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.
Set the Records Straight
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I own real estate
What it pay for?
I ain't never late (Yeah)
Fucked her twice
But we ain't never date (for real)
Gotti spaz and you hella late
Got bars like a jail cell
I just walk up in [?] where my money at?
Like it's a drug sale
Let me get it, fuck the mayor
And the keys to the city
Fuck bitch I got keys to the hemi
Fuck they don't really hear me
They don't really feel me
Yeah I got plug boy
I can get plenty
I can go to Seattle
I can get shit so motherfucking green
Like a Greenbay Packer
I was selling in Atlanta
Ooo I was selling in Alaska
Driveway look like a lobster
I was in the White House
Nigga that's a white out
Looking like a motherfucking white at this house
Just met your bitch
And fucked her night after
Gangsta on the Internet
You thuggin' on Apple
You the type of nigga talking bad on the comments
I'm the type of nigga see you in person and slap ya
BANG BANG BANG
Nigga that's the sound of a gun
Bitch better run
I swear the flow so stupid
I swear the boy so [?]
These niggas so groupie
Tell a pussy keep it movin'
I swear the flow so stupid
Ooo the boy so [?]
And these niggas so groupie
Nigga don't shake my hand, keep it movin'
I said all the hustlers come (Yeah)
Hit my nigga with a pack the hood jump (Yeah)
Nigga pull up [?] the hood, dump it (Yeah)
I ain't even gotta call the hood comes (Yeah)
You ain't really from the hood you from the outskirts (pussy)
You ain't really gettin' it in you without work (pussy)
Ima dope boy god to the trap niggas
Ill fuck around n bless one of you lil niggas Flow so stupid you could tell bout it
Pride so big go to jail bout it
Love the hood so much raise hell bout it
Moudlain McDIALLO
Yo Gotti's song, "Set the Record Straight," is all about letting people know who he really is and what he's accomplished. He starts by saying that he owns real estate and is never late on payments, showing that he's financially stable. Then he talks about a woman he's slept with twice, but they were never in a relationship. Gotti then brags about his bars being like a jail cell and calls out those who are quick to thot trends. He talks about his ability to get what he wants and even name-drops the mayor and the city keys, as if he can have whatever he desires. He even brags about having the keys to a Hemi and not just a regular car. Gotti says that people don't really hear or feel him, despite all his success, but he knows he has the plug to get anything he needs. He talks about selling drugs in different places, including Seattle and Alaska, and how his driveway looks like a lobster because of his wealth. The song ends with Gotti saying he's a dope boy god of the trap and how he's been blessed to live his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's set the record straight
Starting afresh with honesty and transparency
I own real estate
I have substantial property ownership
What it pay for?
Asking the value of property ownership to others
I ain't never late (Yeah)
I am punctual and dependable
Fucked her twice
But we ain't never date (for real)
Physical intimacy without any emotional commitment
Gotti spaz and you hella late
I am impatient and intolerant of delays
Got bars like a jail cell
I have plenty of lyrical prowess
You thot bitch you a trend fail
You are a promiscuous woman who struggles to keep up with the latest lifestyle
I just walk up in [?] where my money at?
Like it's a drug sale
Asserting dominance and anticipating receipt of payment
Let me get it, fuck the mayor
And the keys to the city
Fuck bitch I got keys to the hemi
I have access and control over my resources without relying on external bodies or people.
Fuck they don't really hear me
They don't really feel me
Yeah I got plug boy
I can get plenty
I believe that people do not listen to me, but I have access to useful resources and connections
I can go to Seattle
I can get shit so motherfucking green
Like a Greenbay Packer
I have connections elsewhere and can easily attain my desired goals
I was selling in Atlanta
Ooo I was selling in Alaska
Driveway look like a lobster
I was in the White House
Nigga that's a white out
Looking like a motherfucking white at this house
I am reminiscing about past experiences in different places and living a luxurious lifestyle
Just met your bitch
And fucked her night after
I had sexual relations with a woman with whom I was barely acquainted with
Gangsta on the Internet
You thuggin' on Apple
You the type of nigga talking bad on the comments
I'm the type of nigga see you in person and slap ya
I am tough in real life and do not indulge in online intimidation like others
BANG BANG BANG
Nigga that's the sound of a gun
Bitch better run
Using violent imagery to convey intimidation and a desire for others to flee
I swear the flow so stupid
I swear the boy so [?]
These niggas so groupie
Tell a pussy keep it movin'
My flow is impeccable and the boy unknown quality. Others are too easily impressed
Nigga don't shake my hand, keep it movin'
A plain warning to stay away from me
I said all the hustlers come (Yeah)
Hit my nigga with a pack the hood jump (Yeah)
Nigga pull up [?] the hood, dump it (Yeah)
I ain't even gotta call the hood comes (Yeah)
Instructing fellow hustlers to come together and work together for mutual gain
You ain't really from the hood you from the outskirts (pussy)
You ain't really gettin' it in you without work (pussy)
Ima dope boy god to the trap niggas
Ill fuck around n bless one of you lil niggas
Flow so stupid you could tell bout it
Admonishing those who are not truly dedicated and hard working. Bragging about his reputation in trap circles and mocking those who refuse to acknowledge it.
Pride so big go to jail bout it
Love the hood so much raise hell bout it
I am fiercely loyal to the hood and willing to go to great lengths to protect it
Contributed by Gavin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Greg Rome
Can't wait for the art of hustle. Gotti got what the streets need.
deidre macon
Definitely should be over a million views on this🔥🔥🔥🔥
Mike Jones
Hardest song I've ever heard. Thank you Gotti.
Drew Coronado
Still the hardest on the block
christian frazier
2018 this beat still crazy
Achieve BIG
christian frazier yes sir
Lion Prince
I respect this Mixtape, its worth the "ear lending".
Tariq Martin
One of Gotti best songs straight Raw this should have video 💯🔥🔥
Nazyork
This mixtape solidified his position
Leo Leo
2021 this shit still hard!