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.
Lean
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a spot in N.O. (Fo' sho')
Lookin for them real toys, to see what they goin' fo'
Down hurr' in Texas
When I'm ballin at Max's
Get a bitch, fuck a hotel
Hit the crib, relaxin'
Them Body boys
Mike Jones and Paul Wall
Slim Thug and Bun B and Z-Ro and all y'all
I'm Y-O, G-O, double T to the I, trick
Don't get it confused though, I represent this Memphis shit
Represent for the real niggas
For the drug dealers, for the hard hitters
Represent for my brother doin the 10 years in Fort Piller
Represent for the Dirty South
Gettin' that money, what we about
Livin' the life, rocki'n ice
That's why I put 20 G's in my mouth
See them diamonds, see me shinin'
Hear me rhymin', see me climbin'
Straight to the top of the charts, bitch
Like this shit on lock, bitch
[Chorus]
Just call on me (Homie)
And you got a plane
You gon' need
Somebody, to on
Lean on me
I'm puffin green, strong
Sippin', get my lean on
Comin' down, candy paint
Get my gleam on
The fo' poured up
The 'Dro rolled up
One-deep, with the heat
Beat slowed up
I'm outta Memphis, Ten.
With about ten to spend
Got with Gotti, put me down with some lady friends
I'm showin diamond grin, leanin', walkin' with' a limp
Hoes on the 'vard, "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp"
I'm Slim Thugga motherfucka', dirty south boss
Eyes low from the 'Dro, plus I'm cotton-mouth
That's how we do it down in Texas, holdin' wood-wheel
"Swang n' Bang" down the lane, til' my drank spill
Blow kill', bet the Kush get'cha mind right
Everythang I drive candy, so I shine bright
I'm either on the grind, tryin'a get my bank on
Or on recline mayn, tryin'a get my drank on
[Chorus]
Hol' up, hol' up
Roll up, roll up
Ho what, ho what
Hol' up, hol' up
Roll up, roll up
(Lean on me)
Ho what, ho what
Hol' up, hol' up
Roll up, roll up
Ho what, ho what
Hol' up, hol' up
Roll up, roll up
Ho what, ho what
(Lean on me)
In the opening verse of Yo Gotti's song "Lean on Me," the rapper talks about his connections to different cities and neighborhoods across the Southern United States. He mentions his spots in Atlanta and New Orleans, where he is presumably staying while he looks for luxury items to purchase. Texas is also a destination where he likes to ball at the nightclub Max's, and he takes women home to his crib to relax. Yo Gotti also name-drops popular rappers from Houston, including Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Bun B, and Z-Ro, showing his appreciation for the local scene. The chorus of the song features the line "Lean on me," which could have a couple of meanings. It could refer to the drug lean, which is a combination of cough syrup and soda often used by rappers to achieve a high. It might also be a call for support or solidarity from other rappers in the South.
The second verse of the song is performed by rapper Slim Thug, who emphasizes his love for lean and weed as he cruises around in his candy-painted car. He also name-checks Yo Gotti's hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, saying he spent about ten grand on jewelry when he was there. Finally, Slim Thug mentions the famous quote from the movie "Hustle and Flow," that declares "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp." This line became a popular catchphrase in rap circles and even won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2006 after being used in the film's soundtrack.
"Lean on Me" is a popular track taken from Yo Gotti's eighth studio album, "I Am," which was released in 2013. It was produced by DJ Montay and features Slim Thug, a well-known rapper from Houston.
The song received positive reviews and helped elevate Yo Gotti's profile in the rap community. He is a veteran rapper who has been active since the late 1990s and has released numerous albums over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a spot in the A
I have a place in Atlanta
Got a spot in N.O. (Fo' sho')
I have a place in New Orleans for sure
Lookin for them real toys, to see what they goin' fo'
Searching for high-value items to see their monetary worth
Down hurr' in Texas
I'm currently in Texas
When I'm ballin at Max's
When I'm having a good time at Max's (a club?)
Get a bitch, fuck a hotel
I prefer to have sex with a woman at a home rather than a hotel
Hit the crib, relaxin'
I go home and chill
Them Body boys
People from the Bodymore neighborhood in Baltimore
They bringin' noise
They're causing a commotion
Mike Jones and Paul Wall
Rappers from Texas
Slim Thug and Bun B and Z-Ro and all y'all
More Texas rappers and everyone in that scene
I'm Y-O, G-O, double T to the I, trick
My name is Yo Gotti, and don't forget it
Don't get it confused though, I represent this Memphis shit
I represent Memphis and its culture
Represent for the real niggas
I represent the true people
For the drug dealers, for the hard hitters
I rep the people involved in drugs and violence
Represent for my brother doin the 10 years in Fort Piller
I rep my sibling who is serving time in Fort Pillow
Represent for the Dirty South
I represent the Southern U.S. and its music culture
Gettin' that money, what we about
We're all about making money
Livin' the life, rocki'n ice
Living luxuriously and wearing diamonds
That's why I put 20 G's in my mouth
I have a $20,000 diamond dental implant
See them diamonds, see me shinin'
Notice my sparkling jewelry
Hear me rhymin', see me climbin'
Hear my rap songs, and witness my success
Straight to the top of the charts, bitch
I'm quickly rising to the top of the music industry
Like this shit on lock, bitch
I have a tight grip on my success
Just call on me (Homie)
If you need me, call me
And you got a plane
I have a private jet to fly us
You gon' need
You'll definitely need
Somebody, to on
Someone to rely on
Lean on me
You can trust me to be there for you
I'm puffin green, strong
I'm smoking marijuana
Sippin', get my lean on
I'm drinking a drug mixture called 'lean'
Comin' down, candy paint
My car is painted with bright, shiny colors
Get my gleam on
I'm blinging with diamonds
The fo' poured up
I've mixed drug cocktail 'lean' in a cup
The 'Dro rolled up
Marijuana is ready to smoke
One-deep, with the heat
Alone, and carrying a gun
Beat slowed up
The tempo of the song has slowed down
I'm outta Memphis, Ten.
I'm from Memphis, Tennessee
With about ten to spend
I have about $10,000 to use
Got with Gotti, put me down with some lady friends
Yo Gotti introduced me to some women to spend time with
I'm showin diamond grin, leanin', walkin' with' a limp
I'm flashing my diamond smile while walking with swagger
Hoes on the 'vard, "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp"
Sex workers on the boulevard are singing quoting the song 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp'
I'm Slim Thugga motherfucka', dirty south boss
I'm Slim Thug, the Southern U.S. boss
Eyes low from the 'Dro, plus I'm cotton-mouth
My eyes are red from smoking and I'm thirsty
That's how we do it down in Texas, holdin' wood-wheel
Holding a wooden steering wheel is a Texas driving style
"Swang n' Bang" down the lane, til' my drank spill
Swerving and playing loud music while driving until the drink spills
Blow kill', bet the Kush get'cha mind right
Smoking weed will make you feel good
Everythang I drive candy, so I shine bright
All my cars has eye-catching colors
I'm either on the grind, tryin'a get my bank on
I'm hustling as hard as I can to make money
Or on recline mayn, tryin'a get my drank on
Or, I'm relaxing and drinking cough syrup
Hol' up, hol' up
Wait a minute
Roll up, roll up
Roll up something to smoke
Ho what, ho what
What (slang for 'what's up' or 'what's going on')
(Lean on me)
Trust me and depend on me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind