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.
Off Da Top
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We at Fat Burger
Hood nigga rich shit gourmet burgers, nigga
Know what I'm talking about? Ay
She pussy popping pocket watching
They call her a thot
Bad credit cash it out
No back and forth yipping yapping
Niggas getting shot
10 million, 20 acres
That's the new spot
Flooded out my crib and
Told my jeweller you the illest
Reneg on my contract
Told my label I don't feel it
Fell out with my partner
He mixed friendship with our business
Broke up with my bitch
'Cuz she was too much in her feelings
I may fuck her friend
Fuck it I may fuck her friend
Between me and you
I always wanted to fuck her friend
If I kill a hater
Lord you gotta forgive my sins
That's one fuck nigga you ain't gotta worry about again
I'm forever thuggin' I ain't never changed
In plain colors but forever banging
Blowing money but I'm maintaining
Blowing money but I'm maintaining
I got a gambling problem but money can't really solve it
Trying to help all the real niggas
Hate to see a nigga starving
Hate to see nigga robbing they own people shit, disloyal
Bitch trying to give me the pussy for a Birkin bag
I can't afford you
I grew listening to 2pac and that Biggie
Jay-z and that Nas
No gimmick rappers niggas these rappers had bars
Back when record labels turned real niggas into stars, and
Sending niggas to Mars, and
Nowadays the game done got hard
You get shot that make you hot
But where I'm from that make you start
Before I be a pussy I'd rather rapper had the balls
I throw me some guns
Get myself a charge
Never see me do that
I came too far to look back
I did too much to get here
20 mil in one year
100 grand in one night
50k in one flight
I've been trapping my whole life
Ain't no secret I be thuggin'
Ain't no secret I be hustlin'
Picking loyalty over money
Money orders to my homies
Groupie bitches be all on me
Leave your phones at the door
You won't put me on no blog
Once I fuck you gotta go
3am ain't nothing open but IHOP
And a bitch legs, and my trap spot
I said 3am I'm trapping at the IHOP
And I'm connected to the plug like a hotspot
I'm a grower we don't do droughts
Birds in the sky we call them iClouds
You know the birds fly down south
I took a bitch to eat at Mr. Chow's
I met the plug at Benihanah
On hibachi grills eating rice and talking numbers
I don't do no middle men
And I don't trust no runners
I'ma pay on time and I won't never take you under
I'm an OG dope boy
I ain't nothing like these youngins
I don't take the dope I'm selling
I won't ever do no telling
Overnight my pack, yeah, we call that FedEx
I ship in the 18 wheeler and I ain't talking UPS
The song "Off Da Top" by Yo Gotti is a classic story of a hood rich life. In the first verse, Yo Gotti brags about eating at Fat Burger at 3 am, showing off his gourmet burger to represent the life of a hood rich person. He then introduces a "thot" who is after money and uses her body to get it. He mentions not having time to waste on those who talk back and forth as people are getting shot. Yo Gotti then talks about his new house, which he bought for 10 million and with 20 acres. He moved because his old house was flooded and hence needed a new one. He then tells of his relationship problems, breaking up with his partner, and his girlfriend because they were hindering his success.
In the second verse, Yo Gotti acknowledges that he has a gambling problem, but he's still trying to help the real niggas. He's not a fan of disloyalty and hates to see people robbing and hurting others. He then talks about how he can't afford to buy the Birkin bag that the girl is trying to give him in exchange for sex. He considers himself an old-school rapper as he listened to 2pac, Biggie, Jay-z, and Nas and appreciates their lyrics. Yo Gotti reveals that he is trapping at IHOP at 3 am, which is his go-to spot, and mentions his connections to the plug. He emphasizes loyalty over money, and in a nod to the drug trade, talks about how he overnighted his pack via FedEx. In summary, the song is about Yo Gotti living his best hood rich life, and he is not apologetic about it.
Line by Line Meaning
It's 3am West Coast time nigga
It's 3am in Los Angeles
We at Fat Burger
I'm at Fat Burger right now
Hood nigga rich shit gourmet burgers, nigga
I'm a hood rich guy eating expensive burgers
Know what I'm talking about? Ay
Do you understand what I'm saying?
