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.

Around the World
Yo Gotti Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

La la la la, la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la
I've been 'round the world reppin' where I'm from, where I'm from
Right back to my hood, right back to the slums
Right back to my hood, right back to my (where I'm from)
Right back to the 'Crest, right back to my (where I'm from)

I've been 'round the world reppin' where I'm from, where I'm from
Right back to my trap, right back to my slums

I just left Dubai, I just left Hawaii, I just left
I just left NY, headed to MI aye
I just left the Bay, headed to LA
I just left all my dogs a plate, put 'em on a plate
Passport, I just left UK hustlin' out the states
I got weight yeah they call it freight, hood call it yay'
I can proudly say that I ain't never took the stand
My lil' Asian bitch she do my feet she from Japan, hey hey

I've been 'round the world reppin' where I'm from, where I'm from
Right back to my hood, right back to the slums
Right back to my hood, right back to my gun (where I'm from)
Right back to the 'Crest, right back to my, to my (where I'm from)

Where you from Gotti? Why your hoes exotic?
Why your car foreign? What your jewelry doin'?
What your fashion be? Bitch why you askin' me?
'Cause you a drug dealer, why you look like Fashion Week?
This outfit a half a brick and it come from Milan
And I can't rock no skinny's, it won't hold my gun
I got a Chinese bitch, a Chinese Uzi say her favorite rapper Lil Uzi
Told her I'ma put her on Lil Boosie
Introduce her to the gangsta music
I've been 'round the world represtin' drug life
2Pac, Outlawz yeah this Thug Life

I've been 'round the world reppin' where I'm from, where I'm from
Right back to my hood, right back to the slums
Right back to my hood, right back to my (where I'm from)
Right back to the 'Crest, right back to my, to my (where I'm from)
La la la la, la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la
La la la la, la la la la la
I've been 'round the world reppin' where I'm from, where I'm from
Right back to my hood, right back to the slums, to the

Right back to my hood, right back to my gun
Right back to the 'Crest, right back to my bomb

Overall Meaning

In Yo Gotti's song "Around the World," the lyrics reflect his pride in representing where he comes from and his willingness to always come back to his roots. The repetition of "la la la" in the beginning creates a catchy hook that adds to the overall vibe of the song. Yo Gotti proudly states that he has traveled around the world, but he always returns to his hood and the slums, remaining connected to his origins.

The lyrics also touch on Yo Gotti's experiences in different places. He mentions leaving Dubai, Hawaii, New York, and the Bay (possibly San Francisco) and heading to Michigan and Los Angeles. This highlights his international presence and his ability to navigate different cities. Additionally, Yo Gotti references his drug-dealing lifestyle, mentioning a half a brick of outfit and introducing his Chinese girlfriend to gangsta music.

Overall, the song portrays Yo Gotti's loyalty to his upbringing and his determination to succeed while remaining true to his roots. It emphasizes his global reach and his ability to connect with different places and cultures while never forgetting his origins.

Line by Line Meaning

La la la la, la la la la la
Expressing a carefree and joyful attitude

I've been 'round the world reppin' where I'm from, where I'm from
Proudly representing my roots and hometown in different places around the world

Right back to my hood, right back to the slums
Returning to the neighborhood and impoverished areas where I grew up

Right back to my (where I'm from)
Returning to the place that shaped my identity

Right back to the 'Crest, right back to my (where I'm from)
Returning to Crestwood, a specific area that holds significance in my life

I just left Dubai, I just left Hawaii, I just left
Recently departed from Dubai and Hawaii, among other places

I just left NY, headed to MI aye
Just left New York and now heading to Michigan

I just left the Bay, headed to LA
Recently left the Bay Area and now on my way to Los Angeles

I just left all my dogs a plate, put 'em on a plate
Providing for my friends and associates, making sure they have what they need

Passport, I just left UK hustlin' out the states
Utilizing my passport to engage in business ventures and hustle in the United Kingdom while being based in the states

I got weight yeah they call it freight, hood call it yay'
Referring to drugs as 'weight' or 'freight,' while the neighborhood calls it 'yay' which is cocaine

I can proudly say that I ain't never took the stand
Asserting my integrity by stating that I have never testified or given evidence in a legal case

My lil' Asian bitch she do my feet she from Japan, hey hey
My Asian girlfriend from Japan takes care of my needs, including pampering my feet

Where you from Gotti? Why your hoes exotic?
People are curious about my background and question why the women I associate with are from diverse and unconventional backgrounds

Why your car foreign? What your jewelry doin'?
Being asked about my luxury foreign car and the significance of my extravagant jewelry

What your fashion be? Bitch, why you askin' me?
Being questioned about my personal style and why someone is inquiring about it

'Cause you a drug dealer, why you look like Fashion Week?
People assume that I am involved in illegal drug activities due to my appearance resembling that of a fashion event

This outfit a half a brick and it come from Milan
The clothing I'm wearing is expensive and represents a significant amount of cocaine, which originates from Milan

And I can't rock no skinny's, it won't hold my gun
I prefer not to wear tight-fitting clothes, as they are not practical for holding firearms

I got a Chinese bitch, a Chinese Uzi say her favorite rapper Lil Uzi
I am involved with a Chinese woman who owns a Chinese-made Uzi gun and is a fan of Lil Uzi Vert

Told her I'ma put her on Lil Boosie
Promising to introduce her to the music of Lil Boosie, a renowned gangsta rapper

Introduce her to the gangsta music
Exposing her to the genre of gangsta rap music

I've been 'round the world represtin' drug life
During my travels, I have been proudly representing the lifestyle and culture of drug dealing

2Pac, Outlawz yeah this Thug Life
Referencing the late rapper 2Pac and his group Outlawz, emphasizing the connection to the 'Thug Life' mentality

Right back to my gun
Returning to the possession of firearms, reflecting the reality of my environment

Right back to the 'Crest, right back to my bomb
Returning to Crestwood, emphasizing my connection to the area and my explosive impact within it

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mario Mims, Benjamin Diehl, Khaled Khaled

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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