Gucci Mane was sentenced to 12 months in prison on Thursday (November 12) for probation violation and taken away to prison in handcuffs, according to a rep from his label.
The sentence is a blow to Gucci’s career. The ATL rapper has an album coming out — The State vs. Radrick Davis — on December 8 and is arguably at the height of his career; in terms of his sentence, he may be out of prison in six months. Last September, Gucci went to jail and served until March; he was sentenced to a year in prison for failing to fulfill his court-ordered 600 hours of community service, which had been mandated in 2005.
“It was a challenge for me,” he told MTV News in March about going to jail in 2008. “I’m just happy my team kept my music going strong for me. And I’m happy I recorded so many records so people could hear me.”
Upon his release Gucci went straight to the studio and recorded five songs. “Then I had a party later that night to get ready for, so that took up most of my day right there,” he added, describing his first day as a free man.
This year, Gucci definitely was breaking through from the streets to the mainstream, guest appearing on tracks for the Black Eyed Peas, Mario, Omarion, Mariah Carey and even a 50 Cent song. Gucci’s current single is called “Spotlight” and features Usher. This follows on the heels of “Wasted,” featuring Plies.