Gudda Gudda - New Orleans, LA

"They askin bout the group shit/ it’s time to get the loot bitch/ I had to go solo."

-Gudda Gudda, 2009

Young Money Ent is not starved for talent. Artists ranging from Nicki Minaj to Tyga to Jae Millz all bring a distinct vibe to the Hip-hop scene by showcasing their own refreshing style. New Orleans rapper, Gudda Gudda, is no different. Though he is slowly becoming known to the rap world as one of the most talented rappers on Lil Wayne's Young Money Ent imprint, he has been

hustlin' for a while.

Revibe was first introduced to Gudda Gudda as one part of Lil Wayne's now defunct Sqad Up rap group. In 1999, the group was formed and consisted of New Orleans natives Lil Wayne, Nutt Da Kid, Young Yo, Gudda Gudda, T-Streets and Supa Blanco. Between the years 2000 and 2004, the group released a series of 7 classic SQ mixtapes, becoming some of the first artists--after 50 Cent-- to become popular by making songs with original lyrics over other artists beats. What was evident in these series was a group of young, raw, and talented rappers hungry for respect in the game.

By surveying these series of mixtapes, you come away with two conclusions: (1) Wayne had the talent to become as good as he is today and (2) Gudda Gudda--and Kidd Kidd--held their own on the same track with Wayne in those days in the same way that Drake does today. He showed signs of greatness in the early days of Squad Up that has manifested itself in him today.

Gudda parted ways with Wayne in the middle of the decade after witnessing shady business practices at Cash Money records. Since that time, Wayne had skyrocketed well beyond the pre-Carter I status they had known him to be. Now, back in the fold, and presumably with a better record deal than the first go around, Gudda is ready to take their rightful place in the Hip-hop dynasty that YM is almost destined to become.

We have seen Gudda on his grind in the last year appearing most notably on Waynes Dedication 3 mixtape. On leaked tracks like "Sacrifice," "New Orleans Maniac," and "Get Bizzy" he displays a flow that is both raw and refined in the same breath. His raw rapping ability is reminiscent of the type of flow that you can only find in the neighborhood and that is off the radar of major record labels. But unlike most rappers who fall into that category, Gudda won't be pigeonholed because he has refined his song making ability through training and a persistent work ethic (on the mixtape scene). His southern N.O. drawl adds flavor to his tales of growing up the Bayou City.

Gudda has raw talent for rapping when you first hear him. And over the last year, we have seen him appear all over the Young Moula Baby and Dedication 3 mixtapes that help to catapult Drizzy Drake Rogers to the forefront of the YM team and the rap game itself. But while people were rightfully drawn to Drake's surprisingly refreshing raping style, Gudda's verse's were undeservingly overshadowed and he was not given the respect he deserves. On tracks like "Im The Man" Gudda shows that he is not a rapper that should be taken lightly. Rather, N.O. accent in toe, Gudda is poised to break through a litany of new rappers as a future Hip-hop heavyweight.

*This is The Word...govern yourselves accordingly.