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.
Super Power
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got it off the boat, plug power
Baking soda, fork and water, cookin' power
I'm a trap hero, superpowers
I got gun money, gun power
I got bond money, super power
I got get-your-home money, stupid power
When you a real nigga, you got super powers
I don't play no games, I can finish these cowards
Mortal Kombat, I got finish him powers
Fuckin' with the plug, I got feed you powers
I'm a real nigga, I can read you cowards
When you can see a lame, you got see through powers
When you're 1000 you don't need no vouchers
I be in the club like fuck these couches
Got them pistols in the club, we don't need no belts
Bottles on the way, nigga, power up
The bad hoes with us, nigga, we powered up
Them foreigns outside, nigga, we mounted up
That pussy nigga panicked on me, he hit the button
Hoppin' out the Porsche, horsepower
I got it off the boat, plug power
Baking soda, fork and water, cookin' power
I'm a trap hero, superpowers
I got gun money, gun power
I got bond money, super power
I got get-your-home money, stupid power
When you a real nigga, you got super powers
Bag, super, swag, stupid
Whip, roofless, foreigns, coupeish
The hood, I do this, good, we super
Head, super, my bitch, exclusive
I rock Balenciagas, boy that's super swag
Supercharge a Rover, it go super fast
I mix Xannys with the D'usse, that's a super glass
Off that California Kush, yeah that's that super gas
Got her turnt up on the Gram, oh she super gassed
But I don't want the number, shawty, I'ma pass
It's paper in these streets and I'm the superglue
When all your partners real you got a super crew
Hoppin' out the Porsche, horsepower
I got it off the boat, plug power
Baking soda, fork and water, cookin' power
I'm a trap hero, superpowers
Pussy, power
Bottles, power
Plug, power
Haters, sour
Pussy, power
Bottles, power
Plug, power
Haters, sour
Hoppin' out the Porsche, horsepower
I got it off the boat, plug power
Baking soda, fork and water, cookin' power
I'm a trap hero, superpowers
I got gun money, gun power
I got bond money, super power
I got get-your-home money, stupid power
When you a real nigga, you got super powers
The lyrics to Yo Gotti's song Super Power are a braggadocious display of his wealth, status, and power. He boasts about his ability to make money through the trap and drug industry using his "plug power." Gotti also claims to possess "superpowers" as a "trap hero" who can read and see through people. He asserts that being a "real nigga" gives him invincible powers and the ability to finish his enemies like in a video game.
Gotti also flaunts his lifestyle and possessions in the song, such as his expensive Balenciaga shoes and souped-up Rover which can go superfast. He mixes Xannys with the D'usse drink, which he describes as a "super glass" and boasts about having a "super crew" of real partners. The chorus of the song repeats Gotti's claimed "superpowers," which include gun money, bond money, get-your-home money, and stupid power.
Overall, Super Power celebrates Yo Gotti's success in the trap and drug industry and his ability to navigate that world with what he sees as invincible powers.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoppin' out the Porsche, horsepower
I am stepping out of a Porsche with a powerful engine.
I got it off the boat, plug power
I acquired it via a plug and it is a powerful tool.
Baking soda, fork and water, cookin' power
I am able to cook crack cocaine with the combination of baking soda, fork, and water.
I'm a trap hero, superpowers
I am a legendary figure in the world of drug trafficking with extraordinary abilities.
I got gun money, gun power
I have a vast amount of money and the ability to purchase firearms.
I got bond money, super power
I can afford to pay for bail and it is a powerful advantage to have.
I got get-your-home money, stupid power
I have enough funds to purchase a home, and it is an incredibly advantageous ability.
When you a real nigga, you got super powers
A person who is genuinely street-smart possesses a great deal of power.
I don't play no games, I can finish these cowards
I do not engage in petty behavior and can crush my enemies swiftly.
Mortal Kombat, I got finish him powers
I am skilled in fighting to the extent where I can execute moves like those in the video game Mortal Kombat.
Fuckin' with the plug, I got feed you powers
My relationships with suppliers of drugs is so strong that I can take care of my affiliates.
I'm a real nigga, I can read you cowards
I am street-smart and can easily recognize fake people for who they are.
When you can see a lame, you got see through powers
A person with good street sense can always identify an insincere individual.
When you're 1000 you don't need no vouchers
If you are a trustworthy individual, you do not need recommendations from others.
I be in the club like fuck these couches
I am free-spirited and energetic in the club and do not waste time sitting down.
Got them pistols in the club, we don't need no belts
I have access to guns in the club, so we do not need to wear belts to carry them.
Bottles on the way, nigga, power up
More bottles are being brought over, and we are preparing to intensify the party.
The bad hoes with us, nigga, we powered up
We have accompanied by multiple attractive women, and this enhances our social status.
Them foreigns outside, nigga, we mounted up
We have expensive imported cars parked outside, and we are preparing to leave.
That pussy nigga panicked on me, he hit the button
An individual who is weak and intimidated by me has resorted to a panic button in response to my encounter with him.
Bag, super, swag, stupid
I am in possession of valuable items, with an abundance of style and self-confidence.
Whip, roofless, foreigns, coupeish
I have open-air sports cars, imported and reminiscent of coupé-like designs.
The hood, I do this, good, we super
I have the respect of the neighborhood, and I am extraordinary in my abilities.
Head, super, my bitch, exclusive
I am in possession of high-quality cannabis and a girlfriend who is coveted by many.
I rock Balenciagas, boy that's super swag
I wear the latest fashion style from designer Balenciaga, and it is incredibly trendy.
Supercharge a Rover, it go super fast
I have a modified Land Rover that has been supercharged to become even faster.
I mix Xannys with the D'usse, that's a super glass
I mix anti-anxiety medication Xanax with D'usse cognac, forming an incredibly strong cocktail.
Off that California Kush, yeah that's that super gas
I am smoking premium cannabis from California, which has an incredibly potent effect.
Got her turnt up on the Gram, oh she super gassed
I have impressed a woman through my social media activity, and it has caused her to become extremely excited.
But I don't want the number, shawty, I'ma pass
I am not interested in simply obtaining a woman's phone number without any greater intention or involvement.
It's paper in these streets and I'm the superglue
I have a strong influence in street hustling and the power to bring people together using money.
When all your partners real you got a super crew
If all the people around you are trustworthy and genuine, you have an incredibly tight and powerful crew.
Pussy, power
Having sexual relationships with women provides a sense of control and dominance.
Bottles, power
Excessive alcohol consumption can enhance one's social status and self-confidence.
Plug, power
Having reliable and trustworthy suppliers of drugs can lead to a significant edge in the drug trafficking industry.
Haters, sour
Those who envy or dislike a person can leave behind a negative aftertaste.
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mario Mims
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind