Rapper Gucci Mane released on bond

<p>Jailed rapper Gucci Mane and his debut album were both released Tuesday. On the same day his album "Trap House" hit stores, Mane posted a $100,000 bond on a murder charge.</p><p>Mane, whose real name is Radric Davis, was arrested Thursday on a murder charge. Police said he is accused in the May 10 shooting death of Henry Clark, whose body was found three days later in the woods near Columbia Middle School.</p><p>The 25-year-old's attorney, Dennis Scheib, said that Mane acted in self-defense. On Tuesday, Scheib criticized the DeKalb police investigation that resulted in the arrest of his client.</p><p>"Once they do some really good police work, I think some other people will be charged and this case will be dismissed," Scheib said.</p><p>Mane was released from jail after Scheib negotiated the bond with DeKalb prosecutors, offering testimony from a witness that his client acted in self-defense.</p><p>Officials from Mane's record label, Big Cat Records, said they did not plan to have the rapper promote his album Tuesday in order to allow him to spend time with his family.</p><p>Mane's mother, Vicky Davis of Atlanta, said she was pleased with the bond and is hopeful that prosecutors ultimately will drop the charge.</p><p>"My son is not a killer. He's passionate about his music," she said.</p><p>Scheib said his witness saw five men enter the DeKalb condominium Mane was visiting and exchange gunfire with Mane before the men escaped. It is believed that Clark was one of the five men who confronted Mane, Scheib said.</p><p>Mane did not know that any one was injured in the shooting but believed the men were associated with rival rapper Young Jeezy, his attorney said.</p><p>Jacob York, president of the Atlanta-based record label, said a dispute between Mane and Jeezy had been simmering for several months after the two artists worked on "So Icy," a hit song that Mane owns.</p><p>In early May the two had a falling out and Young Jeezy released a song during that time called "Stay Strapped or Die," which was supposedly aimed at Gucci Mane. The lyrics pledged $10,000 for anyone who would bring him the chain that Mane wears around his neck, York said.</p><p>But Jeezy's attorney, Janice Singer, said that song was in response to songs that Mane created against Jeezy and that the lyrics do not have a literal meaning.</p><p>"It's all lyrics. It's just a song," she said. "It took a long time for Jeezy to respond to the fairly hostile CDs that were done by Gucci Mane."</p><p>Singer added that it was "offensive" that her client's name was being used by Mane's defense team.</p><p>"Jeezy would like his fans in the community to know that he adamantly denies any knowledge or involvement in the events which led to the shooting for which Gucci Mane had been charged," Singer said.</p><p>Jeezy's publicist from Def Jam Records, Gabriel Tesoriero, said he had no comment.</p><p>Mane also is known for the song, "Black Tee."</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/5/145348