Gucci Mane replaces TI in upcoming ‘Verzuz’ battle with Jeezy

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The popular music livestream show Verzuz is set to return this month, but not before a shakeup in the lineup for the new season.

T.I. and Jezzy, two Atlanta veterans of the rap game, were scheduled to face off in the first matchup of the second season, but the the “Live Your Life” rapper has been replaced on the scorecard. Gucci Mane, another Atlanta fixture, will take T.I.‘s place on the screen in what’s organizers are calling a “cultural celebration” of Atlanta hip hop.

No reason for the switch has been given at this time and all advertisements have been removed from the official Verzuz social media.

The official announcement of the match-up came from Gucci Mane’s Instagram page on Saturday, touting it as “Trap God vs Snowcone.”

Gucci Mane is considered a pioneer of Atlanta’s trap music scene that has taken music by storm over the past decade. Meanwhile, Jeezy’s “Snowcone” moniker comes from the platinum-selling MC’s reputation for rhyming about life as a cocaine dealer.

READ MORE: Brandy, Monica Verzuz battle draws over 1.2 million viewers

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Created by music producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, Verzuz took the nation by storm this past summer as a song-for-song music “battle” platform on Instagram live between artists, producers and songwriters. The most recent line-up of Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight this past September drew over 3.7 million total viewers, according to Verzuz’s IG profile. The events are also carried on other streaming platforms.

This wouldn’t be the first time a switch was made. During its first run, singer/songwriter T-Pain was originally linked with songwriter/producer Scott Storch back in April, according to Revolt TV. However, Storch would later be matched up with Cash Money producer Mannie Fresh, while T-Pain went up against Atlanta producer/DJ Lil’ Jon.

READ MORE: Gladys Knight & Patti LaBelle earn their best career streaming numbers thanks to Verzuz

Another reason this match-up is a surprise is that Hot 97 reported last month that Gucci Mane originally declined to participate in Verzuz. In addition, he and Jeezy have had a feud with each other for more than a decade, stemming from a dispute over a 2005 collaboration song, “Icy.”

Gucci Mane and Jeezy, who have five Grammy nominations between the two of them, will shoot the battle face-to-face, live from Atlanta on Thursday at 8pm EST.