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.
Wanna Play
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tired as hell, I'm hearing voices in my head
Heard some knocks, grabbed my tone, ran to the doe (door)
Screamed, "Who is it?", but i ain't hear that shit no mo'
Cocked my nine
I went to peekin' out the blinds
Thought it was fine
But at a unexpected time
Seen 'em comin' wit they face masks on
Bust the choppers, down the stairs, they hit the cut
Two of them got away, but the other two got stuck
Hit 'em again
One in the neck, one in the chin
Then called the Law and said I did they ass in
Hook:
OK, you want to play
You say you know where I stay?
Well, come today
Bring yo bad ass on, I'm waitin on ya
I got a K wit a motherfuckin' shank on it
You bitch you
OK, you want to play
You say you know where I stay?
Well, come today
Bring yo bad ass on, I'm waitin on ya
I got a K wit a motherfuckin' shank on it
You bitch you
Say whodie, you won't believe what happened to me
A nigga all in my spot, and he askin' for me
See I wouldn't at the spot, but my broad was there
When she hit me on the phone, it's niggas in there
They knocked me off for a bird and my platinum chain
Them niggas from round there, they just doin' they thang
I respect the game
But they got to respect it, I ain't no hoe ass nigga
I'm gone take car my business
Next day, broad-daylight, rode the track
The first nigga looked suspicious had to get in the back
(Talking)
Bitch, we ain't straight no mo'
Hoe we used to have fun, we don't play no mo'
Them niggas that you run wit, they kicked in my doe
So I'm gone shoot you in yo face if you don't cough up that dope, bitch
Hook
This situation is a cold thang
I got to explain
Cause nigga this a cold game
I was keeping my pounds at a spot in Raleigh
But I was moving them thangs, like they was hot tamales
Well, hot tamales, I played the cards I was dealt
Because I knew befo' long that they'll hang they self
I ain't no fool
Nigga that's why I play it cool
I know the shit you will and won't try to do
But what you came in wit, that's what you left wit (AHH HAA)
Because I'm three steps ahead, it's like you brainless
I been fuckin' wit money, I been having birds
I disassociated my self from bad nerves
Cause once you under pressure, you'll bust trick
And you the type of nigga that I can't trust bitch
And the nigga that went, you just a send-out
I tried to kill yo hoe ass, but you went out, the window, bitch
Hook
In Yo Gotti's song "Wanna Play," the rapper tells two stories about people who try to mess with him and his possessions. In the first verse, Yo Gotti hears a knock on his door late at night and pulls out his gun to defend himself. When he opens the door, two masked intruders enter his home, and he ends up shooting and killing both of them. In the chorus, Yo Gotti taunts his enemies, inviting them to come after him if they dare, because he is well-armed and prepared to defend himself.
In the second verse, Yo Gotti explains that someone has stolen his money and chain, so he goes looking for the thieves. After meeting with a suspicious-looking person, he kills them and takes back his money. In both verses, Yo Gotti portrays himself as a tough, street-savvy individual who is not to be messed with. He uses violent imagery to show that he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his possessions and his reputation.
Line by Line Meaning
Tuesday night, I was laid up in the bed
The singer was lying in bed on a Tuesday night.
Tired as hell, I'm hearing voices in my head
Although tired, the singer was hearing voices in their head.
Heard some knocks, grabbed my tone, ran to the doe (door)
The singer grabbed their gun when they heard knocks on their door.
Screamed, "Who is it?", but i ain't hear that shit no mo'
The artist screamed to ask who was knocking but did not hear a response.
Cocked my nine
The artist readied their gun.
I went to peekin' out the blinds
The singer looked out their window.
Thought it was fine
The singer thought everything was okay.
But at a unexpected time
At an unexpected time, something happened.
The doe (door) flew in, I got a two-story home
Someone entered the artist's two-story home through the door.
Seen 'em comin' wit they face masks on
The artist saw the intruders wearing face masks.
Bust the choppers, down the stairs, they hit the cut
The singer grabbed their guns and went downstairs to confront the intruders, but they fled.
Two of them got away, but the other two got stuck
Two intruders escaped, but the artist caught the other two.
Hit 'em again
The singer shot the intruders again.
One in the neck, one in the chin
One intruder was shot in the neck, and the other was shot in the chin.
Then called the Law and said I did they ass in
The singer called the police and claimed to have killed the intruders.
OK, you want to play
The artist challenges an unknown person to come and fight them.
You say you know where I stay?
The artist asks if the other person knows where they live.
Well, come today
The singer wants the other person to come fight them today.
Bring yo bad ass on, I'm waitin on ya
The singer is ready to fight the other person.
I got a K wit a motherfuckin' shank on it
The artist has a gun with a bayonet attached to it.
You bitch you
The artist insults the other person.
Say whodie, you won't believe what happened to me
The artist addresses someone named "whodie" and talks about their experience.
A nigga all in my spot, and he askin' for me
Someone came to the singer's place and was looking for them.
See I wouldn't at the spot, but my broad was there
The artist was not at the location, but their partner was.
When she hit me on the phone, it's niggas in there
Their partner called the singer to tell them there were people in the location.
They knocked me off for a bird and my platinum chain
The intruders stole the singer's drugs and jewelry.
Them niggas from round there, they just doin' they thang
The singer knows that the intruders are from the area and are involved in illegal activities.
I respect the game
The artist respects the criminal activities of others.
But they got to respect it, I ain't no hoe ass nigga
The artist wants the intruders to respect them and not think they are weak.
I'm gone take car my business
The singer will handle their issues themselves.
Next day, broad-daylight, rode the track
The singer went to the location the next day during daylight hours.
The first nigga looked suspicious had to get in the back
The artist had to hide in the back when they saw someone who looked suspicious.
(Talking)
The artist begins speaking directly to someone.
Bitch, we ain't straight no mo'
The artist is angry at the person they are speaking to and says they are not okay anymore.
Hoe we used to have fun, we don't play no mo'
The singer used to have fun with the person, but things have changed and they don't play anymore.
Them niggas that you run wit, they kicked in my doe
Someone that the person knows was involved in the break-in.
So I'm gone shoot you in yo face if you don't cough up that dope, bitch
The singer threatens to shoot the person in the face if they don't give them drugs.
This situation is a cold thang
The singer thinks the situation is serious.
I got to explain
The singer needs to explain what happened.
Cause nigga this a cold game
The artist believes that the criminal world is a dangerous one.
I was keeping my pounds at a spot in Raleigh
The artist kept their drugs in a location in Raleigh.
But I was moving them thangs, like they was hot tamales
The singer was selling drugs quickly and efficiently.
Well, hot tamales, I played the cards I was dealt
The singer dealt with the situation in a smart way.
Because I knew befo' long that they'll hang they self
The artist knew the criminals would make a mistake and get caught eventually.
I ain't no fool
The artist is not foolish.
Nigga that's why I play it cool
The artist remains calm and collected in dangerous situations.
I know the shit you will and won't try to do
The singer knows what the other person is capable of and not capable of doing.
But what you came in wit, that's what you left wit (AHH HAA)
The artist took everything the other person had when they left.
Because I'm three steps ahead, it's like you brainless
The singer is smarter than the other person and has thought ahead.
I been fuckin' wit money, I been having birds
The singer has been involved in making money and selling drugs.
I disassociated my self from bad nerves
The singer has separated themselves from dangerous people.
Cause once you under pressure, you'll bust trick
Under pressure, people will make mistakes and reveal information.
And you the type of nigga that I can't trust bitch
The artist does not trust the other person.
And the nigga that went, you just a send-out
The singer dismisses the other person and calls them a "send-out".
I tried to kill yo hoe ass, but you went out, the window, bitch
The singer tried to kill the other person, but they escaped through a window.
Hook
The chorus repeats, challenging the other person to come and fight the artist.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Ladarryies Wesson
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OLD GOTTI
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