Album Preview: Gucci Mane & Waka Flocka Flame "Ferrari Boyz"

As one of the most formidable partnerships in hip-hop, it feels like we've been waiting forever for Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame to drop a full-length collaboration album. We were worried that the project would never happen after Gucci and Waka had a brief falling-out last year, but given that the official tracklist has been released, we feel at ease now.

Complex got an advanced copy of Ferrari Boyz, the trap rap opus from the 1017 Brick Squad frontrunners, and it’s exactly what we hoped it would be, aggressive and fun. You won’t be able to hear it until it drops on August 9, but for now you can read on for our thoughts on the record...

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Written by Brendan Klinkenberg (@KingMidasIV)

"Ferrari Boyz"

Produced by: Drumma Boy

Complex says: This beat is comprised of bombastic barrages of synths laid over a simple percussion pattern. Waka is the saving grace of this track, utilizing a double time flow and dropping lines like, “She want to fuck my chain/She want to fuck my name,” a surprisingly simple look at how he feels about gold diggers. Apart from that, the title track of this album is exactly what you would expect from a Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame collaboration.

"15th And The 1st" f/ YG Hootie

Produced by: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Complex says: Although Gucci Mane’s verse is some solid(ish) storytelling coke rap, he seems destined to be consistently outshined by his collaborative partner. Waka gets the most time on the track, and for good reason—he’s able to make everything he jumps on sound exciting. The chorus on here is close to the kind of thing we got used to hearing on Flockaveli, although Lex Luger is noticeably absent from the album's production credits.

"Break Her"

Produced by: Schife

Complex says: “I don’t have no feelings,” Gucci states in his measured drawl in the first verse of this track, an introduction to why and how he pimps hard, and basically doesn’t care about women. Judging from the obnoxious tattoo on his face, he doesn't seem to care about his appearance either. Meanwhile, Waka’s verse is lackluster, rendering the track itself just kind of boring.

"Feed Me" f/ Frenchie

Produced by: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Complex says: The best beat on the album so far, it’s a menacing slow-burner of an instrumental with stuttering drums and a laid-back piano riff. The chorus here makes the threatening beat come full circle and turns the track itself into a horror story in its own right, as Waka compares strippers to zombies screaming “Feed me!” The rule of this album seems to be that if Waka Flocka’s the one doing the chorus, chances are it's a good song. 

"Mud Muzik" f/ Titi Boy aka 2 Chains

Produced by: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Complex says: Whatever “mud drink” is, Gucci and Waka seem to think it’s pretty fantastic, since they dedicate an entire song to it. It sounds like some kind of chocolate dessert, but knowing these two, it’s probably a hellishly dangerous brown variant of purple drank. They detail drinking it by the ounce in triple-stacked Styrofoam cups, and—WHO CARES? Someone just tell us where we can get some damn mud drink. Don't worry, we'll take the proper precautions and use our interns as taste testers.

"In My Business" f/ Rocko

Produced by: Shawty Redd

Complex says: Another standout beat, this orchestral instrumental uses horns, synths that fade in and out, and refreshingly complicated drums. It’s a huge beat that feels soundtrack-worthy. Gucci’s lines are summed up by lackluster efforts like, “I’m not a blogger/I’m not a jogger/More like a monster,” and he is once again shown up by Waka Flocka, who sounds downright ferocious here.

"Young Niggaz"

Produced by: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Complex says: This track is dedicated “for the young niggaz,” which begs the question, how old is Gucci Mane? In all honesty, this is another uninspired effort that fits in, but skates by. Worth a listen if you want another big, synth-laden beat with verses about going to the club, wearing your pants low, and shooting at the police just for fun. Because obviously shooting at the police is something the youngins need to be reminded to do?

"Suicide Homicide" f/ Wooh The Kid

Produced by: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Complex says: This is the first track where the Gucci and Waka partnership really feels tangible. It has a lot to do with the fact that they share chorus duties here and the tighter collaboration works extremely well. The beat is a catchy and every rapper on here sounds good. You almost don't notice some of the terrible lines, like Gucci's "Call me bakerman/Cause I can bake a cake."

"I Don’t See U” f/ Ice Burgandy

Produced by: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Complex says: This is one of the more high-energy cuts on the album. A chorus of voices provide the intro to this track, giving the song an epic feel. Gucci comes across dark, “Take me for a joker/Turn you to a smoker/Better yet a snorter,” and sets the tone for his verse. When the chorus is delivered in a reserved drawl by Gucci, the effect is more menacing than anything else.

"Pacman"

Produced by: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Complex says: Another short piano riff, more drug rap, and a perfect example of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." No one expected Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame to switch up their respective formulas on Ferrari Boyz and it’s tracks like “Pacman” that their careers are built on. This one will sound good blasting out of speakers. But if you’re looking for something new, look somewhere else.

"Stoned"

Produced by: Shawty Redd

Complex says: The keys on this beat could have lived on a pop song in another life, but are offset by sweeping strings that give the song an uneasy effect. Because of the beat, Gucci and Waka rapping about getting stoned with their friends seems out of place. Still, this one sticks out because of its eerie production.

"She Be Puttin’ On" f/ Slim Dunkin

Produced by: Joshua “Southside” Luellen

Complex says: This track—characterized by guitar licks and the standard hard-hitting synths—sees Gucci and Waka talk about their love for independent women who have their own money. Gucci raps about how his girl comes to his crib wearing nothing under her trenchcoat. Meanwhile, Waka raps about loving his bitch because her ringtone is "No Hands" and "Hard In The Paint" is her theme song. What a coincidence. Ours too!

"So Many Things"

Produced by: Fatboi

Complex says: A strikingly casual beat on the otherwise supercharged Ferarri Boyz, “So Many Things,” stands out immediately. The change in vibe shows some diversity in the record. Gucci handles the hook with a hypnotic sing-songy flow. But he must have spent all his energy writing the chorus because he kicks rhymes like, "I'm insane in the brain like Saddam Hussein," which we're pretty sure would have been corny even when Saddam was alive. 

"Too Loyal" f/ Slim Dunkin

Produced by: Fatboi

Complex says: “Rock two pistols/Fuck three sisters/Iced out crystals,” are the kind of boasts Gucci delivers the best. Over a super-simplistic beat, he sounds dominant on this track. Waka slides through and spits a verse where his voice sounds so faded we wonder if he recorded his vocals right after spending an hour screaming on stage.

"What The Hell" f/ Rocko

Produced by: Drumma Boy

Complex says: Out of all the beats here built from simple piano lines, this is the best. Gucci’s verse starts with just the piano, then the instrumental constructs itself by adding element after element. By the time Waka Flocka Flame starts spitting it’s over the full beat. But Rocko ultimately steals the show with direct, simple statements like, “I’m just tryna see another day/Yesterday, it was okay/Hopefully today will be better though.”