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.
I Got Them
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Know what I'm sayin' this Birdman and this how it's goin' down,
That little youngin' Yo Gotti I certified him stamped approval and the jail,
I see like niggas must be they got us fucked up, they got us fucked up,
They got us fucked up we been movin' birds bitch, they got us fucked up,
They got you fucked up, then get you fucked we been movin' birds bitch
[Chorus]
Chickens, chickens, and bricks, bundles,
Bundles of dope, and ounces, ounces and shit
Quarters, quarters and halves,
Chickens, chickens, and bricks, bundles,
Bundles of dope, and ounces, ounces and shit
Get what they lookin' fo, keep what they lookin' fo,
All they gotta do is tell me what they lookin' fo,
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
Money to be made best believe a nigga clockin',
I run it myself like a quarterback option,
I pitch a 10 G's tell a bitch to go shopping,
She buy herself some clothes,
And she brought me back a chopper,
See niggas tryna kick it,
But no I don't play soccer,
I'm all about my cake I'm tryna marry Betty Crocker,
A package on the way you know my whip game proper,
And all for one key I see seventy thousand dollas,
Now I was shootin' dice, smokin' on a joint,
I bet wit Yo Gotti,
He hit five straight points,
We ova' here hustlin',
We ova here grindin',
You rap about money and nigga might sign ya,
You rap about me and a nigga might find ya,
But ? yo ass what you hear right behind you
Dope game bitch let his mama worry bout him,
You can holla at me for a fee but I
Got Em'
[Chorus]
Get what they lookin' fo, keep what they lookin' fo,
All they gotta do is tell me what they lookin' fo,
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
I met the Birdman with the Bird layin',
Got a twenty piece, brought it back to north Memphis charged twenty two a piece,
Now I'm in the kitchen with a beacon and a blender,
Low key in a rental, with them thangs in the fender,
See I full time grind January to December,
Put that snow in the summer got it lookin' like the winter,
I'm goin' back to Cali, I gotta get that light green,
Mexico valley, you know they got them pine trees,
18 wheeler, now I'm on I-10, on my way to Memphis,
I gotta get my hands in,
I come from the north where gangstas gon' grind,
Bitch niggas gon' whine, and hustlas gon' shine,
Everybody say they trappin' but most of these niggas lyin',
I told slim, told stunna I'm waitin' for my time,
Either robbin', or poppin', click clack I shot 'em, bullets burryin', brr I got em'
[Chorus]
Get what they lookin' fo, keep what they lookin' fo,
All they gotta do is tell me what they lookin' fo,
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
Back where I started on my set in black,
Hop out the passenger side of my back,
Under my nuts was two ounces of crack,
But in my palm I had that chromed out mac,
Shinin' on them bitches cause nigga I'm 'bout that,
Flip a quarter bird to score a whole sack,
Pull up in the club in a old school 'lac,
With a bitch ridin' fly so hide you love that,
It's grind time, nigga been about that,
We flippin' birds let them hoes go to sacs,
We livin' large with the garbage bag flats,
Want the money and the power, real niggas gon' stack,
And ridin' fly, 25's on the back,
Plushed out nigga keep a few stacks,
Out the hood, 'bout money that's that,
If you ever cross the line best believe you gettin' whacked
[Chorus]
Get what they lookin' fo, keep what they lookin' fo,
All they gotta do is tell me what they lookin' fo,
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
In Yo Gotti's song "I Got Them", the rapper confidently declares his involvement in the drug game, emphasizing his ability to provide anything his customers are looking for. The lyrics present a gritty depiction of the rapper's life and the world he inhabits, with references to common drug trafficking terminology such as "quarters, halves, chickens, bricks, and bundles of dope." The repetition of the phrase "they got us fucked up" is significant as it highlights the fact that those who underestimate Gotti's prowess in the game will face their own downfall. The chorus endorses Gotti as the “dopeman”, suggesting that he is the go-to person for acquiring drugs, and he describes his ability to make money easily by connecting with clients seeking drugs.
The song also suggests that the drug game is not just about selling substances, but also about maintaining status by generating significant profits. Gotti boasts about being an expert in the game who is able to move birds (drugs) and make a significant amount of money off of it. He also talks about his ability to hire others to do his work while he remains in control of the operation, showing a level of success that comes with the drug trade.
Overall, "I Got Them" presents a vivid and unapologetic portrayal of the world of drug trafficking and the complexities of working within it. The lyrics suggest both the risks and rewards involved in the lifestyle, and present a skilled and confident approach to the game.
