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.
Pay The Price
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama walked past 'em 'cause she ain't able
Watching mama's family sister tryna watch cartoons muthafucka came through and clipped the cable
Get a job that's the usual
Mama had a job that ain't do enough
Mama hired me I'm sacking groceries up
90 days later I was posting up
Quarter pound of weed 250 strong
It's me and Big G tryna stack it up
Shit ain't been the same since my nigga gone
I looked up to niggas like Hookshot
Niggas like Lil Pat and Woo Woo
I was on the block as a young boy
Watching them hustle it was like school
I hustled with the greats, ate with the vultures and the snakes
My days turned to nights my nights turned to days
Streets got me paid
And I know Imma pay the price for it
I know it
One day Imma pay the price for it
I know it
I know it
I know it
First time I seen 10 bands
First time I seen 100 grand
First time I seen 1 mill
I knew shit was 'bout to get real
Homeboys start acting different
Shit changed I ain't even tripping
Same nigga used to ride for 'em
One time I was on the front line for 'em
I was a hitta for a dopeboy
Play crazy and you know boy
I'm in the hood with the doors up
Nigga I ain't never froze up
Bad bitches chose up
They like me or the lifestyle
Nigga I don't really give a fuck
But Imma burn the head in a meanwhile
I hustled with the greats, ate with the vultures and the snakes
My days turned to nights my nights turned to days
Streets got me paid
And I know Imma pay the price for it
I know it
One day Imma pay the price for it
I know it
I know it
I know it
Shit different you ain't even notice it
All the hustlers I ain't even quote it
New Wraith I ain't even rode it
Nick got a strap he ain't even load it
Shit real growing up in the projects
Tryna stay real in the process
Seen a pump knock out a nigga intest'
Young boy standing there tryna digest it
Where all the real niggas at that's my question
Never got indicted that's my blessing
When I put it on the Gram that's to motivate you
Inspiration nigga, that's not flexing
New Lambs, new Raris
Little homie fighting charges
Make bond, get 'em lawyers
Green dot so they can call you
I hustled with the greats, ate with the vultures and the snakes
My days turned to nights my nights turned to days
Streets got me paid
And I know Imma pay the price for it
I know it
One day Imma pay the price for it
I know it
I know it
I know it
The lyrics of Yo Gotti's "Pay The Price" address the struggles and rewards of growing up in poverty and turning to street life to make ends meet. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of a home facing financial challenges, with bills piled up on the kitchen table and a mother unable to pay them. The next lines describe the singer's experience growing up with little to no means and being exposed to street life at a young age.
As he becomes older, he turns to hustling and begins making money. He describes living a fast-paced lifestyle, surrounded by drugs, violence, and the constant threat of danger. The lyrics highlight the difficulties of being successful in the street life while still maintaining loyalty to friends and staying true to oneself. The lyrics also emphasize that though the singer has had success, he knows that one day he will have to "pay the price" for his actions.
As a whole, "Pay The Price" is a social commentary on the plight of young black men growing up in poverty and resorting to a life of crime to provide for themselves and their families. The singer's story is a reflection of the harsh realities that many black men face in America, particularly in urban areas.
