Album Review: "Ice Daddy" by Gucci Mane

Today (June 18), trap legend Gucci Mane dropped off his fifteenth studio album, Ice Daddy. The album's cover features Wop's five-month-old son, Ice Davis, who is also credited as an executive producer on the album (a baby is doing more than me). This album also includes features from Lil Uzi Vert, 2 Chainz, Pooh Shiesty, and more. Is this one of Gucci's best projects in recent years, or is it an absolute dud? Let's find out.

1. Poppin (with BigWalkDog)

I actually already heard this song before the album, because it was uploaded to YouTube. BigWalkDog really has the potential to be the best signee on the 1017 team, even over Big Scarr, who I consider to be one of the best Memphis rappers to have broke out in recent years. WalkDog's hook is catchy and hard-hitting, and he also delivers two fire verses. Although Gucci himself has a shorter part on this track, he still comes with hard bars. I give this track an 8/10, and I'm excited to see what this album can do for Wop.

2. Posse on Bouldercrest (ft. Pooh Shiesty and Sir Mix-a-Lot)

This is a fairly nice track. Gucci delivers two hard verses before he passes it off to Shiesty, who comes with his usual energy and charisma. The hook from Sir Mix-a-Lot is also catchy, and this is a track clearly geared towards the club and the radio. I give this track a strong 7.5/10.

3. Shit Crazy (ft. BIG30)

This was the first single from the album to be released, and at the time it came out, it got me pretty hyped for the album. BIG30 killed the hook and his verse, but Gucci was the clear stand-out, with a nonstop verse filled with menacing bars. I think both artists did fairly well, however. This track gets a 7.5/10 from me.

4. Like 34 & 8 (ft. Pooh Shiesty)

I didn't enjoy this song as much as the other singles released before the album, but it was still pretty fire. Gucci delivered a fire verse, and Shiesty definitely did his part. The instrumental from Mike WiLL Made-It was also pretty dope. I give this track a high 7/10.

5. Dboy Style

This is a typical Gucci song, which means that it's fire. The beat from Southside is great, and Wop delivers two fire verses and a dope hook. I can see myself throwing this onto a playlist in the future. I feel like Wop has solidified his place in the game enough where he can brag like this, so I'm giving this track a 7/10.

6. Trap Shit (ft. Lil Baby)

Although Gucci delivered a pretty good verse, Baby had more time on the track, meaning he shined out a bit more. His feature was a little bit disappointing, but he still had a pretty decent hook and a fire verse. This is definitely going to be one of the bigger tracks on the album, so I'll probably be hearing this a lot. I give this track a 7/10.

7. I Got It (ft. Lil Uzi Vert)

This is another throwaway from 1017 vs. The World, the collaborative EP between Gucci and Uzi. I fairly enjoyed Uzi's hook and his verse, and even though Wop has an underwhelming verse, he still delivered heat. I give this track a 7/10, because it doesn't seem like anything I'll be returning to a lot. I know Uzi fans will just overrate the hell out of this track, though.

8. Rich N**** Sh*t

Although it is a weaker track, I still fairly enjoyed it. The beat is infectious, and Gucci's hook and verses are pretty good. The album might go down from here, but I highly doubt it, since projects from Gucci usually stay consistent throughout. Anyways, my rating for this track is a 6.5/10.

9. Top of Sh*t (ft. 2 Chainz and Young Dolph)

This track reminds me a lot of the old Gucci. He delivers a dope verse over an older-sounding beat from none other than Zaytoven, possibly one of the best trap producers of all time. Dolph's hook is fire, and 2 Chainz delivers a pretty good verse. I know that I'll be returning to this track a lot. I give this song a 7.5/10.

10. Never Runnin Out Of Money (ft. E-40)

This was not the best track to come out of Gucci's vault, but I still enjoyed it. The hook is catchy, and Wop and E-40 did well on their verses. The beat is also pretty decent. I probably won't be revisiting this track a lot, but it's still okay. I give it a 6.5/10.

11. Fold Dat Money Up (ft. Project Pat)

I actually enjoyed this track a lot. The beat is well-crafted, Gucci comes with an effortless hook and verse, and Project Pat does a decent job on his part. This track isn't anything special, but it's good enough for it to warrant a 7/10 rating from me.

12. Gucci Coming 4 You

This is one of the best tracks on the album so far. From the beat, which sounds like it was crafted during Gucci's mixtape days, to the infectious hook, a playable riff on a nursery rhyme (One, Two, Buckle My Shoe), to the laid-back verses and the constant gun-cocking in the background. It really feels like something Wop would've thrown on a mixtape back in 2008. I give this track a high 8/10.

13. Invoices

The beat on this track is the main highlight, even though Gucci delivers a catchy and fire hook and two dope verses. I could see myself putting this in rotation in the future, just because this is one of those songs. Wow, that instrumental is great. I'm giving this track a strong 7/10.

14. Live at the Red Carpet (ft. Peewee Longway)

Even though Gucci has a good hook and all, Peewee Longway is the stand-out on this track. His verse is filled with infectious energy, and he makes rapping with one of the trap legends look easy. That isn't to say that Wop didn't do his part, either. Both of them delivered, so I'm giving this track a 7.5/10.

15. Bust Down

This is a pretty decent track, although it's nothing special from Gucci. I've come to expect bangers like this from Wop, and it can get a bit boring at times. However, he usually picks the pace back up, so we'll see how this album finishes. In the meantime, this track gets a 6.5/10.

16. Lately

I enjoy this track quite a bit. The beat is dope, and Gucci delivers a fire hook and two hard-hitting verses. I'm really happy with the way this album is closing out, and we'll see if the last track is worthy of a high rating. Anyways, this track gets a high 7/10.

17. How I See It

This is a VERY good song. The beat is something different and very infectious, and Gucci going straight in with a single verse and no hook is what I needed for this album to close out in a satisfying way. I just need Wop to rap like this for an entire album, and it could be considered as one of his best projects ever. This track gets a 7.5/10 from me.

FINAL RATING: 7.1/10

BEST TRACK: Poppin (with BigWalkDog)

WORST TRACK: Rich N**** Sh*t

SUMMARY:

This is easily Gucci's best project since Mr. Davis all the way back in 2017. From the clever production to the catchy hooks to the fire guest appearances, this is what a trap album should be. Aside from some unnecessary filler, every track was a banger, and from start to finish I found myself bopping my head. It seems that Wop is in beast mode, and maybe he can get back to the way he was in his mixtape days, where he was in his peak.