Line by Line Meaning
Already,
I'm about to talk about a particular situation involving Birdman and Yo Gotti
Know what I'm sayin' this Birdman and this how it's goin' down,
This is how Birdman and I operate
That little youngin’ Yo Gotti I certified him stamped approval and the jail,
I've approved and certified Yo Gotti
I see like niggas must be they got us fucked up, they got us fucked up,
People are underestimating us
They got us fucked up we been movin' birds bitch, they got us fucked up,
People don't realize we've been trafficking drugs
They got you fucked up, then get you fucked we been movin' birds bitch
They're underestimating you too, but we know what we're doing
[Chorus] Quarters, quarters and halves,
We're dealing with fractional amounts of drugs
Chickens, chickens, and bricks, bundles,
We're also dealing with larger quantities
Bundles of dope, and ounces, ounces and shit
And even larger amounts still
Get what they lookin' fo, keep what they lookin' fo,
We have what people are looking for and we keep what people are looking for
All they gotta do is tell me what they lookin' fo,
If they want something, all they have to do is ask me
I'm da dopeman, dopeman
I'm the drug dealer
Money to be made best believe a nigga clockin',
I'm watching every dollar we make
I run it myself like a quarterback option,
I manage everything myself
I pitch a 10 G’s tell a bitch to go shopping,
I give a woman $10,000 to go shopping
She buy herself some clothes,
She uses the money to buy herself clothes
And she brought me back a chopper,
But she also bought me a gun
See niggas tryna kick it,
People are trying to hang out with us
But no I don't play soccer,
But I'm not interested in playing around
I'm all about my cake I'm tryna marry Betty Crocker,
I'm focused on making money
A package on the way you know my whip game proper,
I'm expecting a delivery and I'm good at driving
And all for one key I see seventy thousand dollas,
One kilogram of drugs is worth $70,000
Now I was shootin' dice, smokin' on a joint,
I was gambling and smoking marijuana
I bet wit Yo Gotti,
I made a bet with Yo Gotti
He hit five straight points,
He won five times in a row
We ova' here hustlin',
We're working hard to make money
We ova here grindin',
We're putting in the effort to succeed
You rap about money and nigga might sign ya,
If you rap about money, you might get signed
You rap about me and a nigga might find ya,
If you rap about me, someone might come after you
But ? yo ass what you hear right behind you
Be careful of who's following you
Dope game bitch let his mama worry bout him,
If you're in the drug game, let your mother worry about you
You can holla at me for a fee but I Got Em'
You can come to me for drugs, but I'm in control
I met the Birdman with the Bird layin',
I met Birdman while he was dealing drugs
Got a twenty piece, brought it back to north Memphis charged twenty two a piece,
I bought 20 units and sold them for $22 each in North Memphis
Now I'm in the kitchen with a beacon and a blender,
I'm in the kitchen with a phone and a blender to mix drugs
Low key in a rental, with them thangs in the fender,
I'm discreetly driving a rental car with drugs hidden in the fender
See I full time grind January to December,
I work hard all year round
Put that snow in the summer got it lookin' like the winter,
I sell drugs year-round
I'm goin' back to Cali, I gotta get that light green,
I'm going back to California to sell marijuana
Mexico valley, you know they got them pine trees,
In Mexico, they have a lot of marijuana plants
18 wheeler, now I'm on I-10, on my way to Memphis,
I'm driving a big truck on the highway to Memphis
I gotta get my hands in,
I need to get my hands on some drugs to sell
I come from the north where gangstas gon' grind,
I come from the North, where gangsters work hard
Bitch niggas gon' whine, and hustlas gon' shine,
Weak people will complain, but hard workers will succeed
Everybody say they trappin’ but most of these niggas lyin',
Many people claim to be selling drugs, but most of them are lying
I told slim, told stunna I'm waitin' for my time,
I told Slim and Stunna that I'm waiting for my opportunity
Either robbin', or poppin', click clack I shot 'em, bullets burryin', brr I got em'
If you threaten me, I'll either rob or shoot you and I'll get away with it
Back where I started on my set in black,
I'm back to where I started on my territory wearing black
Hop out the passenger side of my back,
I got out of the passenger side of my car
Under my nuts was two ounces of crack,
I had drugs hidden under my testicles
But in my palm I had that chromed out mac,
But I also had a shiny gun in my hand
Shinin' on them bitches cause nigga I'm 'bout that,
I'm intimidating people with my gun because I'm about that life
Flip a quarter bird to score a whole sack,
I traded a quarter kilogram of drugs to get a large amount
Pull up in the club in a old school 'lac,
I arrived at the club in an old Cadillac
With a bitch ridin' fly so hide you love that,
With a nice woman riding with me, you would enjoy it
It's grind time, nigga been about that,
It's time to work hard, I've always been about that
We flippin' birds let them hoes go to sacs,
We're selling drugs and ignoring women
We livin' large with the garbage bag flats,
We're making a lot of money despite living in cheap apartments
Want the money and the power, real niggas gon' stack,
We want to make money and have power
And ridin' fly, 25's on the back,
And we're doing it in style with 25-inch rims on our cars
Plushed out nigga keep a few stacks,
I'm making a lot of money and I always have some on hand
Out the hood, 'bout money that's that,
I'm out of the ghetto and focused on making money
If you ever cross the line best believe you gettin' whacked
If you mess with me, I'll kill you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BIGRAM ZAYAS, BIGRAM JOHN ZAYAS, BRYAN WILLIAMS, CASEY "O.G." COLLINS, DWAYNE CARTER, MARIO MIMS, MATTHEW DEL GIORNO, MATTHEW ARTHUR DEL GIORNO, RUSSELL THOMAS, YO GOTTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jadislates6687
1st time hearing this I was in a DONK on them 30’s in NASHVILLE out east swerving with Ne Ne ! #🖤
@dariuswilliams6683
Wayne verse just made this song so memorable. 💯💯
@bigmike9108
I got off work hit the bong and thought of this Wayne verse and had to hear it immediately. I literally remember when this came out. Back in the limewire days 😂
@dariuswilliams6683
@@bigmike9108word! 💪🏾💯
@midnighttoker024
Still bumping this shit!! Like if you are too!!! 2018!!!!
@Craigytway2b
How isn't this song in the 100m.. My favourite rap/ hip hop beat of all time.. Just kills subs
@thomasfernandez6180
Cause it's ass
@Mr102185
One of hip hop’s best tracks ever!!!! No 🧢. Lyrics 🔥 and beat is truly amazing! Will forever ♾ be a classic track!!!
@Vontana2K
This was legit my first wayne verse i memorized!!
@Davon85J
Heard this song on Wayne’s young money radio and I forgot just how 🔥 it truly is