Mario Mims (born May 19, 1981 in Memphis, Tennessee), better known by his s… Read Full Bio ↴Mario Mims (born May 19, 1981 in Memphis, Tennessee), better known by his stage name Yo Gotti, is an American rapper signed to Cash Money Records. Formerly known as Lil Yo in the 90's, he released his first album, From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game, in 2000. Since then he has released 2001's Self-Explanatory, 2003's Life, 2006's Back 2 Da Basics, 2008's Cocaine Muzik, 2009's CM2 (Cocaine Muzik 2 hosted by DJ Drama), and The Pyrex King: Street Runnaz Special Edition.

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.

Act Right
Yo Gotti Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm going going back back to the Bay
Rest in peace Mac Dre
All I do is talk yay

In the club got them bottles on replay
Tryna break a record like a DJ
That's a hundred fifty bottles in one night
I give that bitch some act right

Act right, act right
Money don't fold if it act right
Act right, act right
Niggas playin' games you can act right

I'm goin' goin' back back to the Bay
Rest in peace Mac Dre
I'm a street nigga all I do is talk yay
Want me in your city nigga know they gon' pay
Ain't lookin' for a free throw, lookin' for a freak ho
Cuban link chain on my neck weigh a kilo
Nigga just violated pissed dirty to his P.O.
On the real nigga scale one to ten you a zero
Damn, that a bad bitch you a Creole
On the West coast but she say she from the N.O.
Act right, get your life changed
Fuck a pair of shoes, you can get the last name
Real nigga shit boy I hate lames
All my nigga sell dope or gang bang
Me and cash get the act right
You ain't in a foreign you don't look right

In the club got them bottles on replay
Tryna break a record like a DJ
That's a hundred fifty bottles in one night
I give that bitch some act right

Act right, act right
Money don't fold if it act right
Act right, act right
Niggas playin' games you can act right

I'mma tell ya off top mother fuck free Boosie
Ridin' in my Lamborghini with the dope man uzi
Thinkin' came with a step might be the shit
I got a rooster in my Rari might be your bitch
I said I pull up in this bitch in that Aventador
Make you bitch pass out straight hit the floor
Said I never seen a car like that before
What's that thang stickin' up? That's the door
I told YG I'mma go ride the whip
You just hangin' out the window ghost ride the clip
I made my first quarter million dollars off the blow
He want a nine piece chicken took that to-go
I'mma tell ya like this, ya'll motherfucker listen
Kilo all day motherfucker I'm trippin'
But if you run up on me think I'm slippin'
Michael Jordan with the chopper man I hit you like Pippen act right

In the club got them bottles on replay
Tryna break a record like a DJ
Thats a hundred fifty bottles in one night
I give that bitch some act right

Act right, act right
Money don't fold if it act right
Act right, act right
Niggas playin' games you can act right

Goin' goin' back back to the bank
Rest in peace to myself
I'mma fly nigga nigga I take your ho
I'll have to leave her if she did me like Coco
The devil talkin' to me, but I dont hear him
Act like I'm deaf like So-So
Fuck you, fuck him, fuck them
Fuck my ex and her cohorts
Hundred bottles in the club, for no reason
Niggas start trippin' boom bow dope fiend
Fendi on my shoes, Fendi on my belt
I'm in the Fendi store I don't need help
All gold everything like Trinidad
I went to high school with you bitch you been a rat
I don't got money problems, I got trust issues
Two things I gotta stay is with the two pistols

In the club got them bottles on replay
Tryna break a record like a DJ
Thats a hundred fifty bottles in one night
I give that bitch some act right

Act right, act right
Money don't fold if it act right
Act right, act right
Niggas playin' games you can act right

Yeah, I had to do it for the street, hoe

Do right, getting money, living life hoe
Gotti, Young, YG (Yeah) Silk G (Yeah)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song “Act Right” by Yo Gotti featuring Young Jeezy and YG speak about various aspects of a street life. The first few lines are a tribute to the late rapper Mac Dre and relate to going back to the city of Bay Area. As the song progresses, the lyrics touch upon drugs, material possessions, and a street smart demeanor. The chorus emphasizes the importance of acting right and playing by the rules in order to be successful in the street game. The verses touch upon various facets of the rapper’s experiences and presents a detailed account of his lifestyle.