She pussy popping pocket watching
She's shaking her butt and checking her money
They call her a thot
They label her as a promiscuous woman
Bad credit cash it out
Her credit score is low, but she still gets money
Fresh up off the lot
New car just purchased
No back and forth yipping yapping
No argument or drama
Niggas getting shot
People are getting killed
10 million, 20 acres
I have a new property that is worth ten million dollars and is 20 acres
That's the new spot
That's my new residence
Flooded out my crib and
My house was filled with water and destroyed
Told my jeweller you the illest
I told my jewelry maker that he's the best at what he does
Reneg on my contract
I broke my contract
Told my label I don't feel it
I told my record company I'm not interested in the project
Fell out with my partner
I had a falling out with my business associate
He mixed friendship with our business
My partner got too personal with our business relationship
Broke up with my bitch
I broke up with my girlfriend
'Cuz she was too much in her feelings
She was too emotional and sensitive
I may fuck her friend
I'm considering having sex with her friend
Fuck it I may fuck her friend
I don't care, I might have sex with her friend
Between me and you
It's a secret
I always wanted to fuck her friend
I always had a desire to have sex with her friend
If I kill a hater
If I kill someone who hates me
Lord you gotta forgive my sins
God, you must forgive me for my wrongdoing
That's one fuck nigga you ain't gotta worry about again
That's one person who is not worth worrying about anymore
I'm forever thuggin' I ain't never changed
I'm always involved in street life, I've never changed
In plain colors but forever banging
I dress in plain clothes, but I'm still affiliated with my gang
Blowing money but I'm maintaining
I'm spending money, but my financial status is stable
I got a gambling problem but money can't really solve it
I have an issue with gambling, and even money can't help it
Trying to help all the real niggas
I want to assist all the genuine people
Hate to see a nigga starving
I dislike when someone is hungry and without
Hate to see nigga robbing they own people shit, disloyal
I despise when people steal from their own community, that's disloyal
Bitch trying to give me the pussy for a Birkin bag
A girl is offering me sex in exchange for an expensive purse
I can't afford you
I cannot provide for you
I grew listening to 2pac and that Biggie
My childhood musical idols were 2Pac and Biggie
Jay-z and that Nas
And later, I was a fan of Jay-Z and Nas
No gimmick rappers niggas these rappers had bars
Rappers in the past had skill with their lyrics, now it's mostly about showmanship
Back when record labels turned real niggas into stars, and
Record labels used to promote authentic artists and make them famous
Sending niggas to Mars, and
They were making a lot of money
Nowadays the game done got hard
The industry is harder to succeed in now
You get shot that make you hot
If you get shot, it can make you more famous
But where I'm from that make you start
But in my neighborhood, that can be the start of more violence
Before I be a pussy I'd rather rapper had the balls
I'd rather be brave than cowardly
I throw me some guns
I have guns for protection
Get myself a charge
Risk imprisonment
Never see me do that
I won't be caught doing that
I came too far to look back
I have come too far to give up now
I did too much to get here
I have put too much work in to give up now
20 mil in one year
I earned twenty million dollars in one year
100 grand in one night
I spent one hundred thousand dollars in one night
50k in one flight
I spent fifty thousand dollars on one flight
I've been trapping my whole life
I've been involved in drug dealing my whole life
Ain't no secret I be thuggin'
It's no secret that I'm involved in street life
Ain't no secret I be hustlin'
It's no secret that I'm a hustler
Picking loyalty over money
I value loyalty more than money
Money orders to my homies
I send money orders to my friends
Groupie bitches be all on me
Girls who follow famous people are always interested in me
Leave your phones at the door
I don't want anyone to record or take any photos while they're with me
You won't put me on no blog
You won't see me featured on a blog or gossip site
Once I fuck you gotta go
After we have sex, you must leave
3am ain't nothing open but IHOP
There's only one place open at 3am, which is IHOP
And a bitch legs, and my trap spot
And a woman's legs, and where I deal drugs
I said 3am I'm trapping at the IHOP
I said I'm dealing drugs at IHOP at 3am
And I'm connected to the plug like a hotspot
I'm connected to my drug supplier like a Wi-Fi hotspot
I'm a grower we don't do droughts
I cultivate drugs, so there's no shortage or dry spell for me
Birds in the sky we call them iClouds
Airplanes flying above are like iClouds in the sky
You know the birds fly down south
You know that airplanes fly down south
I took a bitch to eat at Mr. Chow's
I took a girl to eat at a fancy restaurant called Mr. Chow's
I met the plug at Benihanah
I met my drug supplier at a Japanese restaurant called Benihana
On hibachi grills eating rice and talking numbers
We were eating rice and discussing drug deals on the hibachi grills
I don't do no middle men
I don't involve other people in my drug dealings
And I don't trust no runners
I don't trust people who transport drugs for me
I'ma pay on time and I won't never take you under
I always pay on time and never betray loyalty of others
I'm an OG dope boy
I'm an original gangsta drug dealer
I ain't nothing like these youngins
I'm very different from today's younger generation
I don't take the dope I'm selling
I don't use the drugs I sell
I won't ever do no telling
I won't ever betray any information or secrets
Overnight my pack, yeah, we call that FedEx
I send drugs overnight and we call that FedEx
I ship in the 18 wheeler and I ain't talking UPS
I transport drugs using large trucks, not UPS
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mario Mims, Joshua Luellen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lewisreal
The last 20 seconds on this shit go harder than anything I can remember!
I met the plug at Benihanahs
(Keep going)
On hibachi grills, eatin' rice and talkin' numbers
(Keep going)
I don't do no middle men and I don't trust no runners
I'ma pay on time and I won't never take you under
(Keep going)
I'm an OG dope boy
I ain't nothin' like these youngins
I don't take the dope I'm sellin'
I won't ever do no tellin'
Overnight my pack yeah, we call that FedEx
I ship in the 18 wheeler and I ain't talkin' UPS
(Gone)
cj gotti
gotti went in !!! this shit bump real shit
lewisreal
The last 20 seconds on this shit go harder than anything I can remember!
I met the plug at Benihanahs
(Keep going)
On hibachi grills, eatin' rice and talkin' numbers
(Keep going)
I don't do no middle men and I don't trust no runners
I'ma pay on time and I won't never take you under
(Keep going)
I'm an OG dope boy
I ain't nothin' like these youngins
I don't take the dope I'm sellin'
I won't ever do no tellin'
Overnight my pack yeah, we call that FedEx
I ship in the 18 wheeler and I ain't talkin' UPS
(Gone)
fuego cbr
Big facts
Allen Noisette
Yall my Long lost Brotherz because that part get me hype asf wherever I'm At LoL✊✊✊✊👑😎
travis morris
I thought I was the only that like that part out the whole song
bryan ferris
Lewis Brown yo u ain’t lying either lol i’m glad u hooked up the lyrics as well now i kno wassup frfr. gotti be goin in sum serious.
Pierre White
i love that part hell of a coach on them adlibs keep goin
Kamont Morgul
This literally the hardest gotti i done ever heard
Parkes Greer
I swear
Danny Wheeler
damn someone call the police Gotti done murdered this beat