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Rapper coming to hara; hip-hop showcase at Dayton C{Space

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By Don Thrasher, Contributing Writer 5:26 PM Thursday, May 7, 2009

Crime, violence, drugs and working hard to survive are all part of life in East Atlanta Zone Six, where rapper Gucci Mane has lived since the age of 9. Given the harsh environment and the tendencies for successful rappers to stick close to home, it’s not surprising these four issues have remained with the rapper, from his start as an underground rapper to his 2007 signing with Asylum/Atlantic Records and beyond.

Mane, born Radric Davis, released his debut, “Trap House,” in May 2005. That same month, he was arrested and jailed on a murder charge. The shooting was later ruled self-defense, but it helped cement the rapper’s reputation as a street-level poet that can protect what’s his. Sales of his debut rose, topping off as 140,000 units, which is impressive for an independent release.

Mane, who performs at Hara Arena on Saturday, May 9, rode the notoriety on his 2006 indie follow-up, “Hard to Kill,” which upped his status as a Hummer-driving pimp with plenty of ice and women at his disposal. The album propelled the Alabama native to the national stage and a major-label bidding war followed. Mane signed with Asylum and released “Back to the Trap House.”

Over the next year, Mane’s career was on a veritable roller coaster path, topping off with chart success and sold-out shows, but bottoming out with DUI charges, arrests for possession of drugs and firearms and jail time. He avoided extended incarceration, briefly, when he was issued 600 hours of community service. However, Mane only completed 25 hours and was eventually sentenced to one year in Fulton County Jail.

Mane began his sentence in September and was released on March 13, six months early. He was back in the recording studio a few hours after his release, and then performed shows the next two evenings before beginning work on a music video two days later.

Mane is maintaining that feverish pace, dividing time between performing and recording his reported backlog of more than 1,000 songs.

For information, visit www.myspace.com/guccimane.

How to go

Who: Gucci Mane

Where: Hara Arena, 1001 Shiloh Springs Road, Trotwood

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 9

Cost: $31.25-$51.25

More info: (937) 278-4776 or www.haracomplex.com

C{Space hosts  “A Hip-Hop Showcase”

On the local hip-hop front, the folks at C{Space are offering “A Hip-Hop Showcase” on Friday, May 8. The 7 p.m. fund-raiser features breakdance crews The Neverquit Dance Crew and the Circle Nerdz, rapper Eyecon, hip-hop poet Ms. Purity and others.

Admission is $5 and proceeds benefit The Neverquit Dance Crew’s upcoming trip to perform in Chicago. C{Space, which is located in a 5,000-square-foot building on the eastern edge of downtown, is gaining a reputation for promoting independent businesses and underground art and music events such as Lady Fest and the 50 Under $50 Arts & Crafts Bazaar.

For information, visit www.myspace.com/cspacedayton.

CONTACT contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.

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