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.
Picture Me
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man on the billion, for shit I ain't done yet.
So I'm not thinking about millions, ‘cause I've already done it,
Life of a dope boy, on my second, my goodness.
Look in the mirror, see my reflection salute me,
Homie had a strap, the nigger shining, he shoot that.
Off with his head, homie, no, we don't play that,
And never keep that work in the house where you're laying.
Missing my home boys and they get the best of me.
For I'm walking with angels, get money with strangers,
The life of a screen name, it's got a bangle,
In love with her down, but she's still a hoe,
I'm still a nigger, so you know how it goes.
Try not to look at her friends, try not to play her in public,
But a deal what a deal if she leaves and fuck it.
In 2012, a long way from 1999,
A young nigger raced quick for a clock name.
I remember one time, more than one time,
At the school in 2009, in the hush land.
I was hustling grand like a motherfucker grown man,
Sixteen years old, paying the bills, I'm a grown man.
Now I'm hustling while my brother doing jail time,
Roll them a little, try to get a nigger fake tan,
Strong will survive, ain't no bitch in my blood line,
On the hood they want, and nigger I'm on the good land.
This life ain't about choices, and niggers got vices,
But I'm strong playing their work like the nigger got license.
Put these hoes on the roll, ‘cause the bitches be trifling,
Cut the lights in the club, yeah, the nigger be icey.
Niggers talking me close, I'm just losing for prices,
I get money here, ‘cause the niggers be shy, still.
And that's real.
The opening line "Picture me rolling, top drop to the sunset" is a common phrase used in hip hop that means feeling like a boss and enjoying the fruits of one's labor. Yo Gotti is reflecting on his success, despite not having achieved everything he wants yet. He raps with confidence, stating that he has already made millions and is living the life of a successful "dope boy."
The third and fourth lines of the first verse, "Life of a dope boy, on my second, my goodness," is a reference to Gotti's previous mixtape "Cocaine Muzik 2" which was released in 2009. The mixtape was successful and Gotti is stating that he's now on his second mixtape and that he's confident in its success. He continues to talk about the lifestyle, referencing violence and warning against keeping large amounts of drugs in one's home, as it could lead to danger.
Line by Line Meaning
Picture me rolling, top drop to the sunset,
Imagine me driving in a convertible with the top down at sunset.
Man on the billion, for shit I ain’t done yet.
I have ambition to make a billion dollars, and I have yet to accomplish it.
So I’m not thinking about millions, ‘cause I’ve already done it,
I have already made millions, so that is not my current focus.
Life of a dope boy, on my second, my goodness.
I am living the life of a drug dealer for the second time, oh my!
Look in the mirror, see my reflection salute me,
When I look in the mirror, I am proud of who I am and what I've accomplished.
Homie had a strap, the nigger shining, he shoot that.
My friend was carrying a gun and shot it because he felt threatened.
Off with his head, homie, no, we don’t play that,
We do not tolerate disrespect or betrayal, and we will not hesitate to retaliate.
And never keep that work in the house where you’re laying.
We never keep drugs in the house where we live, it's too risky.
For this is my recipe, I’m wining my destiny,
I have crafted my own formula for success and am now fulfilling my destiny.
Missing my home boys and they get the best of me.
I miss my friends who have passed away or are in jail, and their memory motivates me to do my best.
For I’m walking with angels, get money with strangers,
I feel like I have the protection of my deceased friends, and I am willing to work with new people to make money.
The life of a screen name, it’s got a bangle,
The lifestyle I lead has a flashy and expensive appearance, but it is not always genuine.
In love with her down, but she’s still a hoe,
I have strong feelings for a woman, but I know she is promiscuous.
I’m still a nigger, so you know how it goes.
I am still a black man in a society with systemic racism, so I face unique challenges and stereotypes.
Try not to look at her friends, try not to play her in public,
I try not to be too interested in her friends or to treat her poorly in public.
But a deal what a deal if she leaves and fuck it.
If she breaks our agreement, then I will not care and will move on.
In 2012, a long way from 1999,
It is currently 2012, and I have come a long way since starting my journey in 1999.
A young nigger raced quick for a clock name.
I was a young black man eager to make a name for myself quickly.
I remember one time, more than one time,
I have vivid memories of one or more specific events in my past.
At the school in 2009, in the hush land.
In 2009, I was dealing drugs at school in a secretive manner.
I was hustling grand like a motherfucker grown man,
I was selling large amounts of drugs and making a lot of money, as if I were a mature and experienced adult.
Sixteen years old, paying the bills, I’m a grown man.
Despite being only sixteen years old, I am financially supporting myself and taking on adult responsibilities.
Now I’m hustling while my brother doing jail time,
My brother is currently incarcerated, but I am still putting in work to make money for myself and my family.
Roll them a little, try to get a nigger fake tan,
I smoke a little bit of weed and try to tan my skin to make it appear darker.
Strong will survive, ain’t no bitch in my blood line,
Only those with determination will survive, and there is no cowardice in my family.
On the hood they want, and nigger I’m on the good land.
My enemies want revenge, but I am living on land that I own and control.
This life ain’t about choices, and niggers got vices,
In the life of a drug dealer, there are few choices to make, and black people often have negative temptations.
But I’m strong playing their work like the nigger got license.
I am capable and confident in my abilities to work in a dangerous and illegal industry.
Put these hoes on the roll, ‘cause the bitches be trifling,
I put women on rotation in my life, because they can be unfaithful and disloyal.
Cut the lights in the club, yeah, the nigger be icey.
I turn off the lights in the club to show off my expensive jewelry and clothing.
Niggers talking me close, I’m just losing for prices,
People are trying to determine how wealthy I am by talking to me, and I am inadvertently giving away information.
I get money here, ‘cause the niggers be shy, still.
I make money because other people are scared to take risks or negotiate deals.
And that’s real.
This is the truth.
Contributed by Arianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LC Finest
Some of Yo Gotti best work💯 🗣
Jay Addison
10k SG4R 💯💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 he tha 🐐 on that real shyt but you gotta b e street nigga to really relate to his work🔥🔥🔥😈😈😈
Gina Williams
Still bumping in 2019 ! One gotti's best album period👌
YaYa love
FACTS BIG Sus
Edward Stafford
one of the realist songs I've heard, some shit you just gotta say it is what it is and deal with all the things your choices come with
Shay Smith
I STILL BUMP THIS SHIT!!! 🔥💯🆒
Darian Ceo
2022 still bumping that shit🔥🔥
Kimberly aka Kimmiekoo Austin
Ayeeee
Vergil Bryan
This is my shit, can't ever get enough
Billy Garcia
2019 still jamming this