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.
Harder
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can die a drug dealer but I'm smarter
Pair of forgiato rims I could of brought a charger
But dem bitches make the lambo look a little more harder
King of my city north Memphis weβre like Harlem
Blood gang crips too we gon' eat regardless
See me on the news yeah I beat dem charges
All they do is running gunning and a dodging
I can't let nuthing slide
Ridgecrest where I resign Ridgecrest what I provide
Young nigga with them choppas βcause I know they gonna ride
Fuck if I die today I went to church I pay my tax
I leave my son a couple million dollars so I did alright
Hard ainβt no nigga in this streets that built like me sold bricks like me
Mexico took trips like me
Texaco ain't nothing but gas if I was you nigga down my past
I break bread so no fuck me nigga I'm a real nigga and I was built to last
[Chorus]
Hard hard I'm hard hard hard I'm hard
Hard hard I'm hard
In the kitchen I whip it harder
Top drop riding harder
Hard hard I'm hard hard hard I'm hard
In the kitchen I whip it harder
Real nigga I live harder
Hard hard I'm hard
The streets go hard but I go harder
I know what Ditti meant mo money mo fucking problems
I know young money like I'm Dwayne Carter
Remember my life a real nigga if I die tomorrow
Iβm harder met a bitch in the Mazda
Put the bitch in the range rover
'Cause she suck dick till tomorrow
Head 4 24 hours 24 brick or powder
24s on my platinum neek 50k on the chandelier
Nozzle like a castle bitch white like Alaska
Got instrumentals sold all white on my Mercedes shit nasa
Pulled off in that 'rari took off like I'm nasa
Nigga playing dem games with me sheβll fuck you if you answer
She smarter better get she harder better yet you pussy
Then why them bitches charge ya'
[Chorus]
Strip moneys strip moneys got on my wall
Iβm going so hard I know I got more than dough
Got the beamer the Bentley triple-black Mercedes-Benz
Got me five mill in cash time to get it again
From Reebok to surrock came a long way from the blocks
Baby girl all wet cause shit I've driven it rocks
Licking shots that you pussies my stock fresh shot through the roof
As I shoot for the stars im shooting buying a coup
I know I won't live forever but stocking up like I will
I know you niggas ainβt real but I fuck you like u is
48 laws 36 hoes 57 nets all black tip-toeing
26 inch rims chrome mac 11 doing right so hard but I pray I get to heaven
[Chorus]
In βHarder,β Yo Gotti and Rick Ross rap about their reputation and success in the drug-dealing world. They boast about their wealth and street cred, proudly claiming the title of being βharderβ than anyone else. Yo Gotti displays his intelligence in street smarts by acknowledging that he could die being a drug dealer, but is too smart to let that happen. He rhymes about his loyalty to his city, Ridgecrest, and the importance of providing for his son. The chorus emphasizes his tough persona along with his dominance in the drug world: βHard hard Iβm hard hard hard, Iβm hard. In the kitchen I whip it harder, real n**** I live harder.β
The second verse takes a different approach, focusing more on Rick Rossβ personal life rather than drug dealing. He references the stress that comes with realizing the more money you have, the more problems arise. He also mentions how he has come a long way from his past, owning a Reebok and Surrock amongst other things, and brags about the large cash sum he has saved up. The final line of the verse is poignant, as Ross reflects on his own mortality despite his success and status: βI know I won't live forever but stocking up like I will. I know you niggas ainβt real but I fuck you like u is.β
Line by Line Meaning
Okay the beat go hard but I go harder
The instrumental is good but my skills are superior
I can die a drug dealer but I'm smarter
I could have continued selling drugs but I chose to be smarter in my decisions
Pair of forgiato rims I could of brought a charger
Instead of just getting rims for a cheaper car, I got them for my Lambo to stand out more
But dem bitches make the lambo look a little more harder
Having attractive women around me makes my car and lifestyle look even cooler
King of my city north Memphis weβre like Harlem
I am the ruler and most influential in my area like Harlem is to New York City
Blood gang crips too we gon' eat regardless
Regardless of our gang affiliations, we will always come out on top
See me on the news yeah I beat dem charges
I was falsely accused but came out victorious and proved my innocence
All they do is running gunning and a dodging
Others resort to running and gunning to survive while I am above that
Blood shed my niggas in the fed my nigga Gucci die
My friends have shed blood and some are in jail or have died like Gucci Mane
I can't let nuthing slide
I cannot let anything go unnoticed and must act on any offense against me
Ridgecrest where I resign Ridgecrest what I provide
I live and provide for my community in Ridgecrest
Young nigga with them choppas βcause I know they gonna ride
I have young people with guns because I know they will defend and ride for me
Fuck if I die today I went to church I pay my tax
Even if I were to pass away today, I have done the right things like attending church and paying my taxes
I leave my son a couple million dollars so I did alright
I have done well in life by being able to leave my son millions of dollars
Hard ainβt no nigga in this streets that built like me sold bricks like me
No one in the streets is tougher than me or has had as much success in drug sales as me
Mexico took trips like me
I have made many trips to Mexico for drug dealings
Texaco ain't nothing but gas if I was you nigga down my past
Gas stations like Texaco mean nothing to me as I have moved on from my past life
I break bread so no fuck me nigga I'm a real nigga and I was built to last
I share my wealth with others and am a genuine person who will last a long time
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song
The streets go hard but I go harder
The streets may be difficult, but I am even stronger and more resilient
I know what Ditti meant mo money mo fucking problems
I understand Ditti's message that more money often leads to more issues and challenges
I know young money like I'm Dwayne Carter
I am familiar with young money and have a similar success story to Lil Wayne
Remember my life a real nigga if I die tomorrow
If I were to pass away tomorrow, I want to be remembered as a genuine person
Iβm harder met a bitch in the Mazda
I am tough and even met a woman while driving a basic car
Put the bitch in the range rover
I upgraded the woman's car to a Range Rover
'Cause she suck dick till tomorrow
She performed sexual favors for me all night long
Head 4 24 hours 24 brick or powder
I got 24 hours of oral sex and also dealt with drugs
24s on my platinum neek 50k on the chandelier
I have expensive and flashy accessories
Nozzle like a castle bitch white like Alaska
The gun I have is massive and intimidating and the cocaine is pure white like snow in Alaska
Got instrumentals sold all white on my Mercedes shit nasa
I have sold beats and my white Mercedes is out of this world like NASA
Pulled off in that 'rari took off like I'm nasa
I drove off in my Ferrari quickly like a rocket ship
Nigga playing dem games with me sheβll fuck you if you answer
If someone tries to mess with me, the woman I am with will harm them if I tell her to
She smarter better get she harder better yet you pussy
My woman is smart and tough and you are a coward
Then why them bitches charge ya'
If you are not tough and real like me, why do women still want to be with you?
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song
Strip moneys strip moneys got on my wall
I have a lot of cash on my walls for decoration
Iβm going so hard I know I got more than dough
I am working very hard and know that I have more than just money
Got the beamer the Bentley triple-black Mercedes-Benz
I own very luxurious cars
Got me five mill in cash time to get it again
I have made a lot of money and am ready to make more
From Reebok to surrock came a long way from the blocks
I have come a long way from my humble beginnings to where I am now and have made brands like Reebok and Surrock popular
Baby girl all wet cause shit I've driven it rocks
A woman I am with is sexually aroused because of my expensive lifestyle
Licking shots that you pussies my stock fresh shot through the roof
I am firing guns at my enemies and my reputation is at an all-time high
As I shoot for the stars im shooting buying a coup
I am aiming for the highest goals and am buying expensive cars
I know I won't live forever but stocking up like I will
I am aware that I will not live forever but am preparing for the future like I will
I know you niggas ainβt real but I fuck you like u is
I know that some people are not genuine but I still act like they are
48 laws 36 hoes 57 nets all black tip-toeing
I follow many rules, have had many women, and have made a lot of money all while being discrete
26 inch rims chrome mac 11 doing right so hard but I pray I get to heaven
I have expensive rims and a gun but try to do the right thing and hope to go to heaven
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DEMETRIUS ELLERBEE, ANTOINE KEARNEY, MARIO MIMMS, RICK ROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CMoney1482
dis song u can listen to 150 times and get hyped every time
1009 LaiO
Big factzzz
MANLEY09
love this song.. GOTTI GOES HARD
Nakieta McElveen
One of his best songs
Doug Flanigan
Gotti been makin straight bangers for damn near 20 years
Kelsey Hoffman
Fuck yes
Luke Butterfield
shit goes hard in the paint.
skip sayless
In Memphis we go HARDER!!!!! π₯π₯π₯π₯γ½οΈπ―π―
Devin Khoury
This the Ross I miss. Rick Ross the Boss π₯. Rickyyy Rozayyyy
Notmychannel
This beat is fuckin dope!