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 cityโs underground rap scene before going on to become national superstars. Next up to bat is Yo Gotti, M-Townโs 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 Southโs 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. โBeing from the hood things like hustling will come your way,โ says Yo Gotti. โEverybody in my family hustled in some kinda way.โ 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 Gottiโs 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 cityโs 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 magazineโs 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. โIt sold about 40 or 50,000, with no promotions or video,โ says Yo Gotti. โThat record did what it did on its own.โ But as the old saying goes when one door is closed another opened. Gottiโs 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 didnโt do the type of big number heโd hope for youโd 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.
โThe 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. Thatโs why I call my record Back 2 Da Basics.โ
Produced by DJ Thoomp, Mannie Fresh, Carlos Brody and newcomers Street Tunes, Back 2 Da Basics offers fans a gritty, insiderโs view into the real streets of Memphis as seen through the eyes of Yo Gotti. Nowhere is this viewpoint more intense than on โFull Time,โ the amped up lead single โand featured in the MTV Filmsโ Hustle & Flow movie - with a thunderous bass and intoxicating beat that espouses Gottiโs formula to success โhustle full time.
โA lotta cats wanna be a rapper or a street hustler but they donโt wanna put in the time that it takes,โ says Yo Gotti. โThey want the money and the cars and the girls, but they donโt wanna work hard for it. But to be successful at anything you gotta grind for it.โ On the song โMama We Gone Be Alright,โ 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. โMama We Gone Be Alrightโ along with the gripping tune โMy Storyโ emerges as two of the most interesting songs on Back 2 Da Basics. These three titles along with club banging songs like โShortyโ featuring Baby make Back 2 Da Basics one of the best albums of the year.
Fuck'em
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
P.O. Told me not to leave the state, fuck 'em
Fuck 'em
Fuck 'em
Young nigga, you got it now, you're doin' fine
Your dawg down, front him an ounce, I can see you tryin'
I respect your grind
And I know 9 niggas jailin', 3 of them tellin'
I got 9 niggas with me, 8 of them are felons
9 Fresh off the slab
Tell 'em fuck it, gon' front you the whole half
Pussy cat niggas, they got 9 lives
So I'ma try to kill 'em 9 times
Shout out to niggas on the block and the bitches in beauty shops
With rollers in their head, their niggas off in the fed
Collectin' every calls, send pictures and writin' letters
And makin' every visit, y'all the realest bitches ever, 100, 100
See niggas don't get it, my nigga, like, niggas talkin' 'bout they want a bad bitch,
Say a street nigga need a real bitch,
You know what I'm sayin'? Ho you gon' go through somethin',
Nigga took you on 9 trips to 9 countries,
Ran through 9 hundred thou. And a nigga locked up for 9 days and a bitch gone.
Damn
These bitches temporary, my hustle necessary
One thing about me in a whole, I ain't ever weary
99 Problems, 1 issue them folks'll lend you
You own the court and you ball and them feds'll come and get you
Forreal, indite you, 25 life you, forreal
My homie told me not to cross the plug, but fuck him
We're down bad, I told him what it was, so fuck it
Fuck 'em
Fuck 'em
My album drop, it may not sell a record, but fuck it
Kill a nigga, make them hoes respect it, fuck it
Fuck it
Fuck it
In the song "Fuck 'Em," Yo Gotti talks about how he is not going to let anyone hold him back from achieving his goals. He is determined to do what he wants to do, regardless of what anybody else says. The lyrics "Label told me not to drop a tape, fuck 'em / P.O. Told me not to leave the state, fuck 'em / Fuck 'em / Fuck 'em" suggest that he is going to do what he wants, regardless of the consequences. He is not going to let anyone dictate his life.
Yo Gotti also talks about respecting people who hustle and grind, even if they might be felons. He refers to his friends who have gone through a lot of trouble with the law, but he still respects their grind. He also talks about how he is going to try to "kill them nine times" because he knows that they have nine lives. This line suggests that he is not going to let anyone mess with him.
In the last verse, Yo Gotti talks about how he is not going to let anyone get in his way. He says that his hustle is necessary and that he is never weary. He also talks about the struggles of being a rapper and how the feds can come down hard on you if you are not careful. He says that he is going to keep doing what he does, regardless of the consequences. The lyrics "My album drop, it may not sell a record, but fuck it / Kill a nigga, make them hoes respect it, fuck it / Fuck it / Fuck it" suggest that he is going to do whatever it takes to be successful, even if it means going against the norm.