Line by Line Meaning
Bills due on the kitchen table
The singer has financial responsibilities to meet at home that he may struggle to fulfill
Mama walked past 'em 'cause she ain't able
His mother is unable to help him with money matters, possibly due to her own financial struggles
Watching mama's family sister tryna watch cartoons muthafucka came through and clipped the cable
Someone lacking moral values ruined their source of entertainment by cutting their cable connection
Get a job that's the usual
The artist is offered the conventional option of finding work to make ends meet
Mama had a job that ain't do enough
The mother had a job but it did not provide enough for the family's needs
Mama hired me I'm sacking groceries up
The singer's mother hired him to work at the grocery store she worked at to help bring in extra income
90 days later I was posting up
After working hard for 3 months, the singer was able to financially secure his life
Quarter pound of weed 250 strong
The artist started selling marijuana as a way to earn extra money
Staying out late bringing profit home
The artist was working hard to earn money and sometimes had to stay out late to do so
It's me and Big G tryna stack it up
The artist is working with the mentioned person (Big G) to save and accumulate as much money as possible
Shit ain't been the same since my nigga gone
The song character seems to be talking about a deceased friend, implying that his death has left him devastated and disrupted his life
I looked up to niggas like Hookshot
The artist admires people like Hookshot, who are probably experienced drug dealers who have good influence over him
Niggas like Lil Pat and Woo Woo
These are possibly more experienced drug dealers who have also proved to be significantly influential in the singer's life
I was on the block as a young boy
As a youth, the singer was exposed to the popular lifestyle of crime and drug trades in his neighborhood
Watching them hustle it was like school
Observing criminals in action taught the singer valuable lessons that he began to apply in his own business ideas
First time I seen 10 bands
The artist has received or seen $10,000 for the first time ever and understands that this kind of money is a massive achievement
First time I seen 100 grand
The first time the artist encountered or received $100,000
First time I seen 1 mill
The first time the song character saw or obtained $1,000,000, he knew that things are about to take a serious turn
I knew shit was 'bout to get real
The mention of seeing such large sums of money makes him realize that he has to put in more effort and be more careful for the sake of his business
Homeboys start acting different
The artist's friends have begun to change their attitude, possibly because they are envious of him or because they feel he's not supporting them in the same way as before
Shit changed I ain't even tripping
The song character is not bothered by their behavior, rather he's cool with the way things are going
Same nigga used to ride for 'em
He has had friendly, possibly close relationships with the mentioned individual and would previously support them
One time I was on the front line for 'em
The chorus appears to outline a time when the singer stood up for his friend, even taking front line position or being first to act in their defense
I was a hitta for a dopeboy
The song character appears to be doing business for an individual who sells hard drugs
Play crazy and you know boy
If one shows no fear, he indicates that his standing in the drug game will be greater, and thus he will fetch more clientele
I'm in the hood with the doors up
The song character has a flashy ride and wants everyone to know it by cruising with the doors open
Nigga I ain't never froze up
The rapper is assuring his audience that when it comes to making profit, he is never indecisive or hesitant in his actions
Bad bitches chose up
Females who are attracted by money are currently crowding around the song character
They like me or the lifestyle
The artist realizes that most women are only interested in him because of the perks and privileges that come with his business and lifestyle
Nigga I don't really give a fuck
The song character does not care if the ladies are with him for his wealth or if they genuinely like him
But Imma burn the head in a meanwhile
He is enjoying his current situation and is willing to deal with the loneliness that will kick in when the women are gone
Shit different you ain't even notice it
Things have significantly changed and not everyone is paying attention
All the hustlers I ain't even quote it
All this knowledge of the game, the artist has gained from other hustlers, he isn't even acknowledging.
New Wraith I ain't even rode it
Despite having a new car, a Wraith, the song character is yet to use it or fully enjoy it.
Nick got a strap he ain't even load it
The phrase is indicative of the fact that someone close to him is carrying a weapon and has not yet had to use it.
Shit real growing up in the projects
The song character is clearly from a low-income community or the ghetto, where hardship is unavoidable.
Tryna stay real in the process
In doing what he has to do to stay afloat, the singer is staying true to himself and his values.
Seen a pump knock out a nigga intest'
He has witnessed a serious act of brutality, possibly murder.
Young boy standing there tryna digest it
A younger boy was present and witnessed the event, attempting to make sense of it.
Where all the real niggas at that's my question
The artist wonders where those he looks up to have gone, thinking that their influence would be useful at this point.
Never got indicted that's my blessing
Despite being engaged in nefarious activities, the song character has yet to be arrested or brought up on charges.
When I put it on the Gram that's to motivate you
The singer aims to inspire his audience with images of wealth and success shared on social media.
Inspiration nigga, that's not flexing
He asserts that the images he shares are for the goal of inspiring others, not showing off.
New Lambs, new Raris
The song character has acquired two high-end car models, Lamborghinis and Ferraris as a result of his hustle.
Little homie fighting charges
The song character has a friend who is currently facing criminal charges.
Make bond, get 'em lawyers
He is willing to help the friend post bond (bail) and pay for legal fees to boost their chances of getting a lighter sentence.
Green dot so they can call you
To keep in touch with the outside world while inside, the friend may require a pre-paid debit card so they can make phone calls while in prison.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE ADMINISTRATION MP INC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mario Mims, Shondrae Crawford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind