The Secret Sauce In Trap Rap is Toxicity
Apple purchased rappers Gucci Mane and Jeezys’ deadly beef in exchange for millions of streams. Unfortunately, a resolution was never part of the deal
Never before have two platinum-certified music artists weaponized their catalogs to settle a personal beef. Especially not a feud consisting of verbal disrespect, threats and death.
Last Thursday, rappers Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy faced off — in person — for the season 2 premiere of the scorching tale-of-the-tape series Verzuz. Millions of Apple TV and Instagram faithful witnessed this once unforeseeable moment in hip-hop history virtually. Worth the price of admission alone (actually, it was free — you were simply requested to pay attention) was the sight of two sworn enemies occupying the same room. In a promo interview leading up to the event, Jeezy was asked by a reporter if it was possible that the showdown could transpire without “an incident.” The response was a flat, “We’ll see.”
Everything I love and fret about hip-hop is what made Young Jeezy versus Gucci Mane last week’s hottest ticket. There were no celebrity judges. No thirsty smiles or fellowship facade. Neither artist read any awkward poems. The drama wasn’t executive-produced — it was street-rooted. Tension…
