Gucci Mane – 1017 Up Next – EP
Among Gucci Mane’s numerous bankable talents, his proficiency for discovering others’ gifts is one of his greatest. From the 2000s onwards, Georgia’s self-anointed Trap God used his 1017 brand—through the mixtape circuit and the major-label system—to help introduce and popularise a slew of rap stars, from now-seasoned players like Waka Flocka Flame and Young Thug to more recent hitmakers including Foogiano and Pooh Shiesty. So, it’s not all that surprising that he would use a release of his own to court potential future hitmakers to join his roster. This EP contains three freestyles from him, each showcasing a distinct flow from his arsenal, plus an instrumental of each track for 1017 hopefuls to spit over, with the promise of including the best entries on a future project. Given Guwop’s contributions to the rap game, there’s no harm detected in the way he’s now chosen to gamify it.