Gucci Mane, Tory Lanez Team Up with H-Town Legends for Spotify’s RapCaviar Live
He may rep Atlanta, but Gucci Mane is coming to Houston this week.
Image: Shutterstock
Brrrr–yes, it snowed last week, but we’re not talking about the weather. Rather, Gucci Mane.
Hip-hop fans should immediately recognize the onomatopoeia as the Atlanta rapper’s signature, briefly preserved in the three-scoop ice cream cone tattooed on his right cheek which has since been removed.
And this week, Gucci Mane is coming to town—albeit sans ice cream cone—along with Tory Lanez and H-Town’s own Bun B and Trae tha Truth when music streaming behemoth Spotify takes one of its most popular curated playlists on the road.
RapCaviar Live hits Houston this Thursday, December 14 at Revention Music Center; tickets go on pre-sale at 10 a.m. today and are available to the public starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Catch Houston's own Bun B at the Revention Center on Thursday for Spotify's RapCaviar Live.
Image: Instagram/sneakersummit
More than 8 million Spotify users follow the dynamic playlist, which includes a “pantheon” of this year’s breakout artists, tracks chosen by bona fide hip-hop heads, official music videos and more, depending on the week.
The streaming service partnered with Live Nation to take RapCaviar to the streets in six select cities in the U.S. and Canada, fusing the “heaviest hitters” with the “hottest emerging artists in rap,” a press release said.
The Houston edition includes a full week of activities leading up to the show through a partnership with Samsung. The goal is to "bring music and communities together to support and tell the stories of the people of Houston," Spotify said, and all tickets are $5 "to make the popular show more accessible to all local music fans following [Hurricane Harvey]."
Maxo Kream, Trill Sammy, YBN Nahmir and DJ Mister Rogers join Gucci, Tory Lanez, Trae and Bun B; the latter will host the evening's festivities.
"It's an honor to be on the frontline with Spotify and Live Nation to uplift my city and bring artists and fans together for the communities," said Trae the Truth, who made headlines in his own right for personally evacuating people from flooded homes during Harvey.
Thursday's show is the culminating event in the weeklong series, which begins today when Chamillionaire joins Spotify and Live Nation reps at a local high school to speak about industry opportunities. Paul Wall and his wife will volunteer at the Houston Food Bank today, too.
RapCaviar Live began this summer in the ATL, Gucci’s hometown, with additional shows in New York, L.A., Chicago and Toronto. Tour guests have included Cardi B, Lil Uzi Vert, Mike WiLL Made-It, A$AP Mob, Playboi Carti, Dispet and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.
It’s no wonder Houston is among the chosen tour stops–hip-hop has deep roots in our trill city, after all. Just ask UGK (RIP Pimp C), Slim Thug, Geto Boys or, better yet, Bun and Trae when you see them Thursday.
Until then, take this time to bone up on your Houston hip-hop slang, conveniently anthologized here courtesy of the crowdsourced lyric annotation hub Rap Genius. Our suggested soundtrack for this reading: “Pourin' Up” by Pimp C.
- Candy paint: Candy paint jobs will make your ride really shine and stand out. They are notable aspects of culture in Houston and the southern United States in general. Made famous by: Pimp C.
- Flossin’: While you should definitely take care of your teeth, flossin’ is essentially another word for flexin’–it means to show off. Made famous by: Mike Jones.
- Grill: Technically referring to someone’s mouth, the term in rap lyrics typically means jeweled caps set over the teeth. Made famous by: Paul Wall.
- Lean: A mixture of codeine-promethazine cough syrup with soda (usually Sprite). Made famous by: Pimp C, DJ Screw.
- The Nickel: Refers to a historical Houston district, the Fifth Ward. Several notable figures have their roots in The Nickel. George Foreman was raised here along with his six siblings. Made famous by: Geto Boys.
- Middle of the Mall: Used to define something common and pedestrian, usually jewelry, that you can find and buy at a kiosk in the middle of a mall. (Editor’s note: How pedestrian is anything you can buy in the middle of the Galleria, though?) Made famous by: RIFF RAFF.
- SLAB: Stands for “Slow Loud And Bangin’,” and is used in reference to any (usually older) customized car with features like a sound system, candy paint, vogues, etc. Made famous by: Chamillionaire.
- Third Coast: Slang for southern states around the Gulf of Mexico. Made famous by: UGK.
- The Tre: Refers to the Third Ward, a historical neighborhood southeast of downtown Houston and famously home to Beyoncé. Made famous by: Beyoncé, obviously.
- Trill: The realest individual living life. Made famous by: Bun B, Pimp C.
