As one of the six epicenters of Southern hip hop, Memphis has always had a thriving underground capable of producing major platinum superstars such as Eightball & MJG, 3-6 Mafia and Project Pat,Skip a.k.a Gianni Booker. All of the above-mentioned artists at one point in time literally dominated the city’s underground rap scene before going on to become national superstars. Next up to bat is Yo Gotti, M-Town’s current underground rap kingpin. Like his namesake John Gotti, the Memphis based rapper has been running the Southern underground scene with an iron fist for the past. Known and respected throughout the South for his skill and finesse on the microphone, Yo Gotti is one the South’s most respected young rappers.
Born Mario Mims, Yo Gotti grew up in the infamous Ridge Crest Apartments in a North Memphis neighborhood called Frazier. His childhood was typical for a poor ghetto youth in the Deep South. Raised in a family of hustlers and exposed to hard times 24 hours a day the Tennessee rap titan soon turned to the only thing that he knew could get him paid, hustling. “Being from the hood things like hustling will come your way,” says Yo Gotti. “Everybody in my family hustled in some kinda way.” Ironically, hustling is what ultimately led Yo Gotti to rapping.
Taking his cue from Memphis rap legends such as Eightball & MJG, Al Kapone, Gangsta Black, Triple 6 Mafia and Kingpin Skinny Pimp, all of whom he lists as influences, Yo Gotti released his own underground tape entitled, Youngster on the Come Up and placed it on consignment at local mom & pop record stores as well as hustling it out the trunk. The tape sold like hotcakes on the street and made Yo Gotti the hottest rapper on the streets of Memphis. From the Dope Game to the Rap Game, Yo Gotti’s sophomore effort sold so well that Select-O-Hits, a local based independent distributor offered him a small deal and the Memphis rapper more than doubled his fan base with absolutely no marketing or promotions. Soon he found himself ranked among the city’s top rappers. In addition to being featured on the cover of Murderdog Magazine along side his idols Kingpin Skinny Pimp and Al Kapone his record From the Dope Game to the Rap Game made the list for the magazine’s top independent record for the year 2000.
Two years later he inked a distribution deal with TVT Records and released the critically acclaimed album Life, which did respectable numbers for an independent label. “It sold about 40 or 50,000, with no promotions or video,” says Yo Gotti. “That record did what it did on its own.” But as the old saying goes when one door is closed another opened. Gotti’s reputation as the king of Memphis continued to spread and that eventually led him to a production deal with Cash Money/Universal records for his group the Block Burnaz. With his TVT sophomore album entitled Back 2 Da Basics, Yo Gotti returns with the same hardcore street flavor that his die-hard fans have come to know and love, only this time around the true king of Memphis has elevated his game a bit. Given the fact that his last record didn’t do the type of big number he’d hope for you’d think that Yo Gotti would switch up his style to reach a larger audience. Right? Wrong! According to Gotti his street credibility with his underground fans means more to him than gold or platinum status.
“The one thing that you have to understand is that when you create a fan base off of street product the last thing you wanna do is disrespect them by changing because of the record companies and stuff like that. When you do that you change what created you. To me it is very important that I keep in tune with the people that helped to sell 40,000 records independently. That’s why I call my record Back 2 Da Basics.”
Produced by DJ Thoomp, Mannie Fresh, Carlos Brody and newcomers Street Tunes, Back 2 Da Basics offers fans a gritty, insider’s view into the real streets of Memphis as seen through the eyes of Yo Gotti. Nowhere is this viewpoint more intense than on “Full Time,” the amped up lead single –and featured in the MTV Films’ Hustle & Flow movie - with a thunderous bass and intoxicating beat that espouses Gotti’s formula to success –hustle full time.
