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.
Letter
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You should be proud of me
My first love
This my letter to the trap
This my letter to the trap
This my letter to the trap (you should be proud of me)
This my letter to the trap
I know time flies by
I ain't shit in your eyes
I been fuckin' with this rap game, I been out in Dubai
I got a love and hate relationship with you at the same time
I wanna be there with you but then I wanna be there with you
At the same time
I'm infatuated with you, that shit give me a rush
All that dirty money, all that re-ing up
Back and forth in the kitchen cooking up
It's a different feeling
I coulda went to culinary arts, 'cause cheffing an art
Once upon a time I counted seven-hundred fifty thousand in the dark
This my letter to the trap (to my trap house)
This my letter to the trap (trap)
This my letter to the trap (you should be proud of me)
This my letter to the trap (trap)
This my letter to the trap
This my letter to the trap
This my letter to the trap (trap house)
This my letter to the trap
You should be proud of me
You should be happy I'm gone
You should encourage me more
You should be tellin' me price back lower
You know this shit too hard to ignore
You should've never showed me a million cash
What you do that for?
Why you take me to Mexico in the first place?
Now I'm goin' back and forth
Cut out the middle man, go see the plug
We call it the backdoor
I wanted to be a rapper in the first place
What you give me a sack for?
I had anger management in the first place
What you give me a MAC for?
Taught me how to whip it, how to held out
So I can go tax for it
This my letter to the trap (trap)
This my letter to the trap (trap house)
This my letter to the trap (trap)
This my letter to the trap
This my letter to the trap (why you not proud of me?)
This my letter to the trap (trap)
This my letter to the trap (why you not proud of me?)
This my letter to the trap
I'm yours truly, Yo Gotti, and I appreciate you
I'd never take that stand and humiliate you
Broke and starving, you put food on my table
You were there when I wasn't able, you helped me build my label
You wouldn't let me be a pussy, you put heart in me
I appreciate you trap, forever part of me
They say you fucked my life up, yeah arguably
I don't agree with that but you did take my dogs from me
Damn, RIP Cecil
Damn, RIP Big G
You did take my dogs from me
I'll never forgive you for that
(This my letter to the trap)
This my letter to the trap (trap)
This my letter to the trap (this my letter to you)
This my letter to the trap (should I mail it to you?)
This my letter to the trap (fuck that, I'mma bring it to you)
This my letter to the trap (you should be proud of me)
This my letter to the trap (can't believe you doubted me)
This my letter to the trap (you was my first love)
This my letter to the trap (you my worst love)
The song "Letter" by Yo Gotti is a heartfelt and personal message to his friends, family, and fans. In the song, Yo Gotti reflects on his life choices and how they have affected the people around him. He talks about his respect and love for his friends and family members, as well as his dedication to making music. He acknowledges the sacrifices his loved ones have made for him while he was pursuing his dreams, and he promises to take care of them and never forget where he came from.
The tone of the song is emotional and sincere, and Yo Gotti's lyrics convey a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation. He expresses his gratitude for the support of his friends and fans, and he promises to keep making music and living his life to the fullest. Throughout the song, Yo Gotti also addresses his haters, telling them that he does not care what they think and that he will keep doing what he loves, no matter what anyone says.
Overall, "Letter" is a powerful and moving song that demonstrates Yo Gotti's passion for his music and his dedication to his friends, family, and fans.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a letter for you
I have something important to tell you
Yeah, from the the bottom of my heart nigga 8/11
I am sincere and honest in what I am about to say
Dear I respect you like a little brother should
I have a close relationship with you and care about you
You gotta know, got a million dollar master plan
I have a big goal that we need to work towards together
Bro I know you a man, I know you get your own money, I understand.
I acknowledge and respect your independence and financial abilities
We kill for each other, Steal for each other, violate your parole I'll do them years my brother.
I am willing to do anything to protect and help you, even if it means taking the blame for your actions
I just wanna do this music, you just wanna slang yay
We have different interests but we can still work together towards our common goal
Pray to God every day that we get on the same page
I hope we can understand each other and work together effectively
I got a letter for you, better yet I got some cheddar for you
I have some money to give you as a sign of my care and support
You know niggas like us, don't get
We face a lot of challenges in our lives
I'm on the road and niggas askin' bout you
People are curious about you and what you're up to
They wanna hear you cause they hear a nigga rapping about you
Your story and reputation are well-known and interesting
no niggas with you
You are alone and have no one to rely on
And they verified you a real nigga!
People recognize that you are genuine and authentic
You've been above, playing devil in the field, nigga
You have faced difficult challenges and have had to make tough choices to survive
But when you look at me, you're looking in the mirror nigga
I am just like you and understand what you're going through
I'm what you made me, get money and take care of the fam. right ?
You have influenced and shaped who I am and my values
Ain't that what you told me
You have given me advice and guidance in the past
One of a kind, blood line like no other niggas,
We are unique and special individuals with a shared history
Sincerely yours, yo gotti, lil brother, nigga!
I am sincerely and truly your brother and care about you deeply
You're going, going on, I'm saying
You're leaving and I'm expressing my feelings about it
You and gotta be on the streets bro
You're going back to a dangerous lifestyle
If you're going back I'mma feel like its my fault
I will feel responsible for your situation if you go back to that lifestyle
[Chorus]
Repeating the main themes and messages of the song
Letter to my niggas, letter to my family,
I am reaching out to those closest to me
Letter to the streets, man we out here livin' scareless
I am addressing the struggles and dangers of the streets
Wrote a letter to my haters, told 'em I don't give a fuck
I am standing up to those who oppose and judge me
When u see me in the streets u know what's up pussy!
I am not afraid to confront my enemies and critics
Wrote a letter to the fans, told 'em Ima live it up
I am living my life to the fullest and sharing my experiences with my fans
If you want me come get me, I don't give a fuck!
I am confident in myself and willing to face any challenges that come my way
It's a letter to my tell 'em about their mommas
I am addressing my children and telling them about their mothers
Tell 'em about 'em dad, how we met and got their numbers
I am sharing my story and how I came to be their father
Met 'em in the club, daddy was a
I met their mother in a club and we had a relationship
You got from
You were born from that relationship
Daddy start tripping, start and crapping
I had conflicts with their mother and things got difficult
Bitches start
Their mother began to have other relationships
Treating momma like a queen
I want their mother to be treated well and respected
Momma just want a daddy
Their mother wants a strong and consistent father figure for them
But daddy didn't miss us, so momma start being happy
I was not there for them, so their mother had to move on and find happiness elsewhere
It's a letter to my daughter, don't let a nigga treat you like I treat your momma
I want my daughter to be treated well and not be mistreated like her mother was
Your first words your first steps
I have witnessed the important moments of her life
On a road thinking dollars
I am focused on making money and providing for my family
And my son he's a mother fucker
My son is strong-willed and challenging
We gotta burn like a mother fucker, tell him to fight
We need to have a fighting spirit and never give up
Never run from a mother fucker
We need to be brave and stand up to challenges and obstacles
You talk to daddy, he's a mother fucker, and back to me
I am a strong and demanding father figure
like obstacles, life against the obstacles,
We will face tough challenges and difficulties in life
That's what done the impossible
Overcoming those challenges makes success all the more meaningful
But daddy came through
I have succeeded despite those obstacles
So why I try to tell you
I am sharing my experiences and lessons learned with my children
You could be who you wanna be, do what you wanna do
I want my children to be free to pursue their dreams and become who they want to be
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRAYLIN PHILLIP BOWMAN, MARIO MIMS, MICHAEL LEN WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind