Revisiting: "Mr. Davis" by Gucci Mane

In October 2017, trap pioneer Gucci Mane dropped what would be considered by many to be one of his best projects ever. Mr. Davis was Wop's fifth project since leaving prison and became one of his most commercially successful albums of all time. Sixteen years into his career and twelve years since his first studio album, Wop proved that he still had what it took to craft a memorable project. But how well does this album hold up today? Let's find out.

1. Work in Progress (Intro)

This is a pretty introspective track from Gucci. From talking about the struggle he went through to all the friends he's lost, Wop really dug deep into his emotions for this one. The Murda Beatz production also compliments Wop's storytelling well. This track proves that Gucci is much more than brash and banging trap songs and that he has a sad past behind him, too. I give this track a high 8.5/10.

2. Back On

Although it isn't the best thing to come from Gucci, I still enjoy it. The instrumental from the legend Zaytoven sounds a lot like "Knuck If You Buck" by Crime Mob and Lil Scrappy, which is a nice little touch. Wop also proves that his bars are as fresh as ever, delivering dope lines left and right. I give this track a strong 7/10.

3. I Get the Bag (ft. Migos)

This is probably one of my favorite Gucci songs of all time, and it's kind of hard not to like it. Quavo's hook is extremely catchy, the beat from Southside and Metro Boomin is amazing, and Takeoff and Wop deliver two fire verses. All three artists flow very well on the beat (Offset was not on this track), and I can see why this was the biggest track on the album. I give it a 9/10, which is super high.

4. Stunting Ain't Nuthin (ft. Slim Jxmmi and Young Dolph)

I didn't expect this track to be THAT good, but life is full of surprises, and so is a Gucci Mane project. Although Wop and Dolph delivered dope verses, Slim Jxmmi was the clear highlight. He did get more time on the track, but his hook was great, and his verse was something else. The beat also tailors to all three artists on here pretty well, and I can find myself listening to this on repeat over and over. I give this track an 8/10.

5. Curve (ft. The Weeknd)

I don't like this track as much as the previous ones on this album, but it's still pretty fire. I knew The Weeknd had bars (Starboy was fire), but I didn't know he had bars like THIS. Also, even though Gucci's verse was somewhat underwhelming, he still did decently. However, The Weeknd outshined him by far. I give this track a 7.5/10.

6. Enormous (ft. Ty Dolla $ign)

Although I appreciated Ty's hook and Wop's first verse, the verse from Ty and the second verse from Wop felt like unnecessary filler. That's one of the reasons why this track didn't supplement my enjoyment enough. The beat is good, but this is a weaker R&B song, and I can find at least fifty other songs just like this that are better. I give this track a 6/10.

7. Members Only

This is a pretty standard Gucci song, and I like it so. The beat from Honorable C-Note is dope, and Wop delivers a fire hook and two decent verses. However, it's really nothing out of the ordinary from Gucci, and I've come to expect stuff like this. Still, I give this track a strong 7/10.

8. Money Make Ya Handsome

I really like the laid-back vibe Gucci has on this track. He flows smoothly over the beat from Ben Billions, and the hook is pretty catchy. However, the lack of any aggression is appalling, but it's for the better in this case. This track is something different from Wop, which I like. I'm giving this track a 7.5/10.

9. Changed (ft. Big Sean)

Although I enjoyed the hook from Big Sean and Gucci's verse, Sean's second verse felt unnecessary, off-beat, and out of place. It really ruined the entire vibe of the track for me. However, I want to compliment the instrumental. It seems that Wop has some really good production choices on this album. Anyways, this track gets a 6/10 from me.

10. We Ride (ft. Monica)

This is, at the moment, one of the best songs on the album. From Monica's hypnotizing hook to Gucci's romantic lyrics, the whole song is a big tribute to Mrs. Guwop, or Gucci's wife, Keyshia Ka'Oir. The track is pretty good and uplifting, and it's one of those motivational songs that doesn't feel corny or fabricated. I give this track an 8/10.

11. Lil Story (ft. ScHoolboy Q)

This is yet another strong track from Gucci, and ScHoolboy Q adds a bit of his flair onto the track. Along with the interpolation of N.W.A.'s "Gangsta Gangsta" on the hook, Wop delivers what he is best at: menacing bars and gangsta raps. I give this track a strong 7.5/10.

12. Tone It Down (ft. Chris Brown)

Although Chris Breezy has a dope hook, Gucci's verse was underwhelming, and the instrumental is a blatant rip-off of Drake's "Portland," which is the better track, by the way. I really can't find any reason to actually enjoy this track, and this proves that not every song Chris Brown touches is good. This track gets a 5.5/10 from me.

13. Make Love (with Nicki Minaj)

Even though the track started off weird, I really enjoyed the chemistry between Gucci and Nicki. Both of their verses were absolutely fire, and the beat is pretty dope, courtesy of Southside and Detail. All in all, this is a stand-out track on the album. However, the hook is pretty bad, but I'll still give this track a 7.5/10.

14. Money Piling

It may be kind of generic, but this track's beat is super good. Also, Wop has a good hook and two decent verses. This album is surprisingly not getting that repetitive at all, which is an accomplishment in my books. But then again, 2017 was a great year for hip-hop. Anyways, I'm giving this track a 7/10.

15. Jumped Out the Whip (ft. A$AP Rocky)

This is a pretty decent song from Gucci, even if he can't compare to Rocky's energy. The beat is also dope, and it fits both of the artists well. I'm looking forward to seeing how this album will close out, and I think this track can tell how the finishing songs will sound like. In the meantime, this track gets a 7/10 from me.

16. Miss My Woe (ft. Rico Love and Chris Bosh)

Another emotional track on the album? You rock, Gucci! Anyways, Rico Love has a very catchy and smooth hook, and Wop delivers two fire verses, with the second one reflecting on the people he's lost. And former NBA player Chris Bosh produced this track? Wow, this is definitely one for the books. I give this track a high 8/10, and I mean that.

17. Made It (Outro)

This is a pretty dope outro from Gucci, and it feels like something he would've released in his mixtape days, except a bit more polished up. The Zaytoven production is nostalgic in a good kind of way, and Wop's two verses are looking at his accomplishments during his life. In the outro, he also shouts out all his dead friends once again. It's a really good closing to a good album, so I'll give it a 7.5/10.

FINAL RATING: 7.3/10

BEST TRACK: I Get the Bag (ft. Migos)

WORST TRACK: Tone It Down (ft. Chris Brown)

SUMMARY:

Although it's not his best body of work, Mr. Davis is an embodiment of the new Gucci Mane, the one who walked out of prison in shape, kicked the lean, and rebuilt his label, not the old Gucci Mane, the one who was overweight, had mental health problems relating to his substance use, and had his record label crumbling before he started his prison stint. Mr. Davis is an ode to the Gucci Mane that people are going to get used to, and if anything, this album is one of his most digestible records in recent years. Mr. Davis is the true comeback project for the hip-hop legend known as Gucci Mane.