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.
Live From the Kitchen
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
Ay, ay we finally here nigga, you know what I'm sayin
Live from the kitchen
I wanna introduce ya'll to my band
One them name mr. pirex, mr. pot, mr. baking soda,
Know wha I mean, ha
Li-li-live from the kitchen, its me an my bands
Live from the kitchen, its me an my bands
Baking soda, test tube, pot, and the pan
Live from the kitchen, well over do
Ten mixtapes state I got a porsche sedan coupe,
Yeah that bitch got four doors,
I got four hoes on my screwed up click shit
Got me tippin on four fours
Yeah them knocks ran in my spot
Them bitches kicked down both doors
Confiscated both my choppers an took pitures of both stoves
Gang tags been on my ass, yeah they raided both my shows
Say I'm wearin too much white, I told em I represent dat blow
From the kitchen, li-li-live from the kitchen
It just me an my bands, shit get for real
Niggas start playin, I dont need a hundred niggas
It just me an my man bap
Two deep in that rega, red beam on that eagle
You can die about it, but you fight bout it
Niga ye ain't goin witt me neither
Live from the kitchen it just a statement
Got that kush shit by the bells
An bitch I'm live from the basement
Got that purp in I can taste it
My time don't you waste it
Niggas think they can start some beef
An then come back an erase it
I got benjamin on my faces, I got lawyers fightin my cases
You know me vs war bugs bunnys in my braclet
Bitch I'm live from the jeweler, I am, just bought a rolla
An pin . is you a dealer or a user
Wrist abuser, baby momma had it great
She like street niggas, she say I amuse her
Live from the kitchen, li-li-live from the kitchen
Fuckin bitches on tha dishes,
Bent her over on tha counter,
Right in front the money counter, (chee)
Kept her layin angainst tha fridgerator
Incase I get some anal
Thats a old word, I got old birds
I got old breads an these bitches small heads
I don't trust niggas, I say they all feds (they is)
We at war wit niggas, an I want em all dead!
Live from the kitchen, li-li-live from the kitchen
It just me an my bands, pots, pans, pots an pans
Li-live from the kitchen, it just me an my band
When the beat break down let tha money machine roll
I been on tha road doin nothin but cash shows
It juss, li-i, it just me an my bands
Live from tha kitchen, it just me an my man-zilla
What it do young nigga, we got our money right
Plus you got tha green light killa
At tha kitchen table playin dominoes
With some munich niggas, an some shiizty hoes, bitch
They smoke hella blunts, they play wit they nose
They get super high, then they take off they clothes
These hoes gun freaky I make em touch they toes
Ask'd her where she want it at, an she say both holes
Nah bitch I just want some mouth
Gimme some head right here on tha couch
I'm goin north bitch you goin south
I'm Y-O-G-O-T-T-I-. bitch you know what I'm bout
Gotti! from tha kitchen,
Li-li-live from the kitchen, it just me an my bands
I am, me an my bands, I am, me an my bands, I am
Live from the kitchen it just me an my bands, I am
...beep, its all there... beep, (li-li-live from the kitchen, li-li-live from the kitchen me an my bands, me an my bands)
In the song Live From the Kitchen, Yo Gotti is introducing his band which happens to be made up of items used for cooking drugs. He references Mr. Pyrex, Mr. Pot, and Mr. Baking Soda as his bandmates, and the chorus goes "Live from the kitchen, it's me and my bands/Baking soda, test tube, pot, and the pan." He then goes on to describe his various dealings in the drug world, strong-arming his enemies, and dealing with the police.
The song is a snapshot of the drug game and what it takes to succeed in it. Yo Gotti is able to create a sense of tension through his lyrics, especially when he talks about being raided by the police, which adds to the feeling of the song.
However, it's not just a song about drug dealing. Yo Gotti's clever wordplay and use of metaphors throughout the song makes it more complex than what it initially seems. It's unclear if Yo Gotti is promoting drug dealing or simply telling his story, but either way, it's a song that makes a strong impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Acknowledgement of starting the song.
Ay, ay we finally here nigga, you know what I'm sayin
Celebrating arrival at the kitchen and introducing the band.
Live from the kitchen
The song and its theme take place in the kitchen.
I wanna introduce ya'll to my band
Introducing the kitchen equipment as the band members.
One them name mr. pirex, mr. pot, mr. baking soda, Know wha I mean, ha
Naming the kitchen equipment as if they were band members.
It go live from the kitchen
Reinforcing that the song is taking place in the kitchen.
Li-li-live from the kitchen, its me an my bands
Continuing to emphasize that the song takes place in the kitchen with its band members.