Line by Line Meaning
Label told me not to drop a tape, fuck 'em
I don't care what the label says, I'm going to drop my tape anyway
P.O. Told me not to leave the state, fuck 'em
I don't care what my probation officer says, I'm going to leave the state anyway
Fuck 'em
I don't care what anyone says, I'm going to do what I want
Young nigga, you got it now, you're doin' fine
You're doing well as a young black man
Your dawg down, front him an ounce, I can see you tryin'
If your friend is in need, give him some drugs, I see you trying to be a good friend
I respect your grind
I appreciate your hard work and hustle
252, I respect the 9
I respect the community and the violence of the area code 252
And I know 9 niggas jailin', 3 of them tellin'
I know nine people who are currently incarcerated, three of whom are informants
I got 9 niggas with me, 8 of them are felons
I have nine people with me, and eight of them have been previously convicted of a felony
9 Fresh off the slab
Nine people who have recently been released from prison
Tell 'em fuck it, gon' front you the whole half
Don't worry, I will give you the entire amount of drugs and trust you to pay me back later
Pussy cat niggas, they got 9 lives
There are guys out there who always seem to land on their feet despite all the trouble they get into
So I'ma try to kill 'em 9 times
I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure these guys don't come back after me
Shout out to niggas on the block and the bitches in beauty shops
I want to give a shout out to the people in my community who are working hard to make a living
With rollers in their head, their niggas off in the fed
The women in the beauty shop who have rollers in their hair and whose partners are incarcerated
Collectin' every calls, send pictures and writin' letters
They support their partners by collecting every phone call, sending them pictures and writing letters
And makin' every visit, y'all the realest bitches ever, 100, 100
Their dedication to their partners is incredibly admirable, they are truly amazing
See niggas don't get it, my nigga, like, niggas talkin' 'bout they want a bad bitch,
Guys don't understand, they are talking about wanting a hot girl,
Say a street nigga need a real bitch,
But what they really need is a loyal woman who understands the street life,
You know what I'm sayin'? Ho you gon' go through somethin',
These guys don't get it, you can't just use a woman and then expect her to stick around when things get tough,
Nigga took you on 9 trips to 9 countries,
These guys will brag about taking a woman on trips to different countries,
Ran through 9 hundred thou. And a nigga locked up for 9 days and a bitch gone.
But then they will spend all their money and when they get locked up, their girl will leave them,
Damn
That's messed up
These bitches temporary, my hustle necessary
Women come and go, but my hustle is what really matters
One thing about me in a whole, I ain't ever weary
I am always ready and willing to keep hustling
99 Problems, 1 issue them folks'll lend you
I have a lot of problems, but the police will only give me one charge they think will stick
You own the court and you ball and them feds'll come and get you
Even if you're making legitimate money, the feds will still come after you
Forreal, indite you, 25 life you, forreal
For real, they will indict you and give you 25 years to life in prison
My homie told me not to cross the plug, but fuck him
My friend warned me not to cross the drug supplier, but I don't care what he says
We're down bad, I told him what it was, so fuck it
We're in a bad situation and I told him we need to do what we can to survive
My album drop, it may not sell a record, but fuck it
I may not make any money from my album, but I'm going to drop it anyway
Kill a nigga, make them hoes respect it, fuck it
I will do whatever it takes to earn the respect of those around me, including committing murder
Fuck it
I don't care about the consequences of my actions, I'm going to do what I want
Fuck it
No matter what anyone says, I'm going to do what I want
Lyrics ยฉ THE ADMINISTRATION MP
Written by: La Troy Garrett, Mario Mims
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@prodnicelchapo
My father used to tell me I was nothing more than worthless
A stupid motherfucker that would live without a purpose
K.A.A.N.?
Put my thoughts upon a page so I could try and prove him wrong
And every time I write a song I reminisce about the pain that I'm repressing in my brain so I don't ever feel alone
And I've been living with depression so I wonder how this shit really begins
I'm comfortable with the thoughts of vision and now it is
I've been working on this record for a minute
Still I feel like nothing that I do is good enough
My insecurities are creeping in so they would seep in to the music
Ain't it funny when other people see your pain as amusing?
