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.
Real Nigga Holiday
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's on everything
(?)
Man, what happened to my real niggas? (Uh, damn, damn)
Man, what happened to the real niggas? (I don't know)
They in the feds, they gone, I put my life in this song
Man, what happened to my real niggas? (Damn)
I wrote this here for all my real niggas (damn, damn, true story homie, damn)
Man, what happened to the real niggas?
You a real nigga, what happened homie
Heard you running with the enemy, you tripping homie
You weren't raised like that, that ain't your background
Gettin' a lil' money with niggas, that's how you act now?
Streets a motherfucker
Not to mention, niggas treat you like my blood brother
But once you cross that line, you gotta stay there
And if you playing both sides, know you got to lay there
Damn, pissed me off, ain't no more playing fair
Hundred bands and guns, that's what I call warfare
Ain't nobody safe, any nigga get it
Don't call my phone, ain't shit to talk about, you know you did this
Man, what happened to my real niggas? (Uh, damn, damn)
Man, what happened to the real niggas? (I don't know)
They in the feds, they gone, I put my life in this song
Man, what happened to my real niggas? (Damn)
Homie, just feel my pain, this shit gon' drive me insane
I wrote this here for all my real niggas (damn, damn, damn)
Man, what happened to the real niggas?
Once upon a time you was a real nigga (you was)
But now you disloyal, you just a field nigga (damn, homie)
What type of nigga your nigga boom with the other side
We don't shake hands with the enemies, we do homicides
It's Ridgecrest Mafia for life, and fuck the other side
You never see me say a word, you just see gun fire
'Cause gangsters don't talk, and drama don't slide
One thing I hate the most, a nigga playing both sides
Just know you don't slide, get his ass from both sides
Make him scream, oh Lord, like he in church getting baptized
I'm on my fuck the world, don't really fuck with me
My young niggas, that's all I got, this other shit ain't nothing to me
Old ass niggas better sit down
Pussy ass niggas better get down
I need 'em all, C.M.G. the motherfucking squad
Any nigga 'round me best sound hard
Nigga best be squad, down to do their time, to catch a charge
This a family nigga, and you must play your part
Now they say I'm crazy 'cause I go to war with the whole city
But fuck nigga, I give these hoes the business
And I put that on me, I ain't never give no statement
I ain't never copped no plea
I let money fight my cases, I get money and I go hard
I let haters do the hating
When you pussies ready to face me, I be right here just waiting
Matter fact I'm getting impatient
Sipping on the Hen' getting wasted
I'ma catch a murder one and I can taste it
How you get so far, then go back to the basics
I built Tip, Gucci and Boosie, some of this shit you just can't shake it
Some of this shit, you gotta embrace it
Some of these problems, you gotta erase it
So I kick back and fuck their bitches 'til I run these niggas crazy, ha
Niggas ain't real anyway
We the G in gangster, you the G in gay, pussy
The lyrics of Yo Gotti's song "Real Nigga Holiday" is an expression of deep emotions about the loss of real friends and people who were once genuinely loyal but have become disloyal. The song starts with an affirmation of Death before dishonor, which is a pledge to never betray one's principles, beliefs, or friends. Then, Yo Gotti is reminiscing about the good old days when he had real niggas around him, but now they're either in jail or gone. This song speaks to the pain of betrayal and the frustration of people who pretend to be friends but end up being disloyal. Yo Gotti expresses how it drives him crazy and how he's just waiting for them to face him.
The lyrics describe the harsh realities of the streets and how it's hard to trust people when you're living that life. Yo Gotti is frustrated that people he trusted and who he thought were loyal have betrayed him. He's angry that some people double-crossed him, and now he doesn't know who to trust. He's on a quest to find out what happened to his real niggas and writes this song to remember the people who were loyal to him. He recognizes that he's angry, but he has to stay true to himself and his principles. Overall, the song is an emotional outburst about the pain of betrayal and the difficulty of staying true in the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
Death before dishonor, homie
That's on everything
(?)
