New surprise 18th studio LP from Atlanta, Georgia rapper, record executive & entrepreneur Gucci Mane. Notable for being one of the Big 3 pioneers in trap music alongside T.I. & Jeezy, of course you can’t forget to mention him having one of if not the largest discography throughout the entire subgenre that continues to grow today. Breath of Fresh Air exactly 2 years ago was a decent 2-disc offering & to coincide with his new memoir, the 1017 Global founder’s coming off Episodes to drop Against All Odds.
“Back Against the Wall” samples “Torn” by LeToya Luckett shouting out the late Young Dolph right out the gate whereas “Y’all Make Me Sick” talks about the same ones hatin’ will be the first ones to get pics with him over horns & hi-hats. “Fucc Errybody” produced by Zaytoven to me ranks amongst my personal favorite cuts here stacking millions of dollars & his response to those wondering how he’s feeling while “Last Night in ATL” featuring Summer Walker links up for a weak trap soul/pop rap crossover.
We have Wop telling those who’ve turned against him to simply “STFU” although I could care less for the instrumental, but Zaytoven runs it back with his longtime collaborator for “She’s So Fine” talking about a woman who might work at Magic City since she’s that beautiful. “Still Dat N***a” makes it clear he still doesn’t have a fuck to give & others not being able to keep up just before “She on Go” makes for an underwhelming midway point talking about a freak hoe.
“Rich Ass N***a” kicks off the 2nd half making it up with a Zaytoven beat containing this prominent organ making way for Gucci to boast his wealth while “Get the Fuck Out My Face” talks about celebrating daily since he doesn’t hang around any snakes. “Crazy Bih” describes a psychotic woman who goes through his phone every night when he’s sleeping & buggin’ out all night while “Priorities” hops over another Zaytoven instrumental to talk about fatherhood.
OJ da Juiceman appears for the “Vette Pass By” sequel “Lambo Pass By” that I could’ve honestly done without, but “Drunk” was more unimpressive talking about getting fucked up whenever the weekend rolls around. “All I Have” discusses his balls & his word being the only 2 things he has left in this world & after “Crash Dummy” disses Pooh Shiesty, the closer “1017” ends Against All Odds talking about him taking people out of the streets signing them & turning against him.
All Eyes on Shiest a couple months earlier proved Gucci Mane wasn’t kidding when he said Pooh Shiesty was still signed to 1017/Atlantic after throwing his life away when “Crash Dummy” came out, but I really don’t consider Against All Odds much of an improvement. In fact: I’d rank it amongst the weakest installments of his historic catalog & that’s largely because of the mostly uninteresting production other than all 5 cuts Zaytoven did.
Score: 2/5
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