Mixtape Review: Gucci Mane’s “Trap Back”

Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, Gucci Mane released his latest project, Trap Back, hosted by DJ Holiday. After a tumultuous 2011, in which he saw more time inside of a psychiatric hospital and jail cell than a studio, the controversial Atlanta rapper attempts to reach out to his core audience with a project that features Jadakiss, 2Chainz, and Future, as well as constant collaborators Waka Flocka Flame, Yo Gotti, and Rocko.

As expected, Trap Back features an exercise in excellent trap production as Lex Luger, Drumma Boy, Zaytoven, Southside, Mike Will Made It, KE on the Track, and Sonny Digital provide the sounds. So, production isn’t the issue for Gucci as much as the fact that, within the past year, his personal problems have allowed the rise of other Atlanta artists. Long-time fans will be happy to hear that Gucci Mane seems to be moving in the direction of a successful 2012.

The tape begins with a phone introduction from none other than incarcerated drug trafficker, and one of the founding leaders of the Black Mafia Family organization, Demetrious “Big Meech” Flenory. Although this may seem odd to fans as Big Meech has been known as a long-time affiliate of Young Jeezy and an on-again/off-again enemy of Gucci, the introduction sets the tone for a different project from Gucci Mane than we’ve seen in the last couple of years.

“Back in 95” begins the song portion of the tape with a rare look into Gucci’s past. Although critics complain of the lack of variety in his subject matter, it is clear that this is all Gucci has known his entire life (“Had a crush on your sister but I used to serve your mama, breaking fifties down to dimes was my job for summer”).  On “Plain Jane,”producer Mike Will Made It steals the show with a grimy, futuristic-like melody that sounds as if it was produced on the planet Mercury. Although Gucci and Rocko provide solid verses, the beat is so hypnotizing that it manages to stand alone above the other instrumentals on the tape as the clear best beat.