I will always choose death before betrayal, and I stand by that statement
Man, what happened to my real niggas? (Uh, damn, damn)
Man, what happened to the real niggas? (I don't know)
They in the feds, they gone, I put my life in this song
Man, what happened to my real niggas? (Damn)
Homie, just feel my pain, this shit gon' drive me insane
I wrote this here for all my real niggas (damn, damn, true story homie, damn)
Man, what happened to the real niggas?
Yo Gotti is wondering about the whereabouts of his real friends who are either in jail or have left him in trouble, leading him to question why such losses had to occur. He brings this up to share with the fans that he feels miserable and to pay tribute to his fallen friends
You a real nigga, what happened homie
Heard you running with the enemy, you tripping homie
You weren't raised like that, that ain't your background
Gettin' a lil' money with niggas, that's how you act now?
Yo Gotti is disappointed at a friend he thought was real. He thought his friend knew better than to betray him and be associated with their enemies. But apparently, the temptation of quick money has corrupted his friend's moral code
Streets a motherfucker
Not to mention, niggas treat you like my blood brother
But once you cross that line, you gotta stay there
And if you playing both sides, know you got to lay there
Damn, pissed me off, ain't no more playing fair
Hundred bands and guns, that's what I call warfare
Ain't nobody safe, any nigga get it
Don't call my phone, ain't shit to talk about, you know you did this
The streets are ruthless and unforgiving. Yo Gotti is furious because this betrayal means that he no longer plays by the rules but will use everything at his disposal to get back at him. He also warns that there is no safety for anyone, and anyone crossing him must face the consequences
Once upon a time you was a real nigga (you was)
But now you disloyal, you just a field nigga (damn, homie)
What type of nigga your nigga boom with the other side
We don't shake hands with the enemies, we do homicides
It's Ridgecrest Mafia for life, and fuck the other side
You never see me say a word, you just see gunfire
'Cause gangsters don't talk, and drama don't slide
One thing I hate the most, a nigga playing both sides
Just know you don't slide, get his ass from both sides
Make him scream, oh Lord, like he in church getting baptized
Yo Gotti is speaking directly to a former friend who has gone against him. He is disappointed in his friend for betraying him and is calling him out for being disloyal. He is very clear that when it comes to the enemy, the only option is violence. He is part of the Ridgecrest Mafia and does not tolerate disloyalty
I'm on my fuck the world, don't really fuck with me
My young niggas, that's all I got, this other shit ain't nothing to me
Old ass niggas better sit down
Pussy ass niggas better get down
I need 'em all, C.M.G. the motherfucking squad
Any nigga 'round me best sound hard
Nigga best be squad, down to do their time, to catch a charge
This a family nigga, and you must play your part
Yo Gotti speaks his mind, breaking away from anyone who doesn't support him. He motivates his younger squad members, reminding them that they are his only real family. They need to be ready to take a charge with him and must prove their loyalty to become part of CMG
Now they say I'm crazy 'cause I go to war with the whole city
But fuck nigga, I give these hoes the business
And I put that on me, I ain't never give no statement
I ain't never copped no plea
I let money fight my cases, I get money and I go hard
I let haters do the hating
When you pussies ready to face me, I be right here just waiting
Matter fact I'm getting impatient
Sipping on the Hen' getting wasted
I'ma catch a murder one and I can taste it
How you get so far, then go back to the basics
I built Tip, Gucci and Boosie, some of this shit you just can't shake it
Some of this shit, you gotta embrace it
Some of these problems, you gotta erase it
So I kick back and fuck their bitches 'til I run these niggas crazy, ha
Niggas ain't real anyway
We the G in gangster, you the G in gay, pussy
Yo Gotti has cemented his legacy as a gangster and a troublemaker. He's proud that he never turned on his friends or snitched. Instead, he has amassed wealth and expanded his influence. He does not care about what his haters say or think because he knows that they cannot match his hustle. He still has a score to settle, and his legacy speaks for itself. He looks down upon fake people and asserts that real gangsters need to be strong and take charge.
Lyrics © GREAT SOUTH BAY MUSIC GROUP INC
Written by: Mario Sentell Giden, Michael Dewayne Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind