“Motherfuckers get down in Memphis,” Gotti says later over a McDonald’s Value Meal at his office, which is just blocks away from the arena. “If the club banging, you gotta get in and get out, ’cause it may be you getting hit.”
And Gotti should know. He’s Memphis born, bred, and raised, after all. The proud product of the city’s infamous north side, Mario Mims, 24, or “Yo” for short, cut his gold teeth damn near a decade ago spitting tongue-twisting verses on mixtapes from DJ Sound, a popular neighborhood DJ. His distinctive sandpaper flow is shaped by the dark sounds of hometown heroes 8Ball & MJG, Three 6 Mafia, and Kingpin Skinny Pimp (they call it buck - imagine crunk’s rapping evil twin). Gotti’s had deals signed and lost, and he’s had beef with the Memphis triple threat, but all the struggles have only heightened his appeal in the M. “Gotti is to Memphis what Jeezy is to Atlanta,” says Devin Steel, program director of Memphis radio station K97. “Rapping about the dope game is hot right now, so he’s right on time.”
Now that Memphis is finally getting a second look, thanks to the MTV Films-produced hit Hustle & Flow, Yo Gotti is ready to make the first serious push for the M-town since Three 6 tore the club up. His TVT debut, Back 2 da Basics, is led by the grinding single “Full Time” (which makes an appearance in the flick) and features 8Ball and Bun B and production by former Bad Boy Hitman and Memphis native Carlos Broady. “We were always here, starving and ready to come up, but we never really got the recognition,” says Gotti before calling it a night. “Now this shit is opening up, and Memphis is just waiting for me to do what I’m supposed to do with it.” So crank it up and guard your grill.
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Comments
1.
kasha says:
yo gotti is right....and he is the KING OF MEMPHIS so lets not hate on that.
October 29, 2007 at 12:59 pm
2.
DaRealest says:
Maine 4get Lil Wyte He Ain't Nobody Compared ta My Boy Yo Gotti And Naw I Ain't Hatin' On Lil Wyte Cuz He Doin His Thang But Yo Gotti Gon 4Eva B Da King Of Memphis And Yall Can Talk Smack All Yall Want 2 Cuz Homie Real Gon Recognize Real!!!!!!!!!I Got All This Mane CD'z He Da S**T Weather Yall Blowpops Like It Or Not!!!!!Yea I Rep Da Westside But Uma Yo Gotti Junky And He Da Best Rapper Alive 4Get Lil Wayne And Jay-z Cuz Yall Muzik Barely Get played Ova here N Los Angeles Atleast Dem Radio Stations Bump Yo Gotti Atleast 6 Timez A Day!!!!!!And 4 Yall Who Think Lil Wyte Betta Than Yo Gotti At Least Gotti Album N Stores EveryWhere U Go Cuz I Don't C Nunna Lil Wyte Album N Stores Ova Her!!!!!!Keep Doin Yo Thang Gooti Cuz Nobody Ain't Touchin' U Nephew!!!!!3 6 Mafia Need Ta Sit Down Sumwhere 2 maine!!!!!And Yo Gotti I Luv Yo Latest Video **That's What's Up**!!!!
**LA,California Allday Homie**
Dats All We Bang Is Yo Gotti,Snoop Dogg,Eazy E,Young Jeezy,And 50 Cent Where I'm From** Cuz I'm Straight Outta Compton Nephew**
June 13, 2007 at 10:58 pm
3.
Tony Clyde says:
Yeah Yo Gotti bumpin, but look out fa dat n**** President A.C., MYSPACE.COM/PRESIDENTAC, he be bumpin wit V-Slash whos under Gotti, check him out
April 16, 2007 at 12:24 am
4.
Laporche Stallion says:
I love yo gotti
April 15, 2007 at 4:32 pm
5.
D. TaylorMade says:
Yo Gotti I Grew up On Three six I been bumpin Underground three six Since 1999 I Cut for Three six and You. Im An Emerging producer 19 yo in H-town currently. Im a military brat and my unique sounding beats will fa sho make ya head bump. I have a special TRAK FOR YOU AND TriPPLE SIX
April 12, 2007 at 3:27 pm
6.
SHUN says:
dis yo gurl shun and i am so in luv wit u boo. my man he doesnt like your music but so i luv u im 16 from bama
that's wats up.
call me 1334 559-3946
March 21, 2007 at 11:25 am
7.
bullet head says:
What the f**k do you mean Gotti is the 2nd hardest repper to Lil wyte. what the f**k wrong with you? Even though he aint sayin he the king no more, Gotti's the motha f**kin truth. I been bumpin that niggas shit since he started. He's the coldest period. and he really do the shit he say he do he aint like them hunkies wit money three 6.
March 2, 2007 at 2:59 pm
8.
shandreca says:
yo gotti is the #1 boy alive dat i like he is so cute with a stunner voice. i like dat song shawty see me yo gotti say wats up wanna f**k me dats wats up holla
lov diamond princess
January 25, 2007 at 7:52 am
9.
shandreca says:
i love yo gotti so much the first time i heard his cd i fell in love with that voice and that's wuts up holla.
love shandreca from the opelika, al 334
January 17, 2007 at 10:37 am
10.
lashunda morrow says:
Yo Gotti is the best rapper of all times. I just can't get enough of him. He is the finnest man alive and thatz wut up!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 9, 2007 at 9:36 am
11.
amanda says:
yo gotti iz tha coldest period it dont get no betta thatz y he iz called tha muthaf**kin thuf cuz thatz exactly wut he iz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n thatz wut up
January 8, 2007 at 10:37 pm
12.
Dion Branch says:
yo gotti iz da 2nd hardest rapper outta m-town,lil wyte,iz da 1st,but u iz rael cool cause u went from da dope game 2 da rap game!!!And dats da hoodest u can get comin' out da projects like project pat said "i was raised in da projects"i was too!!!!!!!!
December 27, 2006 at 10:34 am