Abusing many a pill and numbing the way I feel 'til the point of my reality's the furthest thing from real
The only thing I ever needed was a little piece of love and I couldn't find that in people so I would seek it in drugs
And I wanted to be the greatest instead I'm facing the truth
But the fact of the matter is that I'm losing it what's the use
And I know I'm sounding repetitive lack the lust for living
I pray that I be forgiven , I say letโs take a picture
For sinners to get the sentiment a critical acclaim to explaining it wasn't evident
A premonition of my early death I'll make it prevalent malevolent confessing
And if I was down and out I can't sell my soul to be relevant
Gallivanting around like 'Fuck I'm finally free
I'm ignoring all of my problems
I said I'd bury them deep '
But I'm actually terrified and my paranoia was verified cause I just realized I don't wanna make it to twenty-five
A suicidal psychopath, a schizophrenic kinda guy that's looking for your empathy hoping that you'll remember me
The message I provided collided within the melody
A metamorphosism reliving giving debauchery
The resurrection of a savior coming out of Nazareth where you could catch a laceration and a crucifixion
Under what condition d'you make the decision moving like it's in a mild position living at the bottom wishing I was with it
Couldn't tell the difference
So tired of giving the false opinions
My faith in the book that was written by other people
They probably wrote with agendas
So every role was intended for anyone to follow
Attention, I got a testament
Just like the book of Mark
I'm sparking a revolution
My story a revelation
Amazing, I'd rather save it, debate it
Everything on my mind
While I was taking a mental picture
OK, so my train of thought is evasive
I'm faded within my memory
From a daily addiction of always staying sedated and claiming I wanna make it
I'm nothing more than a follower
No apologies for it
Enforcing my fucking happiness
Don't know what I believe and I'm seething and barely breathing
I was thinking of positivity
The possibility that I'll be sane is like a fallacy
I got a way to go and I'm showing you people gradually
I been imagining a better life and then I contradict it
The consequence of feeling like a loser with no confidence
And I've been all alone, I'm tryna find the source of inner peace
I suffocate the beat until the flow has been consumed
I strangulate that mother fucker, turn the tune and turn the night maroon
And if I'm being honest, I think I'm losing my passion
I'm passing on opportunities
Giving in to distraction
The problem's that I've been having is all of it's a facade
It's quantity over quality
Profit over the product
But shit if it makes a dollar
Who gives a fuck if it's garbage?
We'll get it radio play and then now make it a classic
And take a nigga with talent that's about as big as a grain of salt
And put him on a pedestal
He'll eventually catapult to perpetual force
The actual result distracting
They forgot that mother fucker was never decent at rapping
They reminisce on the past and there ain't nobody original
But niggas stealing styles and never giving their credit
Accepting that shit's pathetic
A hypothetical pondering
I put it on a paper for some people I'm being honest with
Abolishing a novice and murdering his accomplice
A complicated affair with the notorious hitter
These habitual liars supplying a lot of ignorance
It's all about an image, so everyone's irresponsible
And if you got a positive message then it's impossible to overcome the current plan and rap a better obstacle
It's illogical to think that
The future is looking brighter
When money comes into play than the vision will get distorted
Cause you were forced into feeling by acting out of your character
You lost your sense of pride that's inside
Don't let them embarrass ya
Barely making it now when you're coming up from the rubble
Refuse to be in the rut
Ain't no need for an introduction
My shit is really disgusting
It's different and impeccable
Intelligent and highly respectable
You're susceptible to this lyrical giant
A tyrant acting defiant
I'd rather do this alone
So mother fuck an alliance aligning with preservation
To practice my dedication by defecating the delicate
Relegated with delegates to give them rigamortis
Supported within a deficit
Celebrated a reverence
Televising my decadence
From years of destitution
The resolution's irrelevant
It's gotten to the point where I can see that nothing's real at all
It's leaving me appalled and
I'm embarrassed I will get involved to mental regression for I have yet to evolve
Got to find a spot to put my aggression before I'm gone
But the pain that I feel has lasted so long
So by the end of this song I'm praying for my desire cause I'm refusing to fake it
Iโd rather reform than retire so my generation remedial
I really can't believe this shit is happening
In any lie, Iโm surrounded by fucking geniuses
And you gotta be kidding me
The only thing I was meant to be is the dopest mother fucker that people will probably never see
And if I never make it then I'm fulfilling the prophecy
Everything that I write has been centered around my honesty
:)
@oscarbrown9277
This song hit even harder now. Dolph and Gotti both stood on business. Real beef, real heartbreak. 2024 this song has new life and new meaning
@Phoenixxxdream
We need more real rappers to teach these young dudes. I have so much respect for Gottiย ..."we trying to get out the hood, not because we afraid of it but because that's the obstacle". Salute
@Boe-Jiden2024
lol this didn't age well
@theTswift937513
@@Boe-Jiden2024You clearly donโt know what your talking about. Maybe you donโt understand weโre we come from. God bless you ๐๐พ
@paperwork_party
โ@@Boe-Jiden2024still holds true
@hotties3v3n
I agree biden.
@Dani-rl5kp
Then says p.o. told me not to leave the state fuck him. That's not the mind set u want to send to young ppl
@Paypamatez209
Gotti has been putting it down for almost 20 years and he still coming with that fire. Respect
@keys333
This song is beautiful so many have them same pain and so many out here feeling alone music will always heal my soul and those handsome kings omg ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐ช๐ผ๐๐bonus for me ๐๐๐๐
@unbornrj98
I got goosebumps the first time I heard this song. Very touching. #INSPIRATION