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.
Cases
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You throw Rose by the case [?]
Three hundred dollar jewellery [?] we [?] by the cases.
You define my case, Gucci is got no laces
It's all about the cases in the kitchen gonna make it!
Up down, up down, my top doing the matrix
[?] we'll run shit basic
Bitch they hit my phone, they fucked out my situation.
DJ drop they got it, don't [?]
[?] you're gambling with your savings.
[?] doing numbers, I may need a helper
Bitch say she wanna fucking, so you know what nigga left for
Rose by the cases, [?] by the boxes
[?] I'm the shit, so how the fuck she gonna be cocky?
[?] get my eyes be Rocky
I pull up [?]
[Chorus x2]
I [?] to the money in all upper cases
Trap on [?] I stay down [?]
Hell on Earth, I say hello to my neighbor
Ghetto nigga got a mansion and [?]
Steel [?] I said get [?]
Try me in the club, we gonna [?] your ass inside it
All my hoes excited, damn your [?] cry
[?] getting mad, cause he think I'm gonna retire
[?] lawyer act for a dismissal
[?] I gotta set up for some Christmas
Me and you got it from Atlanta down to Memphis
Getting money I could pay you, niggas [?]
[Chorus x2]
[?] so the game it got bored
[?] drop the top and hit the horn
[?] I got a bitch from [?]
Can we do a [?]
Fuck and [?] and she gonna follow me my [?]
Friends say she's whore
Talking about she gone
Say she want that Luis bag I [?]
[?] you niggas know [?]
I could get your [?]
Why you niggas bitching with me, come down to [?]
[?] man, I guess they just don't get me!
[Chorus x2]
In Yo Gotti's song "Cases," the artist delves into his love for high-quality luxury items, particularly those that come in large quantities. The chorus repeats the phrase "cases," as Gotti describes the abundance of expensive items that he has, including Rose wine and $300 jewelry. He even goes so far as to say that Gucci sneakers cannot compare to his overflowing collection. Gotti also mentions the importance of quantity in the kitchen when it comes to cooking up drugs, perhaps indicating his involvement in the drug trade.
The first verse continues with this drug-related theme as Gotti speaks about dealers who call him looking for drugs. He also mentions gambling and the potential danger of losing one's life savings. 2 Chainz's verse takes a different turn, discussing his success and his transition from the "ghetto" to owning a mansion. He takes pride in his wealth and the fact that his "hoes" are excited to be a part of his lifestyle.
Overall, the song seems to glorify a life of luxury and excess, particularly with regards to drug dealing and money-making. Both Gotti and 2 Chainz rap about their success in life and the possessions that it has afforded them, seemingly without regard for the potential consequences or dangers of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
You throw Rose by the case [?]
You spend a lot of money by buying cases full of Rose
Three hundred dollar jewellery [?] we [?] by the cases.
We buy expensive jewelry in bulk
You define my case, Gucci is got no laces
You can tell how much money I have just by looking at me. Even my Gucci shoes don't have laces because I'm so rich I don't need to tie them.
It's all about the cases in the kitchen gonna make it!
We're focused on making money and hustling in the kitchen
Up down, up down, my top doing the matrix
My car's convertible top goes up and down like a scene from The Matrix movie
[?] we'll run shit basic
We run everything in a basic and effortless manner
Everything kitty, cocaine crazy
We do everything fast and wild, like a crazy person on cocaine
Bitch they hit my phone, they fucked out my situation.
Women constantly call me and complicate my life
DJ drop they got it, don't [?]
The DJ knows what songs to play, so don't tell them what to do
[?] you're gambling with your savings.
If you're not careful, risking your savings on gambling can be dangerous
[?] doing numbers, I may need a helper
I'm making a lot of money and may need someone to assist me
Bitch say she wanna fucking, so you know what nigga left for
When a woman says she wants to have sex, I immediately go to her for that reason
Rose by the cases, [?] by the boxes
I buy wine in bulk, both by the cases and boxes
[?] I'm the shit, so how the fuck she gonna be cocky?
I'm amazing, so how can someone else be arrogant around me?
[?] get my eyes be Rocky
My eyes are like Rocky's eyes, strong and determined
I pull up [?]
I arrive at a location in style and with confidence
I [?] to the money in all upper cases
I write all important financial information in capital letters
Trap on [?] I stay down [?]
I work hard and stay focused in the trap (drug dealing) environment
Hell on Earth, I say hello to my neighbor
I live in a rough area but still try to be friendly with those around me
Ghetto nigga got a mansion and [?]
I'm from the ghetto but I still own a mansion and expensive items
Steel [?] I said get [?]
I told my friend to get some jewelry
Try me in the club, we gonna [?] your ass inside it
If you start trouble with me in the club, I'll make sure you're kicked out
All my hoes excited, damn your [?] cry
All the women I'm involved with are excited to be with me, making your girlfriend jealous
[?] getting mad, cause he think I'm gonna retire
Someone is upset with me because they think I'm going to stop making money
[?] lawyer act for a dismissal
I hired a lawyer to get me out of legal trouble
[?] I gotta set up for some Christmas
I need to start planning for Christmas gifts and celebrations
Me and you got it from Atlanta down to Memphis
We have a successful drug dealing operation spanning from Atlanta to Memphis
Getting money I could pay you, niggas [?]
I'm making so much money I could pay off any debts I have with other people
[?] so the game it got bored
We changed up our drug dealing tactics because the old ways were getting boring
[?] drop the top and hit the horn
I drive my convertible with the top down and honk my horn
[?] I got a bitch from [?]
I met a woman from a certain city
Can we do a [?]
Can we have sex?
Fuck and [?] and she gonna follow me my [?]
I had sex with her, and now she'll do anything I ask
Friends say she's whore
My friends think she's promiscuous
Talking about she gone
She's no longer in the picture
Say she want that Luis bag I [?]
She said she wants a Louis Vuitton bag, but I'm not sure if I'm going to buy it for her or not
[?] you niggas know [?]
You guys should know by now how I operate
I could get your [?]
I could get you arrested
Why you niggas bitching with me, come down to [?]
Stop complaining and come talk to me in person
[?] man, I guess they just don't get me!
People misunderstand me and my motives
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL WILLIAMS, PIERRE RAMON SLAUGHTER, TAUHEED EPPS, JEAN-PAUL DE COSTER, PHIL WILDE, MARIO SENTELL GIDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind