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.
The truth
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say you want to taste the truth
Just swallow it down
And it will all be over soon
Don't try to fight
Just listen to the sound of my voice
I know you want to run baby
But you don't really have a choice, don't have a choice
Cause they've become addicted
Turning our world to trash
And right now you are their victim
There is no turning back
Your every move
They're watching you
And there is nothing you can do
Your every breath
Could be you last
Cause they will break your heart in two
No one can save you
Cause they will take you
Well hey you wanted the truth
When you sleep
When you eat
They're always there
Looking to bury the living
And bring life to the dead, to the dead
One hundred years of waiting
Thirty six thousand days
Fifty two million seconds
Six billion start to pray
Your every move
They're watching you
And there is nothing you can do
Your every breath
Could be you last
Cause they will break your heart in twov No one can save you
Cause they will take you
Well hey you wanted the truth
They're gonna steal your soul
They're gonna take control
Playing games with your mind
And it's only a matter of time
Till your fighting for your life
Lay me down to sleep
Pray my soul you'll keep
They have become addicted
Turning our world to trash
And right now you are their victim
There is no turning back
Your every move
They're watching you
And there is nothing you can do
Your every breath
Could be you last
Cause they will break your heart in two
No one can save you
Cause they will take you
Well hey you wanted, well hey you wanted the truth
Yo Gotti's The Truth is about the negative influence of technology and social media on individuals today. The song opens with Gotti telling his audience that they may want to hear the truth, but they won't be able to handle it. He is referring to the fact that most people are addicted to social media and technology, and they are unaware of the effects it has on their daily lives. He warns his listeners that with the constant monitoring of their every move by technology and social media, they are at risk of losing control of their lives.
The lyrics further explain that society has become obsessed with technology and social media, and it is affecting their mental and emotional states. The line "They're always there/Looking to bury the living/And bring life to the dead" represents how social media and technology encourage people to live fake lives and present their best selves online while ignoring their real-life problems. The song goes on to mention that death may be just a step away, and there is no one to save them from their technology addiction.
Overall, The Truth is a cautionary tale to people about the negative effects of technology and social media addiction. The song is a reminder for people to be mindful of their exposure to technology and not let it control their every move.
Line by Line Meaning
Well hello
The singer greets someone.
You say you want to taste the truth
The listener claims to want to know the truth.
Just swallow it down
The singer advises the listener to accept the truth without resistance.
And it will all be over soon
The artist implies that the truth will bring a close to something unpleasant.
Don't try to fight
The artist warns the listener against resisting the truth.
Just listen to the sound of my voice
The singer requests the listener's attention.
I know you want to run baby
The singer understands that the listener is afraid.
But you don't really have a choice, don't have a choice
The artist suggests that the listener's options are limited.
Cause they've become addicted
The artist blames an unspecified group for being addicted to something.
Turning our world to trash
The artist accuses the group of causing harm to the world.
And right now you are their victim
The singer tells the listener that they are being victimized by the group.
There is no turning back
The artist asserts that the listener cannot escape their situation.
Your every move
The singer emphasizes the extent of the group's surveillance.
They're watching you
The singer explains who is watching the listener.
And there is nothing you can do
The singer implies that the listener is powerless.
Your every breath
The artist emphasizes the severity of the situation.
Could be you last
The artist suggests that the listener's life is in danger.
Cause they will break your heart in two
The singer confirms that the group will cause emotional harm to the listener.
No one can save you
The singer asserts that the listener has no one to help them.
Cause they will take you
The artist warns the listener that the group will harm them.
When you sleep
The artist emphasizes the group's constant scrutiny.
When you eat
The artist implies that the listener is under constant surveillance.
They're always there
The singer confirms that the group is constantly observing the listener.
Looking to bury the living
The artist accuses the group of intending to harm the living.
And bring life to the dead, to the dead
The singer implies that the group is associated with death.
One hundred years of waiting
The singer refers to the duration of time waited for something.
Thirty six thousand days
The singer calculates the same duration of time in days.
Fifty two million seconds
The artist calculates the same duration of time in seconds.
Six billion start to pray
The artist implies that a large number of people are praying for something.
They're gonna steal your soul
The singer accuses the group of being soul-stealers.
They're gonna take control
The singer warns the listener that the group will dominate them.
Playing games with your mind
The artist accuses the group of psychological manipulation.
And it's only a matter of time
The artist suggests that the listener's situation is likely to worsen.
Till your fighting for your life
The artist predicts the listener will have to struggle to survive.
Lay me down to sleep
The singer recites a prayer-like verse.
Pray my soul you'll keep
The artist adds to the prayer-like verse.
Cause they've become addicted
The singer repeats the accusation against the group.
Turning our world to trash
The singer repeats the accusation of the group's harm to the world.
And right now you are their victim
The singer repeats the warning to the listener.
There is no turning back
The artist repeats the assertion that the listener is trapped.
Cause they will break your heart in two
The artist repeats their prediction of emotional harm to the listener.
No one can save you
The singer repeats the warning that the listener is alone.
Cause they will take you
The singer repeats the warning of harm by the group.
Well hey you wanted the truth
The artist reminds the listener that they asked for the truth.
Contributed by Ella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@louisianaboyjames2660
Never sell your soul to Lucifer/Satan or for money, power, fame, and fortune. It’s not worth it. You don’t have to be in the industry to make music, movies, and cartoons. Just be independent and do your own thing. The music/entertainment industry is dangerous.
@Cheese_crackers
What do you mean "sell your soul"? Why does everyone throw that term around so loosely? Does selling your soul mean like doing stuff for money that you don't want to do or something? If that's the case did I sell my soul by working for mcdonald's? Because I hate that shiiii but I do it for the money. How is it different from what others do just because it's about millions ??? Everyone is a sell out . You sold your time for a wage regardless how much
@KingRese5995
Is it ok To sell My soul for chrome heart Mixed with carhartt
@AmiriDown
@@KingRese5995we gone see you getting hugged from da back
@mika9916
I just deleted my entire library of music. I can't lie though, I am going to miss listening to some of those songs but it's okay. I'll pray on it.
@johnnymartinez625
I did same. Had so much too but am doing better without it
@bodeezy78
I'm thinkn bout doing the same
@bodeezy78
@@patriciascarcella7052 thanks for the motivation I will def pray about it. God bless u as well
@ceetiva
I really need to get like you !!
@sameenergy9414
As much as I love rap music I can hardly listen to it anymore. I mainly listen to jazz & gospel now