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 cityβs underground rap scene before going on to become national superstars. Next up to bat is Yo Gotti, M-Townβs 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 Southβs 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. βBeing from the hood things like hustling will come your way,β says Yo Gotti. βEverybody in my family hustled in some kinda way.β 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 Gottiβs 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 cityβs 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 magazineβs 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. βIt sold about 40 or 50,000, with no promotions or video,β says Yo Gotti. βThat record did what it did on its own.β But as the old saying goes when one door is closed another opened. Gottiβs 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 didnβt do the type of big number heβd hope for youβd 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.
βThe 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. Thatβs why I call my record Back 2 Da Basics.β
Produced by DJ Thoomp, Mannie Fresh, Carlos Brody and newcomers Street Tunes, Back 2 Da Basics offers fans a gritty, insiderβs view into the real streets of Memphis as seen through the eyes of Yo Gotti. Nowhere is this viewpoint more intense than on βFull Time,β the amped up lead single βand featured in the MTV Filmsβ Hustle & Flow movie - with a thunderous bass and intoxicating beat that espouses Gottiβs formula to success βhustle full time.
βA lotta cats wanna be a rapper or a street hustler but they donβt wanna put in the time that it takes,β says Yo Gotti. βThey want the money and the cars and the girls, but they donβt wanna work hard for it. But to be successful at anything you gotta grind for it.β On the song βMama We Gone Be Alright,β 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. βMama We Gone Be Alrightβ along with the gripping tune βMy Storyβ emerges as two of the most interesting songs on Back 2 Da Basics. These three titles along with club banging songs like βShortyβ featuring Baby make Back 2 Da Basics one of the best albums of the year.
Talk to Em
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Biach
Yea, gotti talk to um, nigga we here
I need to talk to um, I need to talk to um, it been a long time coming homie;
Chopper talk to um, chopper talk to um
(Yea)ah let me talk to um;
(Yea).ah let me talk to um,
Gotti talk to um;
This here for my street niggas;
(Just let me talk to um)
My hood bitches
(Ah gotti talk to um, ah gotti talk to um)
You already know what it is homie
Back on the block, fresh up out the court room
Fitted hat all black, nun but goons;
Yelling free my nigga d.j. drama don cannon;
Let stop a second, I need a undastanding
First I sale birds, then I switched to words,
You want to lock me for that you got the fuckn nerve, oh main, I guess they ain't playn fair, so I'm going back to the basics and I ain't playn fair
My last album dropped and you might think I flopped, cause you didn't see me on bet and mtv main;
Ridin in that drop and bet I got mo money than some of them nigga that's on bet and mtv main;
Gooti tell the truth, so if a nigga don't know;
I'm teel how I made a million or mo;
I get 75 hundred, friday saturday and sunday;
That's twenty two five a weekend I'm gettn money
Just me my nigga star and my new nigga platinum;
Ain't no secert I'm gone slang if I don't make it rapping;
Big ole rankin what's happen, young cash what's good;
When I come to duvole shoot me straight to the hood;
Tell plies throw me a bad bitch, I'm gone need ha, and after a nigga fuck ha, damn right I'll feed ha;
MJ dem my people, 8ball you trill, three 6 I don't fuck with them, that's just how it is; no publicity stunt, that's just how it is, main them niggas doing they thing, but them niggas ain't real, somebody talk to um, for I make that chopper talk to um
I'm from watkins and brown, thuggin in da crest, now I'm with dj khaled, hollin we da best;
A street nigga got to floss, black on black benz like I'm rickey ross, wats happn e class, wat up brisco, I got a hundered on me nigga wat they hittn fo, dade county luv, from dade county thugs, cheap price, I'm tryn to get a dade county plug
In the song "Talk to Em" by Yo Gotti, the artist opens with a strong demand for attention, signaling the seriousness of the message he wants to convey. The song is an autobiographical account of his journey as a rapper, his struggles, and aspirations. He talks about coming back to the streets after being released from court, and his shift from drug dealing to rap. Yo Gotti calls out rappers who he feels aren't real and encourages someone to talk to them before he resorts to violence.
As the song progresses, Yo Gotti also talks about his success in the rap game and boasts about his wealth. He acknowledges that he isn't a mainstream artist who gets airtime on MTV or BET but still makes a lot of money from his music. He also gives shoutouts to fellow rappers he admires and respects, like DJ Khaled and Plies. The song ends with Yo Gotti celebrating his roots in Watkins and Brown and his association with Dade County, where he's trying to make a name for himself.
Overall, "Talk to Em" is a rap song about a rapper's journey, struggles, successes, and aspirations. It's a message to the streets and the rap community about staying true to oneself and not getting caught up in the glitz and glamour of success.