Baking soda, test tube, pot, and the pan
Naming the kitchen equipment once again, like band members.
Live from the kitchen, well over do
Reinforcing that the song is taking place in the kitchen, and it has been going on for too long.
Ten mixtapes state I got a porsche sedan coupe, Yeah that bitch got four doors,
Boasting about success from music, owning a Porsche with four doors.
I got four hoes on my screwed up click shit, Got me tippin on four fours
Referring to having four women with him, and celebrating them with a reference to drinking codeine.
Yeah them knocks ran in my spot, Them bitches kicked down both doors
Police forcibly entered his location, breaking doors while doing so.
Confiscated both my choppers an took pitures of both stoves
Police took and photographed his guns and stoves as evidence.
Gang tags been on my ass, yeah they raided both my shows, Say I'm wearin too much white, I told em I represent dat blow
Acknowledging police scrutiny in his life, including raids on his shows, and stating that his white clothing represents cocaine, which he glorifies.
From the kitchen, li-li-live from the kitchen
Repeating that the song takes place in the kitchen.
It just me an my bands, shit get for real Niggas start playin, I dont need a hundred niggas
Stating that he doesn't need many people to deal with anyone who causes problems.
It just me an my man bap Two deep in that rega, red beam on that eagle You can die about it, but you fight bout it Niga ye ain't goin witt me neither
Expressing that he and his friend are enough to handle a situation, with a reference to shooting someone who disobeys him.
Live from the kitchen it just a statement Got that kush shit by the bells An bitch I'm live from the basement
Acknowledging that he's making a statement with this song, mentioning having high-quality marijuana, and stating that he's in a basement.
Got that purp in I can taste it My time don't you waste it Niggas think they can start some beef An then come back an erase it
Acknowledging having high-quality marijuana, and stating that he doesn't have time for people who start conflicts and then apologize.
I got benjamin on my faces, I got lawyers fightin my cases You know me vs war bugs bunnys in my braclet Bitch I'm live from the jeweler, I am, just bought a rolla An pin . is you a dealer or a user Wrist abuser, baby momma had it great She like street niggas, she say I amuse her
Showing his wealth and success, referring to fighting legal battles, and mentioning expensive jewelry with a reference to Looney Tunes. He also mentions buying a car and questioning someone about drugs. He also boasts about his woman liking him because he's involved in street life.
Live from the kitchen, li-li-live from the kitchen Fuckin bitches on tha dishes, Bent her over on tha counter, Right in front the money counter, (chee) Kept her layin angainst tha fridgerator Incase I get some anal
Returning to the theme and location of the song, and bragging about having sex on kitchen appliances.
Thats a old word, I got old birds I got old breads an these bitches small heads
Slang for saying he has old connections, and that his women are small-minded and easy to manipulate.
I don't trust niggas, I say they all feds (they is) We at war wit niggas, an I want em all dead!
Mistrusting others, especially those he thinks are police, and stating he wants those he's at odds with to be killed.
Li-live from the kitchen, it just me an my band
Repeating that the song takes place in the kitchen.
When the beat break down let tha money machine roll I been on tha road doin nothin but cash shows
Referencing making money while performing, and encouraging the listeners to follow along with the beat.
It juss, li-i, it just me an my bands Live from tha kitchen, it just me an my man-zilla What it do young nigga, we got our money right Plus you got tha green light killa
Finalizing that the song takes place in the kitchen with references to making money and threats towards others.
At tha kitchen table playin dominoes With some munich niggas, an some shiizty hoes, bitch They smoke hella blunts, they play wit they nose They get super high, then they take off they clothes These hoes gun freaky I make em touch they toes Ask'd her where she want it at, an she say both holes Nah bitch I just want some mouth Gimme some head right here on tha couch I'm goin north bitch you goin south I'm Y-O-G-O-T-T-I-. bitch you know what I'm bout Gotti! from tha kitchen
Ending the song with references to playing games and having sex in the kitchen with low-quality people. Also re-affirming his identity by spelling his name, and boasting about his fame and success.
Contributed by Sophie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shad Clark
Going into 2020 bumping thisπ₯
Shad Clark
@Bmore Blow28 ππ―
Bmore Blow28
Right with you
Haley Melton
2019 & this shit still lit π₯
J Mcglothan
On my momma
Duverioux Carey
Pre 2020..shitππΏ
kevon long
Lmaooo i was jus bumping da shit outta spazz out too
Memphis RaisedMe
Period
Joe Blow
Haley Melton hills at me gotta cuz
Angel Vargas
2022 and we still here! Shit dropped when I was in high school. Straight from East LA π²π½