Gucci Mane

There's something quieter, less riotous about Southern rap preacher Gucci Mane's latest mixtape, The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted. Sure, the brashness and goofy names are still there ("My Little Friend," "Making Love to the Money"), but there's a more introspective bent to Gucci's growl-y raps, something that works quite nicely post-hype, serving to emphasize he's actually moving forward as a rapper. As always, he knows how to pick beats (the Neptunes appear on the Nicki Minaj featuring "Haterade") and the production on The Appeal is synth-y and lush, sumptuous even, matching his lax flow. That said, there's also a horrible track featuring Ray J (who should just go away, already), "Remember When." Gucci fans will find something to appreciate in this record, which is less obvious than The State vs. Radric Davis, others might be disappointed.