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.
Fishcale Dreams
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Co co cocaine caine co co cocaine meastro on the beat Yo Gotti on the mic
Fishscale dreams all night nigga this that cocaine music homie don't you
Confuse it lames gone cope it d-boys gone abuse me... see nigga it's a
Difference between a documentary in a movie you know what I mean it's
Cocaine music 4.5 real life non fiction you niggas characters you niggas
Actresses you niggas playing in movies you niggas bitches!
Co co cocaine caine co co cocaine meastro on the beat Yo Gotti on the mic
Fishscale dreams all night nigga this that cocaine music homie don't you
Confuse it lames gone cope it d-boys gone abuse me hit the gas on my 454
Got to let my pipe breath 24 with floaters on that bitch look like I'm
Riding easy wet paint candy now a later flava white on white leather for
The head ewww marshmellows lemonade in the chain twins cause my watch look
The same ice cream cutlass seats red velvet cake somebody blow the candles
Out today my rims birthday
Wood grain gripping will I'm swerving in slabbing doors open yawning like
They just finish napping 16 soft white like a napkin birdman sent them so
You know they coming flapping
[Hook:]
Aye aye aye this that cocaine music homie don't you confuse it lames gone
Cope it d-boys gone abuse it [repeat]
[Verse 2:]
Cocaine jeah I hear voices you don't hear swag taking off like like I'm
Flying in a leer street nigga cred dopeboy of the year cocaine music
Realest shit your gonna hear my rims doing jumping jacks tops doing sit ups
Man let's just say my whole car on a fitness plan you still getting fronted
You still owe the man let's just say your whole life been finance 30 months
Small payments can you handle pressure I get so many of the thangs I can't
Afford to test ya but fuck ya feed'em beans let starve cause he the type to
Say that he got robbed liar
If I pull that trigger the coroner goin have to get him his family gone
Have to miss him I swear to god I ain't want to kill'em damn my brother
Looked me dead in my eyes told me never let these pussy niggas slide so
Fuck'em
[Hook:]
Aye aye aye this that cocaine music homie don't you confuse it lames gone
Cope it d-boys gone abuse it [repeat]
[DJ Drama:]
Let's paint another scenario so you made it out the streets you got on real
Quick glue then the hype was spend all that money ain't got nothing to show
For it all you got is the memories
The song "Fishcale Dreams" by Yo Gotti is a tribute to cocaine and the lifestyle that comes with it. The chorus states that this is "coke music" and not to confuse it with any other genre. In the verses, Yo Gotti raps about his experience with the drug and how it has affected his life.
In the first verses, he talks about his car and rims as if they are a manifestation of his success in the drug trade. He compares his "fishscale dreams" to those of other rappers who he feels are just acting in movies. He states that his life is not a movie but a documentary, and he is living it on the edge.
In the second verse, Yo Gotti delves deeper into the effects of cocaine. He speaks about hearing voices and becoming paranoid. He also talks about the possibility of violence and the dangers of drug trade. Ultimately, he mentions the sense of loyalty he feels to his brother and his determination to get revenge on his enemies.
Overall, the song reinforces the idea that cocaine is not just a drug but a way of life. Yo Gotti reveals the ways in which it has shaped his identity and outlook in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Co co cocaine caine co co cocaine meastro on the beat Yo Gotti on the mic
Yo Gotti starts his song by acknowledging the producer and himself as the artist, while referencing the drug, cocaine.
Fishscale dreams all night nigga this that cocaine music homie don't you confuse it lames gone cope it d-boys gone abuse me...
Yo Gotti claims that his song is inspired by drug use and is meant for people who understand and enjoy the lifestyle. He warns people who can't handle the drug's power to be wary of it.
see nigga it's a Difference between a documentary in a movie you know what I mean it's Cocaine music 4.5 real life non fiction you niggas characters you niggas actresses you niggas playing in movies you niggas bitches!
Yo Gotti explains that there's a difference between movies and real life, and that his music tells the real story of drug use. He criticizes people who just act like they're involved in it, calling them fake and weak.
Cocaine jeah I hear voices you don't hear swag taking off like like I'm Flying in a leer street nigga cred dopeboy of the year cocaine music Realest shit your gonna hear my rims doing jumping jacks tops doing sit ups
Yo Gotti continues to glorify drug use, saying that it has given him the confidence and status that he enjoys. He boasts about his car and its appearance, likening it to physical fitness.
Man let's just say my whole car on a fitness plan you still getting fronted You still owe the man let's just say your whole life been finance 30 months Small payments can you handle pressure I get so many of the thangs I can't Afford to test ya but fuck ya feed'em beans let starve cause he the type to Say that he got robbed liar
Yo Gotti taunts those who are still in debt to drug dealers and can't handle the pressure of that lifestyle. He doesn't want to waste his drugs on people who will lie and claim to have been robbed.
If I pull that trigger the coroner goin have to get him his family gone Have to miss him I swear to god I ain't want to kill'em damn my brother Looked me dead in my eyes told me never let these pussy niggas slide so Fuck'em
Yo Gotti talks about how violence is a part of his world and how his brother urged him to never let his enemies off the hook. He talks about the impact of his actions on others, but ultimately decides to take revenge.
Aye aye aye this that cocaine music homie don't you confuse it lames gone cope it d-boys gone abuse it [repeat]
Yo Gotti repeats the hook, emphasizing again that his song is meant for those who understand and appreciate the drug culture.
Contributed by Blake V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.