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.
That's Wus Up
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lot of dope run-in
Hustling tryna dodge des cases
You niggas been telling n
Da streets been beggin
So I had to go back 2 Da basics (INE)
Dis the entry to my life
Ridgecrest apartments movin dat white gur
Posted up on da corner
Movin dat marijuana
Glock found on my hip
Hollin out u don't want it
My glock stay cocked
Rocks n a match box
Head guardin on lock
I'm a go get her
A nigga raided yo spot
Confiscated yo block
N he didn't get shot
You a hoe nigga
N I remember u do u remember me
8th grade leavin skool
Walkin up (dats wats up)
Ten tops on dat Z
I was passin ya
Fishscales swerving with yo bitch on da passenger side
Shawty let's ride
Rims still spinnin so shawty let's glide
She askin me why I don't get high
Cause bitch I make 50 off a 3 point 5 (n dats wats up)
[Chorus]
You see me nigga say wats up
Wanta be me nigga dats wats up
Bout yo dollar, pop yo collar den u holla dats wats up
See me shawty say wats up
Well fuck me shawty dats wats up dats wats up
Wat up Coo
Wat up Juke
Wat up Grandma a
Wat up Mama a
Wat up haterz a
Wat up hustlerz
Wat up Reall niggas
Wat up busterz a
Wat up snitches
Look at dem bitches
Wat up stunna thanx 4 dem six digits (fo sho)
Wat up ball
Wat up G
Wat up memphis tenna fuckin key (wats hapenin)
Wat up three six
Kno u'll like me (well fuck ya)
Wat up Feds don't incite me (well fuck ya)
Wat up TVT cut dat check pimp
Wat up cash money dats how it is slim
Wat up allstar
Wat up Melrose
Wat up chat
Wat up try
Wat up V slash
Wat up Columbian
Wat up Mexicans
Cause on da real yawl got a nigga ass in
[Chorus]
You see me nigga say wats up
Wanta be me nigga dats wats up
Bout yo dollar, pop yo collar den u holla dats wats up
See me shawty say wats up
Well fuck me shawty dats wats up dats wats up
Wat up Ballin watch
I paided da brick fo u
Wat up grill
On da real u buy da chicken too
Wat up crack house
Wat up dope fein
Wat up purple dro
Wat up cod dean
Wat up trap season
Baby u da reason
Charge nigga 30 fo birds n don it easy
So fishscale so oil bay
Wat up street tune
Wat up yung fay
Wat up C dollin
It's a gangsta party
Wat up TVT
U fuckin with a gangsta artist
Wat up grip
Let'em I ain't got to budget (nope)
Quarter million out da pocket said promotion fuck it
Wat up trap niggas
Scraping up dat dirty change
Wat up rap niggas dis industry a dirty game
Recouped yo advance take it rub it and publish it
Put u on TV and leave u out there with nuthin
Not me
Long time cumin n
A lot of dope run-in
Hustling tryna dodge des cases
You niggas been telling n
Da streets been beggin
So I had to go back 2 Da basics
Gotti dis yo boy Yo Gotti
INE nigga I said it's INE
Yeah N I remember u do u remember me
N I remember u do u remember me
Dis yo boy Yo Gotti
INE bitch
The song "That's What's Up" by Yo Gotti is a reflection of his life and how he got involved in the drug trade. The opening lyrics reflect on his past experiences with the drug trade, including dodging cases and working to make ends meet. He talks about selling drugs in Ridgecrest Apartments, moving both marijuana and cocaine. He mentions being armed with a Glock on his hip, ready to protect himself. The song shows his pride in his life and how he's able to make a living, despite what others may think.
The chorus talks about people noticing Yo Gotti on the streets and either acknowledging him or trying to be like him. He shows no shame in being a drug dealer and having money, as he flaunts his wealth through shoutouts to other rappers, record labels, and trap houses. He also takes a shot at record labels, claiming that they put artists on TV, only to leave them with nothing.
