Always felt like Gucci put the battery in his back to go harder than what he might have fr but that's just my personal opinion. But like you said, he really didn't start getting super flagrant with it til he started hanging around Gucci super heavy. Don't know if Gucci actually said something or if he just wanted to impress him tho.
Look at the timeline. When Gucci goes on his rant against Gotti, Waka, Nicki, etc; who does he start working with close?
*OG Boo Dirty (who at the time was beefing heavy with him in the city)
*Young Dolph (who starts throwing shots out of nowhere)
*Ralo (who starts throwing shots out of nowhere at him & Jeezy)
Coincidence or nah?
Mix that with sideline people in your ear and you have people starting beef that really didn't exist naturally with people who only showed love. Now you have people divided over nothing with one side basically antagonizing based on "he say/she say" for attention. The other side isn't even wanting to indulge in it.
And now when something happens, your name is brought up for something you're not wanting to happen and never encouraged. All from people who aint really connected or in the know at all. False assumptions for likes and "clout."
Again, RIP Dolph.