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 cityβs underground rap scene before going on to become national superstars. Next up to bat is Yo Gotti, M-Townβs 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 Southβs 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. βBeing from the hood things like hustling will come your way,β says Yo Gotti. βEverybody in my family hustled in some kinda way.β 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 Gottiβs 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 cityβs 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 magazineβs 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. βIt sold about 40 or 50,000, with no promotions or video,β says Yo Gotti. βThat record did what it did on its own.β But as the old saying goes when one door is closed another opened. Gottiβs 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 didnβt do the type of big number heβd hope for youβd 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.
βThe 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. Thatβs why I call my record Back 2 Da Basics.β
Produced by DJ Thoomp, Mannie Fresh, Carlos Brody and newcomers Street Tunes, Back 2 Da Basics offers fans a gritty, insiderβs view into the real streets of Memphis as seen through the eyes of Yo Gotti. Nowhere is this viewpoint more intense than on βFull Time,β the amped up lead single βand featured in the MTV Filmsβ Hustle & Flow movie - with a thunderous bass and intoxicating beat that espouses Gottiβs formula to success βhustle full time.
βA lotta cats wanna be a rapper or a street hustler but they donβt wanna put in the time that it takes,β says Yo Gotti. βThey want the money and the cars and the girls, but they donβt wanna work hard for it. But to be successful at anything you gotta grind for it.β On the song βMama We Gone Be Alright,β 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. βMama We Gone Be Alrightβ along with the gripping tune βMy Storyβ emerges as two of the most interesting songs on Back 2 Da Basics. These three titles along with club banging songs like βShortyβ featuring Baby make Back 2 Da Basics one of the best albums of the year.
Free Lunch
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you would fuck, don't want no niggas around, just you and your bitch
Used to live in public housin', get free lunch at the school
Had to jump 'fore they came out, had them bring the strap to the school
I was trappin' in school, I was actin' a fool
I was a freshman and I was the freshest nigga in school, yeah yeah
Leavin' the school I was fuckin' the seniors
Never liked police, shootin' dice under bleachers
Fifth period, get money, don't mind PE class
No books in the book bag, took math, I need to add
I was gon' get a bag
Came to school, filled the lot up
Play with me and get shot up
Five hundred for the Coogi sweater
Three-fifty for the Prada's
Teacher told me I could be anythin' I wanna be
OG told me you gotta love yourself and don't love the streets
I used to dream about a 9 when I had 4 in the spliff
When you would fuck, don't want no niggas around, just you and your bitch
Used to live in public housin', get free lunch at the school
Had to jump 'fore they came out, had them bring the strap to the school
I was trappin' in school, I was actin' a fool
I was a freshman and I was the freshest nigga in school, yeah yeah
I was trappin' in school, I was actin' a fool
I was a freshman and I was the freshest nigga in school, yeah yeah
Last nigga played with me in school, gave him the street blues
Nigga tried to jump me in school so I went and got my tools
Yeah, I was fresh in school
I been broke all my life, I got somethin' to prove hoe
I shot my teacher hoe bitch, I took recess hoe bitch
You better Google me and do your research hoe
I fucked plenty bitches under the bleachers hoe
I cheat on my bitch, so 'cause I don't need you hoe
When I skip school, Grandma whoop my ass
I give my li'l brother my last
Made the best out of what we had
Tried my best to make it last
It was hard on me and my brothers
I ain't never ever see my dad
All my life I had to struggle
That's why I talk shit and show my ass
I used to dream about a 9 when I had 4 in the spliff
When you would fuck, don't want no niggas around, just you and your bitch
Used to live in public housin', get free lunch at the school
Had to jump 'fore they came out, had them bring the strap to the school
I was trappin' in school, I was actin' a fool
I was a freshman and I was the freshest nigga in school, yeah yeah
I was trappin' in school, I was actin' a fool
I was a freshman and I was the freshest nigga in school, yeah yeah
The lyrics of Yo Gotti's song "Free Lunch" paint a vivid picture of his past experiences growing up in poverty and struggling to survive. He talks about dreaming about a gun when he had almost nothing left, aside from a few puffs of weed left in the spliff. He also mentions his preference for being alone with his partner instead of having anyone else around when they have sex, emphasizing his love for her amidst his challenging circumstances.
Gotti also mentions the harsh reality of his life living in public housing, where he had to eat free lunches at school and had to be always on alert, ready to jump before anyone could attack him. He mentions the dangers of his environment, where he had to carry a strap (or a gun) to school for protection.
The rapper also talks about his experiences in school, where he gave in to his disruptive tendencies and acted out in class. He mentions his love for getting money, and how he would rather make cash than attend PE class. Although he disliked authority figures like police officers and his teacher who encouraged him to reach for the stars, he was inspired by an older person who taught him the importance of self-love and resisting the allure of the streets.
