Gucci Mane On New Album, Fashion And Memoir On Mental Health Crisis

It’s 10:17 pm in Brooklyn. On October 17, a date and numerical sequence that has personal significance to Gucci Mane. The rapper has named his label after the date, 1017 Records. It was the street number of his grandfather’s home in Alabama. It also marks the eighth anniversary of marrying his wife, Keyshia Ka’oir Davis, CEO of beauty brand, Ka’oir Cosmetics, who he married on October 17, 2017.

Tonight, Gucci Mane (born Radric Delantic Davis) is performing at the iconic venue, Brooklyn Bowl, mixing hits and songs from his new album. He also just released an album today, “Episodes,” his 17^th studio album featuring 23 tracks. He also just held a signing at Barnes & Noble for his third book, “Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man,” a book co-written with Kathy Iandoli, where he talks about living with bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, before embarking on a tour this fall.

We may know Gucci Mane for his music, his iconic ice cream tattoo on his face, or his run-ins with the law. But now, we learn about the backstory of his own mental health crisis. Since being released from jail in 2016, Gucci Mane has cleaned up his act and lives a disciplined life in Atlanta, while writing books, music and touring. The trap music trailblazer from the early 2010s is the reason why there was a flurry of “Free Gucci” merch in 2016, and how the moment he walked into a tattoo shop and got a tattoo of an ice cream cone on the side of his face, it was a “cry for help.”

We already have two memoirs from the rapper and author, the first being The Autobiography of Gucci Mane (2018), which he began writing while serving time in prison, and his second The Gucci Mane Guide to Greatness (2021), which details the life principles he lives by. Both books are released on Simon & Schuster, like this one.

This new book traces his recovery, and how his mental health journey is at the core of it, something that isn’t always easy to talk about. “I was trying to do something to help people that was going through, to help challenges,” he said. “I was trying to use my story and my story with addiction and mental health, to help somebody else. That was really the concept, honestly.”

This book feels like a combination of his first two books, lined with his history of bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, which brings to light in this book. As a prolific artist who is always releasing new music, it is profound how he has been able to keep up with himself, despite his own inner struggles. What kept him going was his own resilience.

“I have always been a resilient person; I guess I was just raised like that,” said Mane. “I guess maybe I had an example with my mom. I was just, I always make it happen, even if the chips are down. You know what I’m saying? She made the most out of little.”

Sitting backstage with Gucci Mane at Brooklyn Bowl is something you have to be prepared for. It’s like he’s ready for a game of joust, and he knows writers well, having collaborated with a different writer for each book he has released. He whips through questions quickly and knows what he wants to say.

His fans are no joke; there is a reason why he has over 16 million followers on Instagram. They’re not fake. As soon as Gucci Mane stepped onstage and kicked off with his hit tracks like “I Get The Bag,” “Icy” and “Lemonade,” the audience went wild. His fans are crazy for him, and in the lukewarm rap market we see today, it truly is something enviable.

He loves his fans and gratitude was also key to his recovery. “I always try to be grateful, like, if I’m still breathing and I’m not in jail, then I can, you know, make something happen,” he said.

For his fans who do look up to him, his advice is simple for young artists. “Be patient; don’t be hard on yourself,” he says, tapping into key bullet points from his second book, The Gucci Mane Guide to Greatness. “Be confident. Try to be prolific. Keep working hard. You know, practice, being hard working does pay off. You know what I’m saying? So, like, if you’re not the most talented, be the most hardworking.”

Let’s take a moment to appreciate Gucci Mane’s style evolution. Of course, he wears the iconic Italian brand, Gucci, and yes, he is a fan of Demna’s new approach to Gucci (“I love it,” Mane says in passing). But his own style is noteworthy, and symbolic of his glow up. From his impressive collection of ice or his wide array of eyewear, some of his bold looks include his palm tree hoodie, his Hermes collection, his yellow faux fur coat to encrusted blazers, wild coat hues like florescent pink and cobalt blue, not to mention is Gucci collection, ranging from track suits to blazers with the brand’s traditional red and green stripe.

The new album shows a different side of Gucci Mane we know. “There is a vulnerable side of me on this album, it showed the part of me that I don’t really always show to the public,” said Mane. “I think with age and maturity, I was able to show people things that used to embarrass me. It’s hard to be vulnerable. But it’s hard to be vulnerable, but now it’s easier.”

Check out Gucci Mane’s books, merch and more on his website.