“A lotta cats wanna be a rapper or a street hustler but they don’t wanna put in the time that it takes,” says Yo Gotti. “They want the money and the cars and the girls, but they don’t wanna work hard for it. But to be successful at anything you gotta grind for it.” On the song “Mama We Gone Be Alright,” he waxes introspective by reflecting on all of the hard times that he and his family have suffered through the years and offers her hope-filled words encouragement. “Mama We Gone Be Alright” along with the gripping tune “My Story” emerges as two of the most interesting songs on Back 2 Da Basics. These three titles along with club banging songs like “Shorty” featuring Baby make Back 2 Da Basics one of the best albums of the year.
10.How To Do It
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know some niggas committed some murders, ain't none of them solved
Niggas be talking, be acting like bitches, I call em RuPaul
I got some bitches I fuck, time to time, don't love em at all
Having my feelings involved, that's something I can't do
Get the pussy no cap, that's something I can't do
Leave the house without the strap, that's something I can't do
I just can't be broke, you gotta have type of hustle bout yaself
Fuck my P.O., I'm sippin plenty lean and smokin propane
That's that good smoke
That's that good gas, nigga, (What you is?)
Just a hood nigga with money
I'm in a foreign whip riding dirty
It got buyer's tags on it
College bitch wit me, can't suck dick
Really all she do is gag on it
Fucked around and got a ratchet bitch pregnant, I hit her raw man
Fresh out the bando, 80 thou that can't fit in these Balmains
(Can't fit in my jeans)
Ima stack it up and go hard on all these niggas and hating hoes
When you in the streets you can't leave the strap, that's apart of your wardobe
And I rock expensive attire, after she fuck she fired
These hoes be slicker than niggas
Can't love em, these bitches be liars
I be around murderers (What they do?)
They shooting like Manu (Ginobli)
Just keep your mouth close, homie, snitching?
That's something you can't do
My lil' niggas, they always on go, they never on pause
I know some niggas committed some murders, ain't none of them solved
Niggas be talking, be acting like bitches, I call em RuPaul
I got some bitches I fuck, time to time, don't love em at all
Having my feelings involved, that's something I can't do
Get the pussy no cap, that's something I can't do
Leave the house without the strap, that's something I can't do
Nah, nah I just can't do it
Moneybagg, Moneybagg
Hold up, let me set the record straight
I am the king, ain't got to hate
Every nigga around me done ate
The rest I kill em, niggas yellow tape
And the other nigga is just a mini-me
I watched his interviews, don't like his energy
Only D'usse, not the Hennessy
Ooouuu, pulled up in a half a million dollar car like fuck these niggas
When you $20 million up, you don't be studying niggas
I'm the plug, recruiter
A city of shooters
RIP to Young Trulla (J-Money)
Every mob in my city mobbin'
Every nigga in my city robbin'
I make fast cash from glass bass
In the kitchen duffle bag gang, gang
Young nigga from the city, got heart dread go bangin
Them my lil niggas and them
And they'll go hittin them hittin them
Them the three letters
CMG, they under my leadership
And this shit 2 Federal
My lil' niggas, they always on go, they never on pause
I know some niggas committed some murders, ain't none of them solved
Niggas be talking, be acting like bitches, I call em RuPaul
I got some bitches I fuck, time to time, don't love em at all
Having my feelings involved, that's something I can't do
Get the pussy no cap, that's something I can't do
Leave the house without the strap, that's something I can't do
Nah, nah I just can't do it
In Yo Gotti's song "10.How To Do It," he talks about his lifestyle and the codes he lives by. He starts by praising his "lil' niggas" who are always on the go and never on pause, meaning they're always ready for action. He then reveals that he knows some people who have committed murders that haven't been solved yet. Gotti then criticizes people who talk too much and act like "bitches," comparing them to RuPaul, the famous drag queen. He doesn't hesitate to talk about the girls he's seeing, saying that he doesn't love them and is just having fun. He also emphasizes that he can't afford to be broke and that he's always on the lookout for opportunities to earn money.
Gotti's attitude towards relationships is clear in the lyrics. He says that he can't afford to have feelings involved, and he only wants sex without any commitment. He also says that he can't leave his house without a strap (a gun), suggesting that he's always ready to defend himself. In the second verse, Moneybagg Yo joins in and talks about his success and how people are envious of him. He declares himself as the king, and notes that every person around him has made money. He alludes to his ability to eliminate people and his city's reputation for having a large number of murderers. He concludes that his "lil niggas" are ready to take on anyone who opposes him.