The lyrics highlight life in the streets whereby the rapper hopes to attain the highest status among other players in the game. The chorus is a constant reminder to act right if one hopes to accomplish it in any direction of their choosing. Although the song does not present a clear picture of what it means to “Act Right,” the inference is that proper dealings in the street, being knowledgeable about one’s dealings, and playing by the rules is the foundation to success.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm going going back back to the Bay
Returning to Bay Area

Rest in peace Mac Dre
Paying homage to the Bay Area rapper Mac Dre who passed away

All I do is talk yay
All he talks about is selling drugs

In the club got them bottles on replay
Replaying bottles at the club

Tryna break a record like a DJ
Attempting to break a bottle service record at the club

That's a hundred fifty bottles in one night
Going through 150 bottles of alcohol in one night

I give that bitch some act right
Giving someone instruction on how to behave correctly

Act right, act right
Urging someone to behave appropriately

Money don't fold if it act right
Money can be successful if used wisely

N*ggas playing games you can act right
Refusing to tolerate playing games and insisting on appropriate behavior

I'm a street n*gg* all I do is talk yayo
Being vocal about drug dealing because that is what he knows

Want me in your city n*gg* know they gon' pay
Being flown in to sell drugs because he brings in a lot of money

Ain't looking for a free throw, looking for a freak ho
Preferring a promiscuous woman over someone who wants something in return

Cuban link chain on my neck weigh a kilo
Wearing a heavy chain that is made of Cuban links

N*gg* just violated, pissed dirty to his P.O.
Someone has violated their parole officer by testing positive for drugs

On the real n*gg* scale one to ten you a zero
Rating someone's worth on a scale of one to ten, with zero being worthless

That a bad b*tch, you a Creole
Saying someone is desirable because they are of Creole descent

On the West coast but she say she from the N.O.
A woman being from New Orleans but living on the West Coast

Act right, get your life changed
Advising someone if they change their way of life, they will succeed

Fuck a pair of shoes, you can get the last name
Choosing long-term commitment over material possessions

Real n*gg* sh*t boy I hate lames
Preferring genuine people over those who are phony

All my n*gg*s sell dope or gang bang
All of his associates sell drugs or are involved in gang activity

Me and cash get the act right
Working with someone to get things done appropriately

You ain't in a foreign you don't look right
If you don't own a foreign car, then you don't fit in

I'mma tell ya off top mother f*ck free Boosie
Expressing dislike for the rapper Boosie

Ridin' in my Lamborghini with the dope man uzi
Driving around in a Lamborghini with a gun belonging to a drug dealer

Thinkin' came with a step might be the sh*t
Suggesting plans could lead to success

I got a rooster in my Rari might be your b*tch
Having sexual relations with someone's girlfriend

I said I pull up in this b*tch in that Aventador
Arriving at places in a Lamborghini Aventador

Make you b*tch pass out straight hit the floor
Making someone's girlfriend faint due to financial spendings

Said I never seen a car like that before
Impressing people by owning a unique car

What's that thing sticking up? That's the door
Explaining that the car has upward-swinging doors

I told YG I'mma go ride the whip
Saying you're riding in the car with someone else

You just hangin' out the window ghost ride the clip
Watching someone playfully ride around outside the car

I made my first quarter million dollars off the blow
Making a large amount of money from selling drugs

He want a nine piece chicken took that to-go
Giving food to someone to avoid dealing with them

I'mma tell ya like this, ya'll motherf*cker listen
Stating something that is important for people to hear

Kilo all day motherf*cker I'm trippin'
Being high from drugs all day

But if you run up on me think I'm slippin'
Being always prepared for any threats

Michael Jordan with the chopper man I hit you like Pippen act right
Using a basketball analogy to describe how he will hurt those who cross him

Goin' goin' back back to the bank
Going back to the bank to deposit earnings from drug deals

Rest in peace to myself
Mocking the idea of praising yourself while still being alive

I'mma fly n*gga, n*gga, I take your ho
Being popular among women and taking someone else's girlfriend

I'll have to leave her if she did me like Coco
Breaking up with a woman who didn't meet certain expectations

The devil talkin' to me, but I don't hear him
Ignoring negative influences

Act like I'm deaf like So-So
Acting as though he cannot hear

F*ck you, f*ck him, f*ck them
Expressing frustration towards someone or a group of people

F*ck my ex and her cohorts
Hating on his ex-girlfriend and anyone associated with her

Hundred bottles in the club, for no reason
Spending money at the club with no real motivation

N*gg*s start trippin' boom bow dope fiend
Starting fights with drug addicts

Fendi on my shoes, Fendi on my belt
Wearing designer Fendi products in excess

I'm in the Fendi store, I don't need help
Being confident in his fashion choices

All gold everything like Trinidad
Wearing all gold like Trinidad James

I went to high school with you b*tch, you been a rat
Calling someone a rat for snitching

I don't got money problems, I got trust issues
Not having financial issues but rather trust issues

Two things I gotta stay, is with the two pistols
Always carrying two guns

Yeah, I had to do it for the street, hoe
Doing things for the streets only

Do right, getting money, living life hoe
Making money and living a good life by doing the right thing

Gotti, Young, YG (Yeah) Silk G (Yeah)
A callout to other rappers featured on the track

Lyrics © DistroKid, A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jay Jenkins, Christopher Wallace, Osten Harvey, Roger Troutman, Keenon Jackson, Mario Mims, Paulo Rodriguez

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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