Overall, "Free Lunch" is an emotional and poignant exploration of Yo Gotti's difficult past, and the lyrics reflect the challenges he has had to overcome to achieve success in his career and personal life.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to dream about a 9 when I had 4 in the spliff
I used to imagine having a gun even though all I had was a small amount of weed.
When you would fuck, don't want no niggas around, just you and your bitch
When having sex, I would prefer it to be just me and my partner without any other people around us.
Used to live in public housin', get free lunch at the school
I grew up in government subsidized housing and relied on free school lunches for meals.
Had to jump 'fore they came out, had them bring the strap to the school
I had to hide and prepare a gun before facing a dangerous situation at school.
I was trappin' in school, I was actin' a fool
I was selling drugs and getting into trouble in school.
I was a freshman and I was the freshest nigga in school, yeah yeah
As a freshman, I stood out among my peers with my sense of style and confidence.
Leavin' the school I was fuckin' the seniors
After school, I was having sex with older students.
I got caught with the strap and sent to juvinile detention, yeah yeah
I was caught with a gun and sent to juvenile detention as punishment.
Never liked police, shootin' dice under bleachers
I never trusted the police and would gamble underneath the bleachers at school.
Fifth period, get money, don't mind PE class
During fifth period, I would focus on making money and didn't care about physical education class.
No books in the book bag, took math, I need to add
I didn't carry textbooks but still went to math class because I needed to improve my skills.
I was gon' get a bag
I was determined to make money and succeed despite my circumstances.
Came to school, filled the lot up
I arrived at school with a large group of friends or associates.
Play with me and get shot up
If someone provoked me, they would face the consequences of violence.
Five hundred for the Coogi sweater
I valued fashion and was willing to spend a lot of money on designer clothing.
Three-fifty for the Prada's
I also valued expensive footwear and would pay a lot for designer shoes.
Teacher told me I could be anythin' I wanna be
My teacher encouraged me to pursue my dreams and achieve success.
OG told me you gotta love yourself and don't love the streets
An older mentor advised me to prioritize self-love and not put too much value in the dangerous lifestyle of the streets.
Last nigga played with me in school, gave him the street blues
Someone who disrespected me in school faced consequences outside of school on the streets.
Nigga tried to jump me in school so I went and got my tools
When someone tried to attack me at school, I felt the need to arm myself and defend myself with a weapon.
I been broke all my life, I got somethin' to prove hoe
Coming from a life of poverty, I felt a strong desire to prove myself and succeed.
I shot my teacher hoe bitch, I took recess hoe bitch
This is likely a boastful and untrue claim meant to make the artist appear tougher and more dangerous than he actually is.
You better Google me and do your research hoe
I am confident in my reputation and believe that anyone who looks me up will find only positive things about me.
I fucked plenty bitches under the bleachers hoe
I engaged in sexual activities with many partners underneath the bleachers at school.
I cheat on my bitch, so 'cause I don't need you hoe
I am unfaithful to my partner and don't value loyalty or commitment in relationships.
When I skip school, Grandma whoop my ass
My grandmother would punish me physically when I didn't attend school.
I give my li'l brother my last
I am generous with my family members and would give them anything I have.
Made the best out of what we had
Despite our difficult circumstances, we tried to make the most of what we had and find happiness.
Tried my best to make it last
I did everything I could to prolong happy moments and make the most of my experiences.
It was hard on me and my brothers
Growing up was tough, especially for myself and my siblings.
I ain't never ever see my dad
My father was not present in my life and I never had a chance to develop a relationship with him.
All my life I had to struggle
I faced many challenges and obstacles throughout my entire life.
That's why I talk shit and show my ass
I act boastful and aggressive because I feel that I need to prove myself and assert my strength in the face of adversity.
I was trappin' in school, I was actin' a fool
I was selling drugs and getting into trouble in school.
I was a freshman and I was the freshest nigga in school, yeah yeah
As a freshman, I stood out among my peers with my sense of style and confidence.
I was trappin' in school, I was actin' a fool
I was selling drugs and getting into trouble in school.
I was a freshman and I was the freshest nigga in school, yeah yeah
As a freshman, I stood out among my peers with my sense of style and confidence.
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mario Mims, Lionel Nealy, Karl Hamnqvist, Samuel Benson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bosky G's family first
80's baby anthem!!!!!π―π¦
Oh my bad lol
That shit go so fucking hard!
Head Bread Winner
You konw how many people relate to thisπ₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
Bigg Cart
I'm from south Memphis and youngsta making us look crazy but we appreciate it ππ―πͺπΎ
Mouse Mouse Hank
0:10... when the beat dropped π
wurfless hooman
youngsta spit real shit
Trashawn Alexander
KIRHEE YOUNG omm
Ewoks Active
This track so relatable!
Drugrixh Daniel
blac youngsta rap bout some real shit
BoostWillis
"OG Told me you gotta love yourself don't love the streets."