The Gucci Mane/Jeezy Verzuz was an iconic moment for several reasons. Although the battle was a cultural and commercial success, those associated with Jeezy didn’t like how things played out.
During a recent appearance on the Big Facts podcast, Jeezy’s former friend and business partner, Kinky B, claimed the rapper’s status as a street legend took a hit when he decided to bury the hatchet with Gucci.
“That man, in the United States of America, any street n***a lost all respect for that man that f**king day,” Kinky B said. “He lost all his street credibility that day due to the fact that I don’t give a fuck, when a n***a lose their life, man, ain’t no peace. They’ll never be peace. Never, ever.”
Gucci Mane and Jeezy’s blood-soaked beef came to a head when Gucci murdered one of Jeezy’s associates, Henry “Pookie Loc” Clark, in 2005. The charges against Gucci were eventually dropped in 2006 after a court agreed that he acted in self-defense. Yet, this didn’t stop Gucci from rapping about the murder in his Jeezy diss song, “The Truth.”
Despite their past, Gucci Mane and Jeezy agreed to come together for a Verzuz battle. Having two of Trap Music’s forefathers in the same building attempting to extend olive branches was a big moment for hip-hop and fans. While Jeezy was focused on celebrating his legacy, Gucci made it clear that he is not completely over their feud. He jeered Jeezy and played his diss tracks aimed at the Snowman during the battle—including ‘The Truth.” After performing “The Truth,” Gucci continued to degrade Pookie Loc in Jeezy’s face.
Gucci Mane’s actions created viral moments which added to his mythology surrounding his persona.
Normally, antics like this would immediately result in violence. Yet, Jeezy decided to defuse the situation by displaying restraint and maturity. He even performed “So Icy”—the song that started the beef—with Gucci Mane at the end of the battle. To Kinky B, this isn’t how someone who lives by the street code should’ve acted.
Like Gucci Mane, Kinky B has his own issues with Jeezy. The rapper and Kinky B were childhood friends who came together to co-own and co-create the Corporate Thugs Entertainment record label. But, things went awry leading Kinky B to sue Jeezy and Def Jam Records for $5 million in unpaid revenue in 2015. Jeezy won his case against Kinky and the two have not been able to mend their friendship.
