How Gunnas New Album Tackles His Snitching Allegations Head On

Gunna's new album A Gift & A Curse is out a day early, nothing special and a decent single released two weeks ago, but it's going to get as much attention as any album released this summer. This is partly due to Guna's reputation as a talented perennial star who has emerged from Young Thug's shadow to become a major star in Atlanta hip-hop, but much of the audience's interest goes beyond the product.the music itself.

In May 2022, Anna, Young Thug and several other members of YSL were indicted in a massive RICO case brought by the Fulton County District Attorney. The lawsuit alleges that YSL, in addition to being a record label and creative group, was involved in various criminal activities in Atlanta and that its famous artists were directly involved in this business. Although the thug remains in custody and faces a slow trial, Guna was released last December after pleading guilty to extortion. Guna pleaded guilty before Alford, meaning he formally pleaded guilty despite his public declaration of innocence because there was a significant possibility that the jury would not find in his favor. (It should be noted that Guna is not the only person involved in the RICO case to plead guilty, though others have rejected plea deals.)

Despite 6ix9ine, Gunnar's defense may have made him rap's greatest lightning rod. Some fans and fellow artists were quick to say that he was cooperating with authorities to secure his freedom at the expense of his friends, despite the host's insistence that he was not testifying, but testifying. Taking Accountability Since the release, Gunnar's musical output has been minimal, but when he released "Bread and Butter" on June 2, it was clear that he wasn't going to be silent any longer. "I've been honest with the niggas, I never lied and I've always been honest / I love my brother so much I'd never cheat them," he says in the first verse of his song. Expected return.

"A Gift and a Curse" is an exciting record that doesn't usually make for a musical hit, though it's hard to say if Guna will ever be able to overcome the stigma he now faces. Here are GQ's first thoughts after listening.

Guna uses 15 songs to talk about his life and the challenges he faced after getting out of prison.

For starters, yes, Guna is often influenced by the high-profile YSL RICO case and the impact of his early release on this project.

There is no specific song that mentions this, rather these lines are scattered throughout The Gift and the Curse. On "Rodeo Dr." he says he's met people outing him when he's rapping, "I know you heard me kick these niggas that said I did it." "Niggers say I did it and I swear I didn't," he read on Paybach, then seemed to condemn the idea of ​​RICO enforcement entirely. "To hell with the system, try to judge us all."

Some songs, such as "Idk Nomore", deal heavily with the aftermath as well as the seven months he spent in prison. "I've been off the syrup for months, no more codeine in my liver," he read, noting that his time in prison helped him wean himself off the addictive substance. Elsewhere in the song, he talks more vaguely about ruining a relationship, which would lead to endless speculation on the internet. "We've burned a bridge, broken ties and broken up forever / And I know there'll come a time when you'll really show who you are," he muses at the end of the album.

In lead single "Bread and Butter," Guna calls his old friend a hypocrite for beating him up, but has a close relationship with a man who has cooperated with the authorities in the past. "When you know you're dealing with a rat, you hook up with me / And nobody talks about a kid like your brother," he says. (Some have interpreted the lyrics to be about Lil Baby and Quality Control Music CEO Pierre "P" Thomas, though Guna doesn't personally dispute that.)

On "Turned Your Back," Guna denied rumors that he wanted to leave YSL for a new label, something he had previously denied on social media. "I heard rumors that I'm packing and flying / We're not going anywhere, I'll be here, I'll fight," he promises. The Gift and a Curse is definitely published by YSL and 300 Entertainment.

Perhaps no track is more at odds with the snitch narrative than "I Was Just Thinking," where Guna talks more about the isolation he felt locked up ("Twenty-three and one, how do you feel when you're alone? / Four walls talk to you, they tell you you're gone"), an effective follow-up to the moving open letter he penned from prison last June, but one that addresses Young Thug directly. "I'm just crying because of this feeling for my brother (Slime King) / And you know what's on my mind, you watched that nigga grow up / You know you heard the lies your little brother can tell / Yeah, I jump but I do " No" let me say what I said," he sings on the album's final track.

Closing track "Okay" offers a challenging tonal balance, with Guna acknowledging his emotional struggles following its release ("All I feel is pain but I'm gonna be alright / Dirt in my name, tell me I'm wrong and I'm wrong"). . , but ultimately chose a cautiously upbeat tone ("So many people have changed, it'll never be the same / But it'll be alright"). It's a logical note to end the album on, as Gunnar has a loose but uncertain future at the center of hip-hop.

You will need guna-rap as a rental

With his back against the ropes, Guna bursts into the door of the Gift and the Curse, banging furiously. In the past, the beats of his songs have sometimes been numb, making Guna the most memorable part of many of his best songs.

But he's in fine form from the start of "Back at It," speaking tactfully without breaking the charm of his Georgian accent. Naturally, there's a level of emotion in her voice that we rarely hear from Guna, best displayed on songs like "Idk Nomore" and the wistful "Turned Your Back." One of the reasons Guna and Lil Baby worked so well together was that Baby had her heart on her sleeve, unlike Guna's hardened clientele. There are a few tracks that sound like lazy "P Angels", but it's interesting to hear Guna play both roles and pull them off.

​​​​​​While many fans will listen to The Gift and a Curse for its commentary on the YSL situation, musically the album stands on its own.

The lack of features is noticeable.

A Gift & A Curse's production is mostly trademark with established beatmakers (CuBeatz, Swiff D and long-time Gunna/YSL collaborator Turbo) and interesting up-and-comers (88Krazy, Kenny Stuntin, Royal808), but there can be a noticeable lack of a guest verse. . It will be read differently. Fortunately, it's the one that bleeds from his chest the most during the LP, and it makes sense to keep most of the verses to himself while battling his social media narrative and reclaiming his place on the charts. The pinnacle of hip-hop. But it's a significant departure from one of his previous projects, which featured Atlanta stars like Lil Baby and Future, as well as international stars like Travis Scott, Roddy Rich and Drake. Guna's album, which is still popular in various rap circles, is very painful to see without someone else's voice.

The exclusion of such heavyweights may indicate a level of isolation from the rap station that has been scrutinized online. Former employees like Lil Dirk criticized Guna after Alford's indictment. This may change in the future as cases are resolved and more information becomes available, but it puts Guna in a difficult position. There are many consistently successful rappers off the mainstream radar, but Guna has spent his career at the center of hip-hop culture, dominating rap spawn and mainstream radio with a sound that's hard to imagine ever changing. Tech should be a picture like N9ne.

On the other hand, a prominent post on Young Thug's social media accounts features an image of a barcode titled "Business Is Business" with a countdown ending in five days, which seems to hint at a new project. Images have been shared by the likes of Drake, 21 Savage, Ty Dolla $ign, and YG, meaning they'll be appearing on the project, but at least offering implicit support. As of press time, these artists have not shared any news about the Guna album.

Ultimately, The Gift and the Curse is a timeline of a superstar at a crossroads, both professionally and personally. With Gunna Loose, the trial of his public opinion has just begun, and he defends himself with one of the most memorable songs of his career.

Originally appeared on GQ

6ix9ine grills a young thug after he was arrested on allegations against Rick 🤔😂