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.
Second Chance
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't work out, tried to come back and get a second chance
Second chance, second chance
Yeah I love that a** to death but ain't no second chance
If I f***ed off wit ya friend would I get a second chance
Guess I f***ed to many hoes, I need a second chance
Second chance, second chance
She may love your a** to death but ain't no second chance
See b****es think they slick but then they act like n****s
Gone f*** off and then come back and act all sentimental
(B****)
Pack your bags get out my house you know the biz
And you bet not have no n**** round my f***in kid
See loyalty's a must and trust is all we have
And ima street n**** so you know the math
Don't put me in no s*** 'cause you know what I will do
And if a n**** know my business I may have to kill you
Street code, freak hoes
F*** a b****, anything goes
I guess I f***ed too many hoes, its karma maybe
Finally got the one I like & she gone drive me crazy
Baby mama left a n**** got another man
Didn't work out, tried to come back and get a second chance
Second chance. second chance
Yeah I love that a** to death but ain't no second chance
If I f***ed off wit ya friend would I get a second chance
Guess I f***ed to many hoes, I need a second chance
Second chance, second chance
She may love your a** to death but ain't no second chance
It goes once upon a time
I was on my grind
Yeah I f***ed a couple hoes
Yeah she caught a n**** lyin
Then I went out on the road, then she wanted to pay me back
So she f***ed another n****, when I get back ima kill her
(Damn)
Gave that ho the world, she had my lil girl
Got a n**** hot, put me on the spot
Guess thats what I get, n**** knocked my b****
One thing bout it though we never workin out s*** b****
I don't need no counselor
Im the type to cancel her
Used to buy her cars & louis bags and s*** to pamper her
I guess I f***ed too many hoes, its karma maybe
Finally got the one I like and she gone drive me crazy
Baby mama left a n**** got another man
Didn't work out, tried to come back and get a second chance
Second chance. second chance
Yeah I love that a** to death but ain't no second chance
If I f***ed off wit ya friend would I get a second chance
Guess I f***ed to many hoes, I need a second chance
Second chance, second chance
She may love your a** to death but ain't no second chance
In Yo Gotti's song "Second Chance," he talks about his relationship with his baby mama. She left him for another man and then came back, wanting a second chance. He loves her, but he won't give her another chance. He asks if he would get a second chance if he cheated on her with her friends. He confesses that he may have messed up too many times, and now he needs a second chance.
The lyrics reveal that Yo Gotti is a street n**** and uses the street code in his life. He doesn't tolerate disloyalty and warns his baby mama not to bring any n****s around his child. He gave her everything, but she still cheated on him, and now he wants to cancel her. He believes in karma and thinks he may have messed up too many times with other women, and now he's paying for it. He finally found someone he likes, but she's making him crazy.
The song shows a man who is hurt but still in control of his life. He won't let anyone walk over him, and he's not afraid of repercussions. His lyrics tell a story of a man who is strong, streetwise, and doesn't take any nonsense from anyone.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby mama left a n**** got another man
My ex-girlfriend moved on and got in a relationship with another man.
Didn't work out, tried to come back and get a second chance
She realized that the grass is not always greener on the other side and wanted to come back into my life.
Second chance, second chance
She wanted to have another opportunity with me to make things right.
Yeah I love that a** to death but ain't no second chance
Although I still have feelings for her, I am not willing to give her another chance.
If I f***ed off wit ya friend would I get a second chance
If I cheated on her with her friend, would she be willing to give me another chance? Probably not.
Guess I f***ed to many hoes, I need a second chance
I have a history of promiscuity and bad choices, which may have led to the breakup. I want to make it right.
She may love your a** to death but ain't no second chance
She may still have feelings for me, but she's not willing to forgive and forget.
See b****es think they slick but then they act like n****s
Women often try to play games and trickery in relationships but then act like they are not at fault.
Gone f*** off and then come back and act all sentimental
After betraying someone, some people feel sorry and try to make up for their actions by being overly affectionate and emotional.
Pack your bags get out my house you know the biz
If you break my trust, you have to leave my life, simple as that.
And you bet not have no n**** round my f***in kid
If you cheated on me, I cannot trust you with my child either.
See loyalty's a must and trust is all we have
In any relationship, loyalty and trust should be the foundation of the bond.
And ima street n**** so you know the math
I come from the streets, and I know the rules and the consequences of breaking them.
Don't put me in no s*** 'cause you know what I will do
Do not make me angry or disrespect me because I will not hesitate to retaliate.
And if a n**** know my business I may have to kill you
If someone spreads rumors about me or crosses me in a significant way, they will have to face the consequences.
Street code, freak hoes
There are certain rules and codes of conduct that those from the streets follow. Also, the artist has been with promiscuous women in the past.
F*** a b****, anything goes
The artist used to be promiscuous and had sex with many women.
It goes once upon a time
At one point in the past.
I was on my grind
I was working hard and hustling to achieve my goals.
Yeah I f***ed a couple hoes
In the past, I engaged in sexual relationships with multiple women.
Yeah she caught a n**** lyin
My ex-girlfriend found out that I had lied to her about something.
Then I went out on the road, then she wanted to pay me back
After I left to go on tour or for work, she cheated on me to get revenge for my past infidelity.
So she f***ed another n****, when I get back ima kill her
The singer is angry and threatened to cause harm to his ex-girlfriend for cheating on him while he was away.
Gave that ho the world, she had my lil girl
The artist was generous and provided many things for his ex-girlfriend, who gave birth to his child.
Got a n**** hot, put me on the spot
Another man is threatening or causing problems for the singer with his actions.
Guess thats what I get, n**** knocked my b****
The singer feels like he deserved the betrayal and heartbreak he faced because of his past mistakes.
One thing bout it though we never workin out s*** b****
The singer made it clear that he will not get back together with his ex-girlfriend, no matter how much she may want him back.
I don't need no counselor
The artist doesn't need anyone to help him deal with his issues, as he can handle things on his own.
Im the type to cancel her
If his ex-girlfriend makes any trouble for him, he will cut her off and remove her from his life.
Used to buy her cars & louis bags and s*** to pamper her
The singer used to spend lots of money on his ex-girlfriend to make her feel special and show her that he cared.
I guess I f***ed too many hoes, its karma maybe
The singer believes that his past promiscuity and bad behavior has caused him to face negative consequences in his current relationships.
Finally got the one I like and she gone drive me crazy
Although he finally found someone he truly cares about, their relationship may have its challenges and difficulties.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind