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.
Bad Behavior
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Traxamillion)
Yeah
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Last time I checked, I had a half a hundred million
Know a Memphis nigga out in Beverly Hills
I been buyin' publishing and sellin' pills
Niggas buyin' Dior, I been buyin' homes
Somebody tell my ex to leave me alone
No hard feelings got a better bitch, I'm moving on
I be spittin' dope shit in every song
If I get indicted off these lyrics, sayin' it's gon' be long, uh
You a rat, you know you dead wrong, uh
No collect calls, we do iPhones
All my niggas locked up they got iPhones
And I cleared the bank to bring my niggas home, yeah
Start over yeah, yeah, start over
Sellin'loud, yeah, yeah, strong odor
Twenty thousand square feet, I don't call it home
Walkin' 'round this bitch, I feel so alone
Text's to my son, ask him when he comin'
Give him a hundred K like, "Give it to your mommy"
Just because, yeah, yeah, just because
I remember the struggle, it ain't none but love
Bad memories, but can't forget the opps
I invest in pills, bricks, and weed 'fore I invest in stocks
Bad behavior, bad behavior
Get this money, take shit from nobody, how they raise you?
Mama made me savage, grandma took my filter early
Thirteen out the service, CMG all on my jersey
When they hang up my jersey, that's a 36
I could hang up my jersey, I sold a thousand bricks
They can frame up my jersey, I blew a hundred sticks
I can retro my jersey, I been doin' this shit
Couple niggas try, couple won't survive
Championship rings going to all the guys
You fucked up then she fucked up, why you act surprised?
You don't own the pussy, guess you can't accept the fact she lied
Bad behavior, bad behavior
Mama was a ho, I guess that's how her mama raised him
Daddy was a pussy nigga, so she fuck with suckers
All she know was lame-ass niggas, look at her brother
Gotti, where you been, where you been?
I been off the scene countin' millions by the teens
I been on vacation, chillin', fuckin' bitches friends
I been kinda silent, still slidin', gettin' revenge
Bad behavior, bad behavior
Get this money, take shit from nobody, how they raise you?
Mama made me savage, grandma took my filter early
Thirteen out the service, CMG all on my jersey
When they hang up my jersey, that's a 36
I could hang up my jersey, I sold a thousand bricks
They can frame up my jersey, I blew a hundred sticks
I'm the streets MVP, it don't get real as this
In Yo Gotti's song "Bad Behavior," he reflects on his success and how it contrasts with his past struggles. He boasts about his wealth and accomplishments, emphasizing that he has moved on from his previous relationship and is now focused on his own growth. Gotti raps about his experience in the music industry, mentioning buying publishing rights and making money selling drugs. He also talks about supporting his incarcerated friends by providing them with iPhones and helping them get released from prison.
The chorus of the song highlights the theme of bad behavior, suggesting that Gotti's success stems in part from his defiance of societal norms and his determination to take what he wants. He attributes his toughness and resilience to his upbringing, referencing his mother's promiscuity and his father's weakness. Gotti sees himself as an MVP in the streets, someone who has achieved a level of success that few can match.
