Gucci Mane - The Gucci Mane Guide to Greatness

ALSO BY GUCCI MANE

The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

Simon & Schuster

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New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright 2020 by Radric Davis

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition October 2020

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Interior design by Carly Loman

Jacket design by Rodrigo Corral Studio

Jacket photograph by Zach Wolfe 2020

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020940379

ISBN 978-1-9821-4678-8

ISBN 978-1-9821-4680-1 (ebook)

To the memory of my mother and father

This book is powerful. The words you are about to read can help you. Thats because there is truth in them. These are words of wisdom, like the Bible and its proverbs. Why does the Bible give people strength? Because the Bible is a book of words filled with truth. This book describes a paththe ongoing path to greatness.

I wanted to write this book to give you a tool set. Its not an autobiography. I already did that. Im doing this book because I really feel like it can help people. I live by the principles in this book. Im serious with it.

I want to reach people. I know how they think. This book should touch people who are going through something. This is my way to teach them. Its not going to be easy. But study these words, and put them into action. Start now.

This is my way to get my message out even further. I know people liked The Autobiography of Gucci Mane. There were lessons to be learned from the story of my life. But Ive got even more to reveal. When you get this book, youll see its a visual book that you can flip though. Youll see that my body changed. I used to be fat. Now Im skinny. Man, now Im married. You can look at the good things, the bad things. There are so many things that are eye-grabbing. Study it all, then it totally makes sense. I stand on all this.

I hope this book brings a little solace to everybody. Thats what were trying to get to. But we got a long way to go. I hope these little words of wisdom will help you get through your day. I want this book to be something where you keep going to it. You can put it on your shelf and keep going to The Gucci Mane Guide to Greatness.

I want this book to keep you motivated and make you say, Damn, man. This stuff right here, it does make sense. Ive seen how he did it. Even though I read this book once, Im going to read it again. I can read it in two or three days. Im going to keep coming back to it for guidance and inspiration.

Since I got in the music game, Ive given everyone a lot of insight into my life. Its been a wild journey, thats for sure. I was born in Alabama and became a man in Georgia. My daddy taught me how to read people. I learned the streets by being in them. I robbed people, sold drugs, then became a fiend myself. I liked rap, but didnt like the way my voice sounded. I always imagined myself as the CEO, the man investing in the talent. I always liked the CEO better than the rapper anyway.

Then I realized that people loved me. That made me understand I could be boththe CEO and the rapper. People loved my raps, but they loved me in person, too. They loved talking to me, getting advice from me, hearing what I had to say. Here I was, a kid from Alabama commanding the respect of everyone in Atlanta. Then Georgia. Then the South. Then the rap world. Now, Ive done songs with Bruno Mars, Drake, Migos, Rae Sremmurd, Selena Gomez, Chris Brown, Fifth Harmony, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, 2 Chainz, Nicki Minajthe list goes on. Ive helped raise a new generation of Atlanta talent. I brought trap to the masses.

When you see me today, Im a much different man than I was when I got in the game. Actually, Im much different than I was even two or three years ago. Im about half the man I was. Literally. Ive lost more than a hundred pounds. I dont do any drugs. I dont drink. I work out all the time. Im married now. Im reading books, thinking differently. Im in a whole different mindset now. Now I can take in more knowledge.

Look at the results. I make an impression. My singles regularly go platinum. Ive got millions and millions of followers on social media. I act. My memoir, The Autobiography of Gucci Mane, was a New York Times bestseller. Im more popular now than Ive ever been. And I wont stop.

Im still young. But Ive lived a life. I love my life. Ive gained a lot of wisdom through the years. The last time I was in prison I made a choice. I would hold myself accountable, and change my life so I could handle life straight up. I have established principles that guide me every day. Ive benefited from them so much that I wanted to share them with the world, so that others can benefit from what Ive learned. My whole idea with this book is that everyone should take advantage of their own natural ability and drive to be successful. My grind has helped lead to my success. This is the path Im walking every day. This is what makes me get the most out of my twenty-four hours.

People look at me as a role model, for the good Im doing, so I decided to write a book of affirmations of sorts. Its a collection of inspirational Guccisms, you could say. I partnered with respected rap journalist and fellow author Soren Baker to give you my Guide to Greatness. We built upon my pronouncements to give you all a playbook for success. Here is most everything Ive learned over the years.

The Gucci Mane Guide to Greatness is a self-help book. At the same time, its coming off my autobiography, so theres a little bit of a Part II in here, too. The Autobiography of Gucci Mane covered everything from my birth until the day I got out of jail. But a lot has changed since then. Im a whole new man. I want people to look at what Ive done and see: This is how he got there.

Make no mistake, I still mess up all the time. Life isnt easy and we all have a long way to go if we really, truly want to be the best we can be. Life is brutal. Its highly competitive. Everyone has to grind to get there. Every day. So whether you grew up in the trap, or only heard about it through my music or saw it in one of my videos, it doesnt matter.