Line by Line Meaning
My lil' niggas, they always on go, they never on pause
My young associates are always ready to take action and never stall.
I know some niggas committed some murders, ain't none of them solved
I have knowledge of people who have committed killings, but no one has been held accountable for it.
Niggas be talking, be acting like bitches, I call em RuPaul
Some guys talk excessively and behave in a cowardly manner, so I refer to them as RuPaul.
I got some bitches I fuck, time to time, don't love em at all
I engage in sexual activity with some females occasionally, but I don't have any genuine feelings for them.
Having my feelings involved, that's something I can't do
Being emotionally invested is not something I am capable of doing.
Get the pussy no cap, that's something I can't do
I cannot lie about having sexual intercourse with someone.
Leave the house without the strap, that's something I can't do
I cannot go out and about without carrying a firearm.
Nah, nah I just can't do it
It's just something I'm not able to do.
Moneybagg, Moneybagg
Addressing his collaborator, Moneybagg Yo.
Hold up, let me set the record straight
Wait a minute, allow me to clarify.
I am the king, ain't got to hate
I am the top dog, there's no need for jealousy.
Every nigga around me done ate
Everyone in my inner circle has achieved financial success.
The rest I kill em, niggas yellow tape
Those who are not with me, I destroy them, a warning to others with the yellow crime scene tape.
And the other nigga is just a mini-me
Another person is an inferior version of me.
I watched his interviews, don't like his energy
I've seen his media appearances, and I dislike his vibe.
Only D'usse, not the Hennessy
I only consume D'usse cognac, not Hennessy.
Ooouuu, pulled up in a half a million dollar car like fuck these niggas
Showing off arriving in an expensive car worth $500,000 with a disregard for other people's feelings.
When you $20 million up, you don't be studying niggas
When you have accumulated twenty million dollars, you don't pay attention to anyone else's actions.
I'm the plug, recruiter
I am the source, and I bring in new talent.
A city of shooters
The area I come from is full of people who have no qualms about using guns.
RIP to Young Trulla (J-Money)
Rest in peace to the deceased rapper, Young Trulla, also known as J-Money.
Every mob in my city mobbin'
Each group in my city is engaging in criminal activities.
Every nigga in my city robbin'
Every individual in my area is stealing or committing theft.
I make fast cash from glass bass
I earn money quickly from selling drugs, specifically cocaine.
In the kitchen duffle bag gang, gang
Performing illegal activities such as drug dealing using a duffle bag in the kitchen, and having a gang with me.
Young nigga from the city, got heart dread go bangin'
A young person from my hometown who is fearless and readily engages in firearm activities.
Them my lil niggas and them / And they'll go hittin them hittin them
Those are my young associates, and they will attack and take out their targets.
Them the three letters / CMG, they under my leadership / And this shit 2 Federal
Those are the initials of my record label, Collective Music Group, and they operate under my guidance. This situation is serious and could potentially involve federal law enforcement.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Derek Ross
The entire album is well put together. Stay safe and keep making hustler music for the masses.
Yo Gotti
Thanks bro
RASTA GOD
Weak af
Just My Perspective
Hell yeah! Love that boss rap! I’m not into the new “I’m so depressed” “let’s hurry up and die as quickly as possible” and “I’m a junky” new age rap. 🤦🏽♂️
alida flus
This one is a banger you never disappoint your fans with great music keep up the good work
Edward Fraire
😍😘💋
James Smith
Gotti, I still remember listening to you 15 years ago. The progress you have made in your life is amazing and you can hear it through your music G. Hip Hop Hall of fame, no cap
Cody Slentz
Frfr
Polar bear
RIP to the King of Memphis 🐬🐬🐬
Genie Da Don
Props to the producer for putting this beat together 🔥