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.
Testimony
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I pray the streets my world to take
Divide throughout the unfortunate
Give my jewelery to the most respected
My car to the one that's giving my guns to the gunners
You know what I'm saying
[Chorus]
Pray the Lord forgive a nigga, streets is my religion
Amen (amen), amen (amen)
Can I hear hood niggas scream amen
This my testimony, testimony
My testimony, testimony
This my testimony, testimony
My testimony, testimony
Amen (amen), amen (amen)
Can I hear hood niggas scream amen
See I'm a different type of nigga, I'm on that different shit
Every day I wake up, I want a different bitch
I don't want the whip plain, I want the kit on it
Talking rims so big, they can feed on it
I just bought a different watch, and another chain
Fuck around and call my bitch another name
Got confession to make, you hoes look the same
And I'm so full of that liquor, it oughta be a shame
Say the rap game changed, alot of niggas stressin'
But between me and you, nigga that's a blessin'
fake niggas come up, real niggas suffer
Record labels fuckin' niggas, that's why I don't trust 'em
This my testimony (my testimony), I made it true to see
Hope the Lord forgive a nigga, streets is my religion
Now I can get a amen, or can you bless a nigga with a thousand eight grams
[Chorus]
Man I'm in my hood, slangin' that white
Shirt on right, no ? on sight
Hundred I shoot, hundred I hit,
Five hundred ? nigga this my life
Yo Gotti don't shit round me but my money get high
If it's crap in the room, and it ain't a real goon
Then you know soon that it ain't my guy
Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen five
Anything else, way too high
Gucci, Louis that's all I buy
way to high, need to come down
Need a...
Don't know me, don't know you
...my hood, so don't come around.
I'mma tell you like a nigga told me
..might be OG
That being said, that being told
That's the first nigga in front of me,a whole key
..put it in my hand, cause he know I wanna plan
..he had to shoot me
My testimony, my testimony, my testimony!
My testimony, my testimony, my testimony!
Yeah, I hear... inside the kitchen saying
..why took 'em bitches
..full of money.. but I kept the chopper
..cha cha cha ain't no stopping me!
acting crazy, yes I am, nobody need to pray for me
? I know they got a place for me
You know how these game goes
This ? and they don't need to take my crown
In "Testimony," Yo Gotti reflects upon his life in the streets, offering up his last wishes should he die before he sees tomorrow. The song grapples with themes of loyalty and trust, making it a poignant reflection on the dangers and opportunities of Gotti's lifestyle. The opening lines express his willingness to die for his way, hoping the streets will take his soul. He then calls for his jewelry to go to the most respected, his car to go to the most giving, and his guns to the real gunners. The chorus repeats the phrase "cocaine thoughts, fish scale visions," and Gotti reflects on how he is a different type of person, with different tastes and tendencies than his peers.
Gotti reflects on how, in his neighborhood, "fake n$#%as come up, real n$#%as suffer," elaborating on how record labels take advantage of artists. Gotti asserts that through his tenure in the rap game, his testimony has been a true reflection of his personal beliefs and desires. He then declares that he is still in his hood, selling his product and continuing with the same lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
If I should die for our way
If I die for my lifestyle of crime and violence
I pray the streets my world to take
I hope that when I die, the streets that I consider my world will take me in
Divide throughout the unfortunate
Split my assets among the less fortunate
Give my jewelery to the most respected
Give my jewelry to the person who is most respected in my community
My car to the one that's giving my guns to the gunners
Give my car to the person who is giving my guns to the killers
Cocaine thoughts, fish scale visions
I am consumed by thoughts of cocaine and the vision of the drug in its raw, uncut form
Pray the Lord forgive a nigga, streets is my religion
I pray that God will forgive me for my sins because I consider the streets to be my religion
Amen (amen), amen (amen)
Amen, meaning 'so be it' or 'let it be done,' used as an affirmation of agreement or consent
Can I hear hood niggas scream amen
Can I hear people from my community shout 'amen'
This my testimony, testimony
This is my story, this is what I want to say
See I'm a different type of nigga, I'm on that different shit
I am unique, I don't follow the traditional path that others do
Every day I wake up, I want a different bitch
I am always looking for something new, even with my romantic partners
I don't want the whip plain, I want the kit on it
I don't want a regular car, I want one that has been customized with expensive additions
Talking rims so big, they can feed on it
I want rims on my car so big that they are excessively large and look like they could be fed on
I just bought a different watch, and another chain
I recently purchased a new watch and another chain to flaunt my wealth
Fuck around and call my bitch another name
I may accidentally call my girlfriend by someone else's name, indicating that I have numerous sexual partners
Got confession to make, you hoes look the same
I have a confession to make, I have so many sexual partners that I often cannot tell them apart
And I'm so full of that liquor, it oughta be a shame
I am heavily intoxicated and should be embarrassed by my actions
Say the rap game changed, alot of niggas stressin'
The rap game has changed and many people are struggling to stay motivated or successful
But between me and you, nigga that's a blessin'
Between us, the fact that others are struggling is a blessing, as it gives us opportunities to rise up and succeed
fake niggas come up, real niggas suffer
The people who are not authentic or genuine are successful, while those who are real and honest suffer
Record labels fuckin' niggas, that's why I don't trust 'em
Record labels are exploiting artists, which is why I am hesitant to trust them
Man I'm in my hood, slangin' that white
I am selling drugs in my neighborhood
Shirt on right, no ? on sight
I am dressed for the occasion and there is no confusion about who is in charge
Hundred I shoot, hundred I hit,
I am a skilled shooter with a high success rate
Five hundred ? nigga this my life
I have five hundred dollars, this is my way of life
Yo Gotti don't shit round me but my money get high
I only associate with Yo Gotti, and I become rich in the process
If it's crap in the room, and it ain't a real goon
If there's any nonsense happening in the room and it doesn't involve a legitimate gang member
Then you know soon that it ain't my guy
Then you will soon learn that I'm not involved and I'm not the culprit
Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen five
A monetary amount, likely referring to the price of drugs
Anything else, way too high
Any other amount of money is too expensive
Gucci, Louis that's all I buy
I only purchase expensive luxury brands
Way too high, need to come down
The prices are too high and need to be reduced
Don't know me, don't know you
We are strangers to each other
...my hood, so don't come around.
This is my neighborhood, so don't come here if you're not invited
I'mma tell you like a nigga told me
I'm going to tell you something that someone else once told me
..might be OG
The singer might be considered an OG, meaning someone who is an original gangster
...that being said, that being told
With that being the case, as I have been previously informed
That's the first nigga in front of me,a whole key
That's the first person who ever gave me drugs in large quantities
..put it in my hand, cause he know I wanna plan
He gave it to me directly because he knew I was going to sell it
..he had to shoot me
He had to shoot me in order to instill the fear of the streets in me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KOREY ROBERSON, MALCOLM MIDDLETON, MARIO MIMS, MONTAY HUMPHREY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind