Review: Gucci Mane - The Return of Mr. Perfect
By Eli Schoop, Contributor
[1017 Brick Squad; 2014]
Rating: 6.5/10
Key Tracks: “Mr Perfect,” “Stiff, “Lil Dudes”
Gucci Mane calling himself "Mr. Perfect" is probably the most Gucci Mane thing he's ever done. This puts it ahead of the multiple incidents and arrests in which he's been involved (including his most recent conviction), his rise as the king of trap music and the ever-infamous ice cream cone face tattoo.
Who else but Gucci Mane would believe he's perfect? Leaving aside all the lifestyle choices he's made, Gucci is one of the most inconsistent rappers alive, ranging from genre-defining releases to absolute garbage. Thankfully The Return Of Mr. Perfect falls closer to the former category, delivering trademark insanity from one of trap's finest.
As with most Gucci albums, the production here is top-notch. There isn't a single dud beat, which speaks to the quality of beat-makers assembled here. Mike Will Made It, 808 Mafia and Dun Deal are some of the hottest producers in rap right now, contribute banger after banger. It speaks to the respect Gucci commands when he can get all these names under one roof.
Even (comparitively) lesser names like London On The Track and Drumma Boy shine in this environment with “Night Rider” and “Ambulance” being some of the sharpest beats on the mixtape. It's refreshing to see so many people bring their A-game for Guwop.
This being said, the manner in which Gucci utilizes these beats isn't up to par. This is mostly due to phoning it in on various songs, a trait Gucci is unfortunately known for when it comes to his music. His rhyme schemes are fairly basic and lacking in energy when compared to the current heavyweights of trap, such as Migos and Young Thug. In addition, some of his guests outshine him. Strap Da Fool, a general no-name, uses a slurred flow and a scratchy voice to steal the show while Gucci remains uninspired.
Gucci does manage to step up to the plate on a fair amount of tracks, however. Aided by a Mobb Deep-esque rhythm, “Mrs. Perfect” is a great anthem about “Mr. Perfect” finding his counterpart in perfection, encapsulated by the line “Why you broke n----as in her face / She allergic.”
“Stiff” has a club-ready beat and bounces constantly in accordance with Gucci's laid-back flow, oozing vibes of Atlanta's new obsession with molly without ever mentioning the drug. It seems easy for Gucci to create hits without doing much work and The Return of Mr. Perfect supports this theory.
If you're looking for another The State v. Radric Davis, look on. As is the norm with the genre of trap rap, quantity is favored over concrete quality; with more polish, this would be a bona fide contender for one of the best rap LPs of the year. As it stands, it's just another solid release from the trap lord himself. But what's wrong with that?