Line by Line Meaning
Pay a motherfuckn atention;
Biach
Listen up closely, because what I have to say is important and requires your attention.
Yea, gotti talk to um, nigga we here
I need to talk to um, I need to talk to um, it been a long time coming homie;
I have an urgent message to deliver, and it's been a long time since I've had the chance to share what I want to say.
Chopper talk to um, chopper talk to um
(Yea)ah let me talk to um;
(Yea).ah let me talk to um,
Gotti talk to um;
Gotti talk to um;
I may need to use violent means to get my points across, but I will still communicate my message one way or another.
This here for my street niggas;
(Just let me talk to um)
My hood bitches
(Ah gotti talk to um, ah gotti talk to um)
You already know what it is homie
My message is directed towards those who have lived similar experiences as me and share the same background.
Back on the block, fresh up out the court room
Fitted hat all black, nun but goons;
Yelling free my nigga d.j. drama don cannon;
Let stop a second, I need a undastanding
I just got out of court, surrounded by my loyal crew, and I want to clarify some things and gain a deeper understanding of what's going on.
First I sale birds, then I switched to words,
You want to lock me for that you got the fuckn nerve, oh main, I guess they ain't playn fair,
so I'm going back to the basics and I ain't playn fair
I used to sell drugs, then I turned to music, and now the authorities are trying to lock me up for it. I'm upset at their lack of fairness, so I'm going back to selling drugs and won't play fair either.
My last album dropped and you might think I flopped,
cause you didn't see me on bet and mtv main;
Ridin in that drop and bet I got mo money than some of them nigga that's on bet and mtv main;
Just because I wasn't seen on mainstream TV, don't assume that my last album didn't do well, because I actually have more money than some of those artists you did see.
Gooti tell the truth, so if a nigga don't know;
I'm tell how I made a million or mo;
I get 75 hundred, friday saturday and sunday;
That's twenty two five a weekend I'm getting money
I'm always honest, and if you're curious about how I made my money, I'll tell you, including that I earn $7,500 every Friday to Sunday, resulting in over $20k per weekend.
Just me my nigga star and my new nigga platinum;
Ain't no secert I'm gone slang if I don't make it rapping;
Big ole rankin what's happen, young cash what's good;
When I come to duvole shoot me straight to the hood;
I only have my two close friends by my side, and I won't be ashamed to resort to drug dealing if my music career doesn't work out. I'm looking for updates from people I know back home, and want to be taken straight to the hood when I return.
Tell plies throw me a bad bitch, I'm gone need ha, and after a nigga fuck ha, damn right I'll feed ha;
MJ dem my people, 8ball you trill, three 6 I don't fuck with them, that's just how it is; no publicity stunt, that's just how it is, main them niggas doing they thing, but them niggas ain't real, somebody talk to um, for I make that chopper talk to um
I want Plies to set me up with an attractive woman, and once we have sex, I'll provide for her. I only associate myself with certain musicians, and I believe some others are fake. I'm not trying to make a scene for publicity, but I'll take action against them if necessary.
I'm from watkins and brown, thuggin in da crest, now I'm with dj khaled, hollin we da best;
A street nigga got to floss, black on black benz like I'm rickey ross,
wats happn e class, wat up brisco, I got a hundered on me nigga wat they hittn fo,
dade county luv, from dade county thugs, cheap price, I'm tryn to get a dade county plug
I grew up in a dangerous area and worked hard to now be associated with successful musicians. I feel like I need to show off a bit, with my black on black Benz just like Rick Ross'. I have connections with E Class and Brisco, and have cash to spend. I have love and support from my hometown, and am trying to find someone to supply me with drugs.
Writer(s): Frankie Beverly, Jay Jenkins
Contributed by Lila H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RifleEyez
Damn I miss when beats like this were the popular choice
@shaheedbaltimore7222
2018 this shit still gives me so much Self Motivation real shit!!! Shit still that TRUE π₯ TRU LEGEND OF THE SOUTH/STREET!
@s0up3rman
Best mixtape ever hands down
@hamjones3892
Coming with the hottest shit I love it
@TheTracklife101
this beat goes super hard
@HustleDiffrnt
2019 still beating this shit and Iβll still TALK TO EM
@PrezzAC
Still bumping this in 2021 like I'm at Plush 3000 in 2009 on stage with DJ 007 πͺπ½πͺπ½
@jamard39701
Plush Club was one of my favorites πͺπΎπͺπΎπͺπΎ
@danieltriplett3685
Mario for π
@FanBaseball19
que mas puedo decir??? ustedes diganmee puro GANGSTA RAP con mi compadre Yo Gotti yeeeaaaahhhh 100% CHINGON COMPA greetings from Saltillo Coahuila Mexico City