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.
Sweet Dreams
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Know what I'm sayin
Most of dat shit be out of reach
Like niggas be dreamin about bitches and having wet dreams an shit
Nigga I be hearing money machines in my dreams nigga
I dream about millions kno what im talkin bout
I dream about freedom(Yo gizzle)
wakin up in the kitchen shakin up
Baking soda over my hands
Could you imagine
pitch black dark room
cold hearted full goon
down on his knees just prayin
and shit I was a teenage
no mutant no ninjin turtle
400 yd dash
bitch im jumpin hurdles
call me mister 800
that's a O of the purple
i'm just tryin to get money break bread wit my circle
I sleep wit my eyes open(so high)
but I ain't smoking
see errythang (but I ain't locin)
I'm focused like a small car foreign
niggas think that i'm noid
I got a chance and I'd be damn if I blow it(yeah)
see a old head told me back in 89
a sleeper gets nothin but a dream
but den came a wise man told me in 1997
you only gone be good as ya team
number one rule everybody must have loyalty
Team need a team shit to strive of royalties
The opening lines of Yo Gotti's "Sweet Dreams" imply that individuals have varying dreams that may be beyond their reach. Gotti describes his own dreams, which involve hearing money machines and dreaming about millions, an indication of his focus on success and wealth. He also dreams of freedom, which suggests that he may have faced challenging personal circumstances in the past. The lyrics reveal that Gotti has climbed his way to the top of the music industry. The song reflects on his past struggles, which he overcame, and his desire to retain his financial success by staying dedicated to his group.
Gotti's verses recount a time when he used to experience nightmares and would wake up in the kitchen with baking soda all over his hands. The image suggests that Gotti was once involved with drug trafficking, which is referenced again when Gotti describes himself as a "cold-hearted full goon." Gotti's dream of "millions" likely stems from the profits he earned during his criminal activity. However, Gotti is also focused on building a prosperous future for himself and his team, as seen in the final verse, which describes the importance of loyalty to success.
In essence, "Sweet Dreams" is a song that reflects Yo Gotti's past struggles with drug trafficking, his rise to fame and his focus on earning and retaining his wealth. By emphasizing the importance of loyalty, Gotti emphasizes the significance of having a supportive network of people around you. Through this song, Gotti seems to suggest that success requires significant dedication, focus and teamwork, providing listeners with a sense of what it takes to succeed.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo know a lot of niggas dream about a lot of shit.
Many people have dreams of different things.
Most of dat shit be out of reach
Most of those dreams are unrealistic.
Like niggas be dreamin about bitches and having wet dreams an shit
Some people dream about sexual experiences.
Nigga I be hearing money machines in my dreams nigga
I dream about making money.
I dream about millions kno what im talkin bout
My dream is to be worth millions of dollars.
I dream about freedom(Yo gizzle)
I also dream about having the freedom to live how I want.
I used to have nighmares
I used to have bad dreams.
wakin up in the kitchen shakin up
I would wake up in the kitchen and shake things up.
Baking soda over my hands
I had baking soda all over my hands.
Could you imagine
This situation was difficult to imagine.
pitch black dark room
The room was extremely dark.
cold hearted full goon
There was a heartless criminal in the room with me.
down on his knees just prayin
He was on his knees praying for something.
and shit I was a teenage
I was just a young teenager at the time.
no mutant no ninjin turtle
I wasn't exceptional in any way.
400 yd dash
I can run a 400 yard dash quickly.
bitch im jumpin hurdles
I am overcoming obstacles in my life.
call me mister 800
I am good at running the 800 meter race.
that's a O of the purple
I like to smoke marijuana.
i'm just tryin to get money break bread wit my circle
I am focused on making money and sharing it with those close to me.
I sleep wit my eyes open(so high)
I am very observant even when I am under the influence of drugs.
but I ain't smoking
I am not currently smoking marijuana.
see errythang (but I ain't locin)
I can see everything around me without being paranoid.
I'm focused like a small car foreign
I am very focused on my goals.
niggas think that i'm noid
Some people think that I am paranoid.
I got a chance and I'd be damn if I blow it(yeah)
I have an opportunity and I am determined to make the most of it.
see a old head told me back in 89
An older person gave me some advice in 1989.
a sleeper gets nothin but a dream
If you don't take action, you won't achieve your dreams.
but den came a wise man told me in 1997
But then a wise person gave me some advice in 1997.
you only gone be good as ya team
You are only as good as the people around you.
number one rule everybody must have loyalty
The most important rule is that everyone must be loyal.
Team need a team shit to strive of royalties
I need a good team to be successful and make money.
Contributed by Nora L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Trapstar B
2022... still one of Yo Gotti's best verses ‼️🎯💯
thomas Senemounnarath
This beat is beating the shit out my 3 10s. JLW6 with 1000watt JL AMP. feel that shit in your chest bruh
Cuzzin Al
Listen to it as I type this lol
Young Duece
d Nero killed this shit I lived that verse
Young raw
Probably his hardest verse
Airica Golden
EVERYBODY MUST HAVE LOYALTY💯💯💯💯
Leing Lo
still Slapping in 2017!! out here in Cali yeee
shae brown
yo gotti is the best rapper alive thats who i wont to be like he motivate me
Jorge Rodriguez
For some reason i can't go to sleep when it rains so i just stay up listening to pour cocaine lol i love yo gotti this nigga go hard 💯💪🔥💀
870 AMOS
Only real dope boys listening to this in 2019