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.
Goose
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[All Star]
Yea this All Star Cashville's Prince
From Cashville to M-Town to ATL
When ya in the club and its a hater in your face
Go to the bar, order your grey goose, this what ya tell em'
I'm on that grey goose, do I know you? NO!
Do I know you? NO!
Do I know you? NO!
[Verse 1: Young Jeezy]
I'm on that grey goose, cranberry, and that pineapple (pineapple)
And I'll bust ya shit like a pineapple(pineapple)
Young rich nigga (chea), buy the whole bar (aye)
I'm wit Cashville and I'm wit All Star (yeeaah)
Red, white, and blue jersey wit the big star (stars)
M.V.P. biotch (biotch) I'm an All Star (chea)
26 inches sittin on the chevy frame (frame)
Top down (top down) I do the damn thang (yeeaah)
Flo-Masters got it soundin heavy from the rear (rear)
4-55 dude I'm outta here (chea)
Got my Gucci shades lookin like a rap star (star)
A buck fifty on the way call me Nascar (that's right)
Cocaine white wit the antique tags
I ain't trippin like red like gang flags (what up game)
It's Young Jeezy who the fuck wanna deal wit me (wit me)
Cashville, Tenn-A-Key, I brought a mill wit me
[Chorus]
[Verse 2: Yo Gotti]
Don't get this shit confused (fused) we was neva cool (cool)
You throwin up the North(north) but I dont know you (nope)
I'm fuckin plenty bitches (bitches) sippin plenty crisses (crisses)
You frowin up like a nigga don't supposed too
I'm mobbin wit my tools (tools) don't make me act a fool (fool)
But I'm a have to if ya homies can't control you (yup)
You steppin on my shoes (shoes) breakin all the rules (rules)
Can ya fight? Why them niggaz gotta hold you?
You talk a good game (game) but I don't wanna play (play)
I ain't gone let ya pause (pause) you ain't gone get away (nope)
I'll leave ya layin flat (flat) I'll leave ya people cryin (cryin)
You blamed it on yo high (why) cause you got flat-lined (yup)
I'm Yo Gotti cause (cuz) fuck who you thought I was (was)
I really shot them choppers (choppers) I really sold them drugs (drugs)
I really mess wit Star (star) we really bought the bar (bar)
We really on that goose and we don't really fuck wit y'all
[Chorus]
[Verse 3: All Star]
Aye yo I'm Cashville's Prince but you can call me Mr. Star
And ya gotta forgive me if I don't know who you niggaz are
I'm not just stuntin the vodka done it
This how a alcoholic act when he got lots of money (holla)
I started drinkin at the age of 12, in the club hollerin I'm rich like I'm Dave Chappelle
Aye yo I got them straps and I'll aim it at a nigga
We'll knock a motherfucker out and then blame it on the liquor
All Star I'm in my 2-3 zone, I got a pistol in the car that's about 2 feet long
Pockets fat as fuck yea that's what's up
Yo niggaz don't work for Exxon so why you let em' gas you up?
I'm a ball out until my casket's shut
Say bruh do me a favor, stop harassin us and
Go that a way! I told you niggaz
Man I'm on that grey goose and I don't know you nigga
[Chorus]
In "Goose" by Yo Gotti, the lyrics are about being in a club and encountering a hater. The song advises listeners to go to the bar and order grey goose, telling the hater they don't know them. The first verse is performed by Young Jeezy and talks about his success and extravagance. Jeezy also mentions his connection to Cashville and All Star. The second verse is performed by Yo Gotti and describes his tough behavior and his lack of interest in fighting or playing games. Gotti also reminds listeners of his past in selling drugs and his current success with All Star. The third and final verse is performed by All Star and speaks to his wealth and weapons, as well as his tendency to drink heavily.
Line by Line Meaning
Yea this All Star Cashville's Prince
Introducing himself as 'All Star Cashville's Prince.'
From Cashville to M-Town to ATL
Stating the cities he identifies with.
When ya in the club and its a hater in your face
Addressing situations where someone is in their face with negativity.
Go to the bar, order your grey goose, this what ya tell em'
Suggesting going to the bar and asking for their preferred drink to avoid confrontations.
I'm on that grey goose, do I know you? NO!
Indicating that he is drinking Grey goose, and doesn't know the person trying to start something with him.
Don't get this shit confused (fused) we was neva cool (cool)
Clarifying that they're not friends and never have been.
You throwin up the North(north) but I dont know you (nope)
Mentioning that the individual he's speaking to might be associated with a gang, but they aren't acquaintances.
I'm fuckin plenty bitches (bitches) sippin plenty crisses (crisses)
Boasting about his lifestyle of being with multiple women and drinking expensive champagne.
You frowin up like a nigga don't supposed too
Pointing out someone's disrespectful behavior in the club.
Can ya fight? Why them niggaz gotta hold you?
Asking if the individual is capable of fighting, and criticizing their friends for having to hold them back.
But I'm a have to if ya homies can't control you (yup)
Threatening to take matters into his own hands if their friends can't control them.
I really shot them choppers (choppers) I really sold them drugs (drugs)
Confessing to his criminal past of being involved in gun and drug trade.
We really on that goose and we don't really fuck wit y'all
Expressing his love for drinking Grey Goose and his disinterest in the other people in the club.
And ya gotta forgive me if I don't know who you niggaz are
Apologizing for not knowing who the people are that are approaching him.
This how a alcoholic act when he got lots of money (holla)
Acknowledging his alcoholic tendencies due to his financial status.
I'm a ball out until my casket's shut
Living life to the fullest until the day he dies.
Man I'm on that grey goose and I don't know you nigga
Declaring his drinking habits, and reiterating that he doesn't know the individuals trying to interact with him in the club.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Denise Rene
This is my shit!
ShiestyG901
song still hard wish lito was still with CMG
Rico Fresh
Shit too hard...
Daniel Quiles
Didn’t know Lito was rapping for this long
LRrealest
Song that introduced me to Lito
KingDizzleLTDinc.
And this was suppose to make Jeezy TM101 album but Cash Money blocked it
Speed Boat
That when they took Jeezy off. To put Wayne on it.. it was gonna be his single.. but this the best version of this song .. star having Jeezy and gotti on this would have boost his career faster if they didn't put Wayne on it.. then they drop the ball or blackballed my boy afterwards
Walt Hendr
Lito 💯💯💯💯💯
Tymel Wilson
Lito song
vicdmonejr
You had to be there!