Overall, "Bad Behavior" is a celebration of Yo Gotti's rise to success, as well as a reflection on the choices and experiences that have shaped him along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Hold on for a moment, hold on for a moment
Last time I checked, I had a half a hundred million
The last time I checked, I had around fifty million dollars
Know a Memphis nigga out in Beverly Hills
I am acquainted with someone from Memphis who is now living in Beverly Hills
I been buyin' publishing and sellin' pills
I have been investing in music publishing and selling drugs
Big dog status, watch with no stones
I am a prominent figure, wearing an expensive watch without any diamonds
Niggas buyin' Dior, I been buyin' homes
Other people are spending their money on luxury items, while I am investing mine in real estate
Somebody tell my ex to leave me alone
I need someone to inform my former partner to stop bothering me
No hard feelings got a better bitch, I'm moving on
I don't harbor any ill will, as I have found a better woman and I am moving forward
I be spittin' dope shit in every song
I consistently deliver excellent lyrics in all of my songs
If I get indicted off these lyrics, sayin' it's gon' be long, uh
If I face legal charges based on my lyrics, the legal process could be lengthy
You a rat, you know you dead wrong, uh
You are a snitch, and you are well aware that it is morally incorrect
No collect calls, we do iPhones
Rather than making collect phone calls, we use iPhones to communicate
All my niggas locked up they got iPhones
Even my incarcerated friends have iPhones
And I cleared the bank to bring my niggas home, yeah
I withdrew a large sum of money from the bank to bail out my friends from jail
Start over yeah, yeah, start over
Let's begin again, yeah, yeah, let's begin again
Sellin' loud, yeah, yeah, strong odor
Engaging in the sale of high-quality drugs, yeah, yeah, with a strong scent
Twenty thousand square feet, I don't call it home
I have a property that spans twenty thousand square feet, but I do not consider it my residence
Walkin' 'round this bitch, I feel so alone
As I roam around this place, I experience a profound sense of loneliness
Text's to my son, ask him when he comin'
I send messages to my son, inquiring about his arrival
Give him a hundred K like, 'Give it to your mommy'
I provide my son with one hundred thousand dollars, instructing him to give it to his mother
Just because, yeah, yeah, just because
For no particular reason, yeah, yeah, for no particular reason
I remember the struggle, it ain't none but love
I recall the hardships, and it only evokes feelings of affection
Bad memories, but can't forget the opps
I have negative memories, but I cannot forget about my enemies
I invest in pills, bricks, and weed 'fore I invest in stocks
Before putting my money in stocks, I prioritize investing in drugs and illegal substances
Get this money, take shit from nobody, how they raise you?
Acquire wealth and don't allow others to mistreat you, is this how you were raised?
Mama made me savage, grandma took my filter early
My mother raised me to be tough, and my grandmother instilled in me the habit of speaking my mind
Thirteen out the service, CMG all on my jersey
I left the military at thirteen years old, and my crew, CMG, is all represented on my jersey
When they hang up my jersey, that's a 36
When my jersey is retired, it will bear the number 36
I could hang up my jersey, I sold a thousand bricks
I could retire from illegal activities, as I have successfully sold a thousand units of drugs
They can frame up my jersey, I blew a hundred sticks
My jersey can be displayed, as I have wasted one hundred firearms
I'm the streets MVP, it don't get real as this
I am the most valuable player in the streets, it doesn't get more authentic than me
Couple niggas try, couple won't survive
A few individuals attempt, but only a few will survive
Championship rings going to all the guys
The winners will receive championship rings
You fucked up then she fucked up, why you act surprised?
You made a mistake, and then she made a mistake, why are you acting shocked?
You don't own the pussy, guess you can't accept the fact she lied
You do not possess control over her body, it seems you cannot come to terms with the fact that she lied
Mama was a ho, I guess that's how her mama raised him
My mother engaged in promiscuous behavior, I suppose that's how she was raised by her own mother
Daddy was a pussy nigga, so she fuck with suckers
My father was a weak man, so she ended up being involved with weak men as well
All she know was lame-ass niggas, look at her brother
She is only familiar with uninteresting men, just look at her brother
Gotti, where you been, where you been?
Gotti, where have you been, where have you been?
I been off the scene countin' millions by the teens
I have been away from the public eye, counting millions of dollars in the tens of millions
I been on vacation, chillin', fuckin' bitches friends
I have been on vacation, relaxing, and engaging in intimate encounters with the friends of women
I been kinda silent, still slidin', gettin' revenge
I have been relatively quiet, but still making moves to seek vengeance
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mario Mims, Damien Aubrey, Sultan Banks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarah Eubanks
Yo Gotti go in soo hard on this right here, straight up BANGER! He aint like all them goofies and oppas who just be usin that AUTHENTICVIEWS jawnt to get they hits up to go big... SMH seem like anyone can big them days..
Travel And Eats
This a tape you can let rock and play out on a long trip drive
roebigboi
@Tyler Morton Hell yea
Tyler Morton
To much lane switching in this song 😂😂
Trimeca Reese
No lie I just ran it from the first one till this song . Shit really 🔥
Jerramie Bailey
Hardest album out right now, just let it play and every song is a banger!!
jamard39701
Memphis is all in that beat 🔈🔉🔊🔥🔥🔥
Jimmy Braun
Juicy and pat wld slay this beat wit gotti
R.N.
Sound memphis with some detroit
SlapStick510
Produced by traxamillion Bay Area legend RIP