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.
M-town
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nigga I Am Memphis
Who The Only Motherfucker With A Half A Million Dollars Worth Of Cars & Everything White Biotch?
To My City North Memphis Where They Get Get It Gutta
& I Learned How To Sell Cocaine From My Big Brother
While Tryna Tell My Sister To Carry Her Ass To School
Gotta Do The Right Thing Cuz Your Brother Breakin The Rules
Man I'm Tryna Follow Footsteps Of My Father
It Took Me So Many Years To Get Along With Hyde Park
I Left That V Shit Alone & Took Upon A Job
I Put The North On The Map
Would You Believe Me If I Told You I Was A Millionaire?
My Lamborghini Paid For
& The Truth Is I Don't Fuckin' Care
I Don't Respect Money
Want For Money Only Get You Killed Nigga
But Some Bitches Don't
Nigga Welcome To Memphis
Sunday Night It's Goin Down
Goin To River (River)
Look At The Bridge (Bridge)
Think Bout The Shit That I Did
Walkin' Outta The Bank
Real Talk Dawg I Really Like Bein Myself
BET, MTV I'm Seein' Myself
Real Talk Dawg I Really Like Bein Myself (Gotti!)
Really Like Bein Myself (Gotti!)
If I Was You I Would Wanna Be Me Too
Niggas Just... Wanna Rap Like Gotti
Niggas Got A Fake Gotti Twitter Page
Said I'm Feelin' Myself
Said I Really Like Bein Myself
This section of Yo Gotti's song M-town is a declaration of pride for his hometown, Memphis. He proclaims himself as the epitome of Memphis, boasting about his wealth and possessions, particularly his cars that are worth half a million dollars and his signature color, white. Gotti grew up on the rougher side of Memphis, North Memphis, where he learned how to sell cocaine from his big brother, but he also shares his desire for his younger sister to get an education and do the right thing, despite the temptation to follow in his footsteps. He admires and wants to follow in his father's footsteps, who he describes as an OG from Hyde Park.
The lyrics convey that Gotti has worked hard to make something of himself, but he doesn't idolize wealth. He emphasizes that he doesn't respect money and that those who are only after it are bound to get themselves into trouble, leading to his proclamation that he doesn't care about being a millionaire. He also calls out those who try to impersonate him, both in music and on social media, saying they only want to "rap like Gotti" and are not genuine like he is.
Overall, this section of the song serves as a tribute to Memphis and Gotti's personal journey through it, reflecting his values and aspirations while acknowledging his past experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
When You Talkin' Memphis You Talkin' Me.
Yo Gotti believes that when people talk about Memphis, they are essentially talking about him because he is Memphis.
Nigga I Am Memphis
Yo Gotti considers himself the embodiment of Memphis and its culture.
Who The Only Motherfucker With A Half A Million Dollars Worth Of Cars & Everything White Biotch?
Yo Gotti is bragging about his wealth and possession of several white luxury cars.
To My City North Memphis Where They Get Get It Gutta
Yo Gotti is referring to his hometown, North Memphis, where people hustle and survive in tough conditions.
& I Learned How To Sell Cocaine From My Big Brother
Yo Gotti's older brother taught him how to sell cocaine, which he did in his early days.
While Tryna Tell My Sister To Carry Her Ass To School
Yo Gotti's younger sister was neglecting her education, and he tried to encourage her to attend school.
Gotta Do The Right Thing Cuz Your Brother Breakin The Rules
Yo Gotti feels responsible for setting a good example for his younger siblings and community despite his past involvement in illegal activities.
Man I'm Tryna Follow Footsteps Of My Father & He A OG Nigga Straight Outta Hyde Park
Yo Gotti's father was an OG (original gangster) who came from Hyde Park in Chicago, and he wants to emulate his father's legacy.
It Took Me So Many Years To Get Along With Hyde Park
Yo Gotti had trouble adjusting and fitting into Hyde Park when he moved there.
I Left That V Shit Alone & Took Upon A Job
Yo Gotti stopped selling drugs and moved on to a legit job to avoid the dangers and traps of the street life.
I Put The North On The Map
Yo Gotti takes credit for bringing the North part of Memphis to the forefront of the rap scene and making it known.
Would You Believe Me If I Told You I Was A Millionaire?
Yo Gotti is asking if people would be surprised if he claimed to be a millionaire.
My Lamborghini Paid For & The Truth Is I Don't Fuckin' Care
Yo Gotti has enough money to afford his Lamborghini and doesn't care about anyone's opinion or criticism.
I Don't Respect Money Want For Money Only Get You Killed Nigga
Yo Gotti doesn't value money above everything else and warns that greed and the pursuit of wealth can lead to dangerous consequences.
But Some Bitches Don't
Yo Gotti acknowledges that some women only care about his money and fame, not his true self.
Nigga Welcome To Memphis
Yo Gotti is proud of his roots and welcomes people to his hometown Memphis, symbolically claiming the city as his own.
Sunday Night It's Goin Down Goin To River (River) Look At The Bridge (Bridge) Think Bout The Shit That I Did
Yo Gotti reflects on his past and how far he has come, standing by the river and remembering his past mistakes.
Walkin' Outta The Bank Real Talk Dawg I Really Like Bein Myself
Yo Gotti is confident in his personality and happy to be himself.
BET, MTV I'm Seein' Myself Real Talk Dawg I Really Like Bein Myself (Gotti!) Really Like Bein Myself (Gotti!)
Yo Gotti enjoys seeing himself on TV and celebrates his authenticity and individuality.
If I Was You I Would Wanna Be Me Too Niggas Just... Wanna Rap Like Gotti Niggas Got A Fake Gotti Twitter Page
Yo Gotti knows that people admire and try to imitate his style and success, even creating fake accounts pretending to be him.
Said I'm Feelin' Myself Said I Really Like Bein Myself
Yo Gotti repeats his message of being happy with himself, affirming his self-confidence and pride.
Contributed by Bailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
STR M!uziK
Yo Gotti has some amazing songs !
J.R.
Perfect song!
CuttyVisionHD
Walk In the Bank, Everyone helps, Walkin outta the bank, and im Feelin Myself!
Laura Brockway
he is a beast
Kristian Robinson
Still listening Friday, Oct. 22,2021.
Treston Strait
Yo gotti been goin in
Rafael Diaz
who still listening to this in 2016
Delicia Perry
meeeeeeee. Lol
Kristian Robinson
Still listening year 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣
Angel Potter
dis iz hard!!!!