Gucci Mane Explains How Lean Nearly Destroyed His Mind & Body on ESPN's 'Highly Questionable'

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In a recent interview with ESPN's Highly Questionable, Gucci Mane tackled a bevy of topics surrounding his once drug-laden lifestyle, and reflected on his early experiences in the rap game.

"Soon as I had my first CD, I had a murder charge the same week," he recalled. "So I can't say that I enjoyed it. The whole time it was always tense. I'm enjoying it now, but back then, my whole 10 years in the music game... it was filled with violence, paranoia and drugs. It was just like a blur."

After that, the Atlanta rep delved into that paranoia, and explained how his fear of being killed consumed him for years. "It is miserable," said Gucci of his fear. "When you've been doing wrong so long and you did wrong by other people. You never know when it's gonna come back on ya. I'd hurt so many people and so many people had hurt me. I never knew when it was gonna come. It was like, I was always preparing for the day that bullets start coming and start ringing out."

Gucci Mane then spoke on his addiction with lean, and how kicking his habit nearly broke him down physically and mentally. "Drying out from drinking lean is probably the worst feeling in the world," said Gucci. "You know, it tear your body down, it tear your mind down. You've been doing something for so long, it's kind of like food. It's like starving. It's indescribable. It's terrible, terrible pain."

Since being released from prison last year, Gucci has bounced back impressively. He released three projects, Everybody Looking, Woptober and The Return of East Atlanta Santa, and After being featured on Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles", he scored his first No. 1 record on the Billboard Hot 100. The rapper also got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Keyshia Ka'oir. The couple are set to be married this October.

Check out Gucci's full Highly Questionable interview below.


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