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.
Fire That Bitch
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴
...yea this some personal shit here nigga!
I'ma take it there...
[Hook:]
You can kiss her, You can hug her
You can tell her that you love her to her face bro'
But that bitch ain't yo bitch dawg
You can lick her, You can stick her
You can give it to her right all nite bro'
But that bitch ain't yo bitch dawg
Said, that bitch ain't yo bitch dawg
You can like her you can wife her
You can get married and fight her all nite bro'
But that bitch ain't yo bitch dawg
Said, that bitch ain't yo bitch dawg
[Verse 1: Yo Gotti]
I'm the same nigga off tha chain nigga
I get's paid to giving game to lame niggaz
I learned early way back in my younger days
Following my heart I fell in love at seventh grade
Late nite on the phone quality time king
Malco movie screens she was my queen
We was everything and I was so faithful
Fucked my homeboys and that was so hateful
I thought taped her
In denial and didn't wanna believe in the truth
man but they taped her
Made me strong so I can live with that
So I gotta thank that Andrea for that
[Hook]
[Verse2: Yo Gotti]
How many real niggaz can stand up and tell the truth
Lay it all on the line when they step in the booth
Not that many pimpin' close to any pimpin'
That boy Gotti a fool that's why I'm winning pimpin'
Nineteen-nintey-six I was moving bricks
Opened my heart back up and got another bitch
I changed that hoe life I copped that hoe ice
I showed that hoe wrong I taught that hoe right
And she was ride or die I seen her smile and cry
I sent that hoe to school I made her work nine to five
They kicked my door in they shot my bitch up
The cut my whole head they stole my white stuff
But she was still there cause she did not care
She's a soulja man she was so real
I asked her one day do you know dude there
She said hell naw man she said she swear
poseda been out of town I popped up in my home
Man it' was going down
And I ain't no damn fool
And it was clear to see she was fuckin the enemy
She made me strong and cold-hearted for that
Man I gotta thank Ranarda for that
[Hook]
You can kiss her, You can hug her
You can tell her that you love her to her face bro'
But that bitch ain't yo bitch dawg
You may show affection and proclaim your love for her directly, but she does not belong to you
You can lick her, You can stick her
You can give it to her right all nite bro'
But that bitch ain't yo bitch dawg
You can engage in sexual acts and satisfy her, but she does not belong to you
You can like her you can wife her
You can get married and fight her all nite bro'
But that bitch ain't yo bitch dawg
You may have feelings for her, marry her, and argue with her all night, but she does not belong to you
I'm the same nigga off tha chain nigga
I get's paid to giving game to lame niggaz
I am an individual who is not restricted and provides advice to inexperienced individuals for a fee
I learned early way back in my younger days
Following my heart I fell in love at seventh grade
I gained knowledge during my youth and experienced love in seventh grade by following my emotions
Late nite on the phone quality time king
Malco movie screens she was my queen
Spending quality time talking on the phone at night, I felt like royalty while watching movies at Malco Theater with her
We was everything and I was so faithful
Fucked my homeboys and that was so hateful
We were inseparable and I remained loyal, but I betrayed my friends by engaging in intimate acts with her, causing resentment
I thought taped her
In denial and didn't wanna believe in the truth
man but they taped her
I suspected her of deceit, but I refused to accept the truth until concrete evidence was obtained
Made me strong so I can live with that
So I gotta thank that Andrea for that
This experience toughened me, enabling me to accept it and move on, so I express gratitude towards Andrea for that
How many real niggaz can stand up and tell the truth
Lay it all on the line when they step in the booth
Not many individuals possess the integrity to speak honestly and vulnerably when expressing themselves in the recording studio
Not that many pimpin' close to any pimpin'
That boy Gotti a fool that's why I'm winning pimpin'
There are only a few individuals who can compete with my pimping skills, and I possess audacity, which is why I am successful in my game
Nineteen-nintey-six I was moving bricks
Opened my heart back up and got another bitch
In 1996, I was involved in illegal activities, but later on, I allowed myself to trust and love another woman
I changed that hoe life I copped that hoe ice
I showed that hoe wrong I taught that hoe right
I transformed her lifestyle and provided her with expensive jewelry, proving her previous beliefs wrong and teaching her how to behave correctly
And she was ride or die I seen her smile and cry
I sent that hoe to school I made her work nine to five
She remained loyal through thick and thin, showing both happiness and sorrow. I facilitated her education and made her acquire a regular job
They kicked my door in they shot my bitch up
The cut my whole head they stole my white stuff
My enemies forcefully entered my property, harmed my partner, injured me severely, and stole my valuable goods
But she was still there cause she did not care
She's a soulja man she was so real
Despite the danger and hardship, she remained by my side because she genuinely cared. She showed resilience and authenticity
I asked her one day do you know dude there
She said hell naw man she said she swear
One day, I inquired if she had any involvement with another man. Without hesitation, she vehemently denied and assured me of her loyalty
poseda been out of town I popped up in my home
Man it' was going down
And I ain't no damn fool
Supposedly, she was away, but I unexpectedly arrived at my residence. Chaos ensued, and I am not naive or foolish
And it was clear to see she was fuckin the enemy
She made me strong and cold-hearted for that
Man I gotta thank Ranarda for that
The evidence made it evident that she was engaging in sexual activities with the individual who posed a threat to me. This experience strengthened and numbed me emotionally, so I express gratitude towards Ranarda for that
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RANDY EARL BANKS, MARIO SENTELL GIDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LuciaMei1111
2024, still listen this shi fire 🔥
@drebodollaz3504
To me Zedzilla was the hardest rapper Gotti put on.
@Pwilly1984
Whatever happened to zed zilla?! Dude had real bangers tho!
@Pwilly1984
Still hittin hard in late summer 2023! 💯🔥
@naseemstylin1626
This my shit No Cap!!!
@John_Doe541
Who still listening 🎧 to this in 2022
@fmims85
I love this
@paydaemediagroup6557
2023 this still my mood 😂💯🔥
@camillepinson2548
2019 anyone
@Pwilly1984
2023 yo 🎉