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.
Yo Gotti
Yo Gotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m always gon get a nigga up,
Boi, What’s up?
I’m not chasing you or my cup,
I got opps I don’t know about too,
Don’t speak on opposites, so what’s new?
If A Hoe Have A Problem
Yeah them other hoes need your knowledge,
But me, Just gimme the birkin
I can sell the bag, flip the money, get paid,
Dolla fo dolla, I’m smirking.
I - think - You - should - know,
Kymmie done had rich niggas hooked.
Hooked on phonics, he learned me,
and now all of my flights, Booked.
Earned a bachelors degree,
Bachelorette while I study for masters.
I’m on a high level degree,
Running shit cuz I’m the ringmaster.
Bitch better think before she try me,
Cost her life, ain’t no free trial bih,
Only take one slip, and slide, bih.
My - niggas - will let the toy spray, flee!
Now gon handle me?
From Bmore to Memphis Gotti
Another million on the way!
The song is an ode to the feeling of being high - either on drugs or just on life. Throughout the song, the artists compare their feeling of being high to the sensation of flying. This is a common metaphor used by many artists who have experienced the euphoria of drugs or other highs.
The first verse recounts the artist's love of cars and success in putting on for his city. He gives himself over to the feeling of flying high and emphasizes that he is unbothered by those who criticize his lifestyle. In the second verse, he continues to compare himself to things that fly - like mosquitos, and constructs an image of himself as someone who is too cool for school but still willing to be a teacher. He emphasizes the richness of his lifestyle and the consumption of drugs like "purple rain." He is so high that he sees dead people, but he is fine with that.
Throughout the song, Yo Gotti and K. Michelle appear to be embracing the sensation of being high and the freedom that it brings. The lyrics paint a picture of a life of extravagance and indulgence, where the highs are high and the lows are nonexistent.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe I can fly fly fly
The singer believes that he can achieve great heights and accomplishments.
I'm so high
The singer is currently experiencing a euphoric high, either due to drugs or the feeling of success.
Bitch I'm sittin' so high, I believe I can fly
The singer is feeling a strong sense of achievement and confidence, as if he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to.
The coupe looks delicious the rims are waving bye
The singer has a nice car with flashy rims that get attention as he drives past, causing them to appear as if they are waving goodbye.
Cologne Kush and Henny, I'm gone in that Hemi
The singer is high on a combination of cologne, marijuana, and Hennessy liquor while driving his Hemi car.
I'm gold but you don't hear me, four to the dome if you can hear me
The singer feels successful, but believes that others are not giving him the recognition he deserves. He challenges others to try and match his level of success.
They say I need a pull-up when I pull up I'm the shit man
Despite what others may say about him, the singer is confident in his abilities and his status as a successful person.
Your broad done up and broke your heart my whole squad hit man
The singer's group of friends are capable of picking up women who have left or betrayed other men's hearts.
I'm high as the moon and I'm flyer than a mosquito
The singer is feeling a great sense of euphoria and accomplishment, and views himself as superior and unbeatable.
Stacking my chips I got a bank full of Doritos
The singer has a lot of money stored up, represented by a 'bank full of Doritos' (a chip brand), and is continuing to accumulate wealth.
I'm too cool for school so I'm teaching a class
The singer views himself as too successful and cool to attend school, instead seeing himself as someone who should be teaching others.
Rolling off of mac Dre leaning like a triple beam
The singer is high on drugs, and references fellow rapper Mac Dre while also feeling very unsteady, like a scale or beam.
I got the top steady droppin' like record sales
The singer's car's top is lowering like the decreasing sales of records in the music industry.
Choose the fast life I'm the flashy type
The singer enjoys living a fast-paced, flashy lifestyle, and sees himself as someone who stands out in a crowd.
I believe I can lean spite and codeine
The singer expresses confidence in his ability to handle and enjoy drugs like codeine.
That's a hell of a dream I'm a hell of a guy
The singer has big dreams and aspirations, and sees himself as someone who is capable of achieving them.
You can call me g5 cause I be in the clouds
The singer sees himself as a high-flying, exclusive individual, like a private jet (G5).
Somewhere in the club with my clothes smelling loud
The singer is likely in a club or party, wearing clothes with a strong, pungent smell, possibly due to marijuana smoke.
But naw ain't nothing wrong how could he be on rich
The singer doesn't see anything wrong with his lifestyle and financial success, and challenges anyone who may doubt his wealth.
Bitch looked at my whip bitch looked at my wrist
The singer is bragging about his nice car and expensive jewelry, showing them off to women for attention and admiration.
I can change your life grab the credit card and swipe, like see?
The singer believes that he has the financial power to change someone else's life, and is willing to use it to impress others.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Lukhanyo Sitoto, Mario Sentell Giden Mims
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elizabeth Steve
Yo Gotti went all out on this track, and it's a total banger! Regardless of he resorting to authentic views for social media attention, he remains the ultimate GOAT.
xavion Clinton
Brother hard he different respect him to the max🔥🔥💰keep doing what u doing go hard and 🔥💪🏿💪🏿🔥
Chris Pearson
"I'm one em boys, really got it out the kitchen. Digi scale is my award". Now that's hard for real bro!
Matthew Evans
Shout out to all the guys in tdoc doing time at northwest river bend on max and all the solid ones that keep the culture alive
Erica Quinta
Shit fyre 🔥
BeyBey
🗣📢 👑Yo Gotti Spitting Nothing But That Fire🔥☄🔥On The Mic 🎙Tough👌All Gas ⛽ & No MF🤬 Breaks 🛑Turn Up🔈🔉🔊🎚& Let It BangBang👌👊💪✨️🥂✨️405⚔️Midwest City, Oklahoma♥️🏁My Ninja🥷⚔️🛡Warrior247👌👊💪Showing Much Love ❤️ To Yo Gotti👑 ✨️🥂✨️From My City To Your City 💯🫡☠️❤️🏁💯🎯
Jayian Mauian
I'm a bit skeptical about buying duplication sacks, but kislux totally blew me away. The attention to detail is incredible and the craftsmanship is impressive. The prices are so reasonable that one can't help but want to be extravagant.
C MONEY GAME
🔥🔥🔥🔥
DJOnTheTrack
This hard AF 🔥🔥🔥
Shaterra Williams
🔥🔥🔥 my guy never miss