himself. Something like the gen-Z version of Gucci Mane, the new Big Brrr has been making waves with his deepened nonchalance that mimics his mentor, and it’s taken over rap very swiftly.

After the colossal success of ‘Back In Blood’ with drill sergeant Lil Durk, everyone is falling in love with the 21-year-old – and all Gucci had to do was sign him. Pooh Shiesty is part of the brand new 1017 ‘Brick Squad’, the roster of newcomers that Gucci Mane has co-signed – alongside Memphis’ Foogiano and Big Scarr – and it seems he has finally polished his strategies when it comes to running a successful label.

Harry Styles, Dakota Johnson & More Appear In Gucci’s ‘The Beloved Show’ Campaign

While late night talk shows are typically reserved for night owls, Italian fashion house Gucci has taken matters into their own hands by creating their own TV talk show featuring a star-studded lineup that, to be honest, we wish existed in real life. Thanks to the brand’s creative director Alessandro Michele, Gucci ’s latest campaign for their handbag collection, Gucci Beloved, centred around the talk show of our dreams, starring famous faces like Harry Styles , Dakota Johnson, Awkwafina, Sienna Miller, Serena Williams and Diane Keaton—as well as a healthy dose of fashion-related drama.

The ultra-slick campaign was directed by cult-favourite artist, photographer and director Harmony Korine, and showcases four of the brand’s most beloved handbag styles—including the Dionysus and Jackie 1961 bags—while A-listers take the hot-seat, Gucci bags in tow. But who hosted the imaginary talk show of our dreams? None other than king of the TV chat show, James Corden. The fashion powerhouse revealed in a recent statement, “Michele has conjured up a version of the late-night ‘Hollywood’ talk show that surprises, and playfully subverts the format.”

Michele also explained in an interview that “very often, these creations are named after influential women. Now, we twisted with the idea that there were two stars: the bag and the actual talent.” As for which House Of Gucci -esque item each famous face opted for? Harry Styles, a long-time Gucci supporter, sported a signature Elton John-esque uniform with a fur coat, bold shirt and flares and carrying his favourite Jackie 1961 bag by his side.

Next up saw notable lime-hater Dakota Johnson , who took to the hot-seat with her sequined Dionysus, while Sienna Miller beamed with her Jackie 1961 in the brand’s iconic Supreme canvas—a fabrication we can thank Aldo Gucci for. And who could forget Hollywood royalty Diane Keaton, who donned her Gucci Horsebit 1955 for the cameras. And last but not least, Serena Williams and Awkwafina dazzled alongside their Marmont bags. By the end of each ‘episode’ Corden is sure to ask his famous guests: “Which bag do you hold the most beloved?” Their answer? Of course, it was nothing other than a Gucci Beloved. WATCH BELOW: Harry Styles on Gucci’s The Beloved Show.

Fascinated? You can check out each star-studded appearance on The Beloved Show below.

Courtesy of Gucci.

Courtesy of Gucci.

Courtesy of Gucci.

Courtesy of Gucci.

Courtesy of Gucci.

Pensioner, 72, who went viral with photos of his vegetables is new face of Gucci’s latest collection

A pensioner dubbed the ‘vegetable king’ who went viral last year with photos of his impressive produce is the new face of Gucci’s latest sustainable collection.

Self-confessed ‘fanatical veg grower’ Gerald Stratford, 72, from west Oxfordshire, gained praise across the globe after posting photos of his potatoes, with his gardening Twitter account followed by nearly 280,500 people.

Now Gerald is the star of the luxury Italian fashion house’s The Garden with Gucci, part of its collaboration with Highsnobiety - the Gucci Off The Grid capsule collection.

The range pays homage to environmentalism by using only recycled, organic, bio-based and sustainably sourced materials. Garments are made mostly of ECONYL, a type of Nylon regenerated from abandoned fishing nets, old carpets, and offcuts.

Gerald gained praise across the globe after posting photos of his potatoes on Twitter last year

Gerald is now the star of the luxury Italian fashion house’s The Garden with Gucci, part of its collaboration with Highsnobiety - the Gucci Off The Grid capsule collection

Gerald, who lives in the tiny village of Milton-under-Wychwood, is seen guiding a bunch of city dwellers through his famous garden and allotments, showing them how to cultivate their own food

Images from the campaign and its accompanying video show retired fisherman Gerald guide a bunch of young city dwellers through his famous garden and allotments, showing them how to cultivate their own food.

In another scene of the video, shot in his shed, Gerald shares ‘growing guides’, offering top tips like using old milk cartons to grow lettuce and playing music to your plants to stimulate them.

The outdoorsy range features chunky backpacks and retro belt bags, duffle luggage and totes, as well as a gilet-style vest, trousers with gaiters, ski gloves, trainers and sliders.

Gerald, who lives in the tiny village of Milton-under-Wychwood, started a Twitter account in February 2019 with the help of his nephew Stephen, in order to discuss gardening with a small group of friends.

He went viral in May 2020 with a tweet about his first early rocket potatoes of the year, and rapidly had to become accustomed to his new status an online celebrity.

Gerald shares ‘growing guides’ as part of the campaign, offering top tips like using old milk cartons to grow lettuce and playing music to your plants to stimulate them

The Gucci Off The Grid capsule collection pays homage to environmentalism by using only recycled, organic, bio-based and sustainably sourced materials. Garments are made mostly of ECONYL, a type of Nylon regenerated from abandoned fishing nets, old carpets, and offcuts

Gucci Off The Grid, the House’s sustainable collection, appears in a series of images created in collaboration with Highsnobiety

He said at the time: ‘My phone was going berserk, and I wasn’t sure what was going on, I phoned up my son-in-law and he said “you’ve just gone viral!”

‘It’s gradually got bigger and bigger and bigger, people seem to like what I’m doing!

Gerald continues to share regular photos of his vegetables, which range from potatoes and cauliflowers to carrots and courgettes. He’s quite the expert in growing veg, and has won several awards for his exceptionally large produce.

He’s recently branched out to rhubarb, admitting he can ‘smell the crumble already’.

Speaking to Highsnobiety, Gerald told how gardening has been a part of his life since he was a young boy following in the footsteps of his father, when in the years after the Second World War it was cheaper to grow your own produce than buy it.

Speaking to Highsnobiety, Gerald told how gardening has been a part of his life since he was a young boy following in the footsteps of his father. He’s recently branched out to rhubarb, admitting he can ‘smell the crumble already’

‘I like to think [my father] was the greatest gardener in the world,’ he said. ‘He taught me so much in regards to the growing of things, mainly vegetables, and life in general.’

Since he retired, gardening has become more of a passion, with his interest in growing big veg stemming from his fishing.

‘Being a fisherman, you always want to catch something bigger than the last one. Now I’m not fishing, I was looking at carrots and thought, “What would it be like to grow a bigger carrot or a parsnip?”,’ he said.

‘There really is a deep satisfaction that comes from eating what you grow. That’s all the motivation I need to get out and do it every day.’