The lyrics in "That's What's Up" paint a clear picture of Yo Gotti's life and his involvement in the drug trade. He doesn't shy away from acknowledging the danger and risks associated with this lifestyle, but he takes pride in his way of life nonetheless.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long time cumin n
I've been hustling for a while now
A lot of dope run-in
I've sold a lot of drugs
Hustling tryna dodge des cases
I've been trying to avoid getting caught by the cops
You niggas been telling n
Some people have been snitching on me
Da streets been beggin
People in the streets have been asking for more music from me
So I had to go back 2 Da basics
I had to return to my roots and make music like I used to
Dis the entry to my life
This song is about my life
Entry to my world
This song gives you a glimpse into my world
Ridgecrest apartments movin dat white gur
I used to sell cocaine at the Ridgecrest apartments
Posted up on da corner
I used to sell drugs on the street corner
Movin dat marijuana
I also used to sell marijuana
Glock found on my hip
I carried a gun with me
Hollin out u don't want it
I would threaten people with my gun
My glock stay cocked
I always kept my gun loaded
Rocks n a match box
I used to sell crack cocaine in small amounts
Head guardin on lock
I was always careful and watchful
I'm a go get her
I'm determined and ambitious
A nigga raided yo spot
Someone raided my house looking for drugs and money
Confiscated yo block
They took away my supply of drugs
N he didn't get shot
I didn't shoot at him
You a hoe nigga
I don't respect you
N I remember u do u remember me
I remember people who have wronged me
8th grade leavin skool
When I was in 8th grade, I dropped out of school
Walkin up (dats wats up)
I was walking around, doing my thing
Ten tops on dat Z
I had a lot of money on me
I was passin ya
I was doing better than you
Fishscales swerving with yo bitch on da passenger side
I was driving around with a woman in my car and drugs in the trunk
Shawty let's ride
Let's go for a ride
Rims still spinnin so shawty let's glide
I had fancy rims on my car that were still spinning
She askin me why I don't get high
The woman in my car asked why I didn't use drugs with her
Cause bitch I make 50 off a 3 point 5 (n dats wats up)
I make a lot of money selling drugs
You see me nigga say wats up
People acknowledge me when they see me
Wanta be me nigga dats wats up
Some people want to be like me
Bout yo dollar, pop yo collar den u holla dats wats up
If you're all about money and showing off, then that's what's up
See me shawty say wats up
Women acknowledge me when they see me
Well fuck me shawty dats wats up dats wats up
Some women are interested in me and want to have sex with me
Wat up Coo Wat up Juke Wat up Grandma a Wat up Mama a Wat up haterz a Wat up hustlerz Wat up Reall niggas Wat up busterz a Wat up snitches Look at dem bitches Wat up stunna thanx 4 dem six digits (fo sho) Wat up ball Wat up G Wat up memphis tenna fuckin key (wats hapenin) Wat up three six Kno u'll like me (well fuck ya) Wat up Feds don't incite me (well fuck ya) Wat up TVT cut dat check pimp Wat up cash money dats how it is slim Wat up allstar Wat up Melrose Wat up chat Wat up try Wat up V slash Wat up Columbian Wat up Mexicans Cause on da real yawl got a nigga ass in
This part is just me mentioning people, places, and things that are relevant to me and my life
Wat up Ballin watch I paided da brick fo u
I bought a luxury watch with the money I made from selling drugs
Wat up grill On da real u buy da chicken too
I also sold chicken, in addition to drugs
Wat up crack house Wat up dope fein Wat up purple dro Wat up cod dean Wat up trap season Baby u da reason
This is just me mentioning different aspects of the drug trade
Charge nigga 30 fo birds n don it easy
I made a lot of money selling cocaine
So fishscale so oil bay Wat up street tune Wat up yung fay Wat up C dollin It's a gangsta party
This is just more talk about the drug trade and gangster culture
Wat up TVT U fuckin with a gangsta artist
I'm a gangster rapper signed to TVT Records
Wat up grip Let'em I ain't got to budget (nope) Quarter million out da pocket said promotion fuck it
I spent a lot of money on promoting my music, and didn't care about the cost
Wat up trap niggas Scraping up dat dirty change Wat up rap niggas dis industry a dirty game
The music industry can be corrupt and dirty
Recouped yo advance take it rub it and publish it Put u on TV and leave u out there with nuthin Not me
I won't leave my fans hanging and will always be there for them
INE nigga I said it's INE Yeah N I remember u do u remember me N I remember u do u remember me Dis yo boy Yo Gotti INE bitch
I'm Yo Gotti, and this song is all about me and my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER GHOLSON, CHRISTOPHER JAMES GHOLSON, MARIO SENTELL GIDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexmann8372
2023 and this shit still timeless
@kojoria
It’s 2023 and this song stay in rotation.
@rhines00
2024
@yatiadavis5183
This one right here will never die, and That's what's up!!!
@chavisharrison8743
Gotti was before his time that’s why he’s still relevant to this day 2022
@raytic920
i came up with the other day..he the South JayZ
@alyshamason3165
this song will. never get old💯💯✔🔥
@ken6al375
💯
@kahniliamcleod2355
will never get old
@blakehoward4114
Kahnilia Mcleod Tru 💯