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By Rodney Carmichael

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Radric "Gucci Mane" Davis walked out of the Fulton County Jail on Rice Street at about 12: 20 a.m. Wednesday morning with rap competition on his mind.

Released after serving six months of a 12-month sentence for violating parole for the second time (after failing drug tests and community service requirements while on probation for attacking a club promoter in 2005), Gucci Mane addressed a curbside press conference, surrounded by boom mics, media cameras and hand-held camcorders.

"I set out five years ago to be the No. 1 rapper in hip-hop," he read from a printed statement, never looking up. "Today that journey continues with an even sharper focus. I challenge all artists to put out the best music they ever made this summer. I won't accept nothing less than victory but I still want worthy opponents." [Read the full statement below the jump.]

Of course, opposition has always had a way of finding Gucci Mane. Need we remind you that this is the same rapper who seemingly squashed his long-standing, deadly beef with Young Jeezy (via a December ’09  jailhouse phone call Gucci made to DJ Drama and on-air guest Jeezy during Drama's weekly Hot 107.9 radio show), only to have the tentative truce cut short when members of their extended crews engaged in a shoot-out at Walter's Clothing in downtown Atlanta last March.

Conspicuously missing from the printed statement distributed to the media, however, was Gucci's final point in which he seemed to indirectly address the controversy that reignited between his and Jeezy's respective camps during his time spent on lock down.

"Finally, a lot of things happened while I was away. I'm back to address these things. The rap game is in need of substance right now, and I'm here for the streets, right on time. I can't wait to show the world why I feel that now that I'm free, ironically, I'm the most wanted man in Georgia. I'm hungry for success and ready to compete so may the competition begin."

This morning's post-jail press conference, organized by his label Asylum/Warner Bros., was staged directly in front of the Rice Street facility, where a smiling Gucci exited to a smattering of about 30 people, mostly consisting of local and national media (including MTV News), random bloggers, Atlanta rap personalities Shawty Lo and DJ Holiday (who hugged their comrade), and a handful of female supporters who came out just to get a glimpse of Gucci Mane LaFlare in the flesh.

In Gucci's prepared statement, he thanked his lawyers Dwight Thomas (who also helped broker recently-released rapper T.I.'s short federal prison sentence) and Michael Holmes, as well as fans for their support before speaking of his own redemption.

"I have made some mistakes in my life that have hurt a lot of people who care about me," read the 30-year-old rapper whose career has been riddled with rap beef, run-ins with the law and revolving-door jail stints. "These past six months have been a difficult time but fortunately I have learned a great deal from my experience. I was able to do a great deal of soul searching; I am coming out with a new attitude towards life."

Eager to get back to business, Gucci talked about plans for a nationwide tour in July, and his new label, 1017 Brick Squad Records, launched in affiliation with Asylum/Warner Bros. He plans to release new albums from his signees Waka Flocka Flame and OJ Da Juiceman this year, in addition to releasing his new album, The Appeal, by summer's end, and Brick Squad group album featuring all three artists. Gucci also claimed he's working with a new team, a statement that probably alludes to his separation from former manager Debra Antney, who faced allegations of fraud during his incarceration for booking concerts Gucci was unable to attend due to his probation agreement.

While Gucci's recidivist ways continue to work wonders for his street cred, it's hard to argue that the jail time has had a positive impact on his career. Even he admits to being his own "Worst Enemy," and it couldn't have come at a worse time. "Unfortunately, my incarceration also came at a pivotal point in my career, just as my first major label album was dropping. I was forced to miss what should have been one of the proudest moments of my life. This is something that I will make sure never happens again."

After completing his statement, Gucci headed straight for a waiting black Cadillac Escalade, with the small crowd trailing behind him and some looking on in awe. When asked if he was headed straight for the studio to begin recording, Gucci ignored the question, climbed into the backseat and got ghost as the Escalade pulled out of the parking lot.

(Photos courtesy Joeff Davis)

Read full text of Gucci Mane's statement upon release:

"First and foremost I would like to thank my legal counsel Dwight Thomas and Michael Holmes for their excellent representation, as well as my label Asylum and Warner Brothers Records for sticking with me through my situation and helping me through my time behind bars. Most importantly, I want to thank all of my fans for their support while I have been away. Your letters and your words of encouragement helped me make it through. None of my success would be possible without you.

I have made some mistakes in my life that have hurt a lot of people who care about me. I have worked very hard to get past them, but those mistakes have brought me to where I am today, and they will not be repeated. These past six months have been a difficult time but fortunately I have learned a great deal from my experience. I was able to do a great deal of soul seraching; I am coming out with a  new attitude towards life.

Unfortunately, my incarceration also came at a pivotal point in my career, just as my first major label album was dropping. I was forced to miss what should have been one of the proudest moments of my life. This is something that I will make sure never happens again. My time in jail was trying, but I grew from it and am now a stronger and better person. I want to continue on a positive track and truly focus on being a role model to my fans and my community. I am looking towards the future with a newfound respect and appreciation for the law and a strong dedication to my music and my career.

With that in mind, I have already begun to make positive strides towards the future. I have launched a new label, 1017 Brick Squad Records in affiliation with Asylum/Warner Bros Records, and I am working with a new team.

I am looking forward to getting back to business and to start making hits. I am extremely excited about my new album, The Appeal, which will be dropping at the end of the summer. Over the course of 2010, 1017 Brick Squad Records will also be releasing new albums from my artists Waka Flocka Flame as well as my group Brick Squad, which features Waka, OJ Da Juiceman and myself. In July, I will be heading out on a nationwide tour, hitting venues across the country and continuing the movement.

Finally, a lot of things happened while I was away. I'm back to address these things. The rap game is in need of substance right now, and I'm here for the streets, right on time. I can't wait to show the world why I feel that now that I'm free, ironically, I'm the most wanted man in Georgia. I'm hungry for success and ready to compete so may the competition begin. I set out five years ago to be the No. 1 rapper in hip-hop; today that journey continues with an even sharper focus. I challenge all artists to put out the best music they ever made this summer. I won't accept nothing less than victory but I still want worthy opponents. To everyone who was there for me, thanks for y'alls support. Holla."