You notice the drastic change, but you don't understand why." Next thing you know, we don't have no cars, we don't get new clothes or shoes, no food in the refrigerator. They kicked in everybody's doors at the same time, my grandma's house, my aunties' house, they shut the whole operation down. Then one day the police came in the house," he remembers. "I remember our family, we had Benzes, six, seven cars, lived in nice areas. Both of his parents were hustlers, so were several of his aunts and his older brother. Gotti was introduced to the Memphis underbelly almost from birth. People are going to accept it because it's nothing I'm going through, they haven't gone through or couldn't relate to." It's like you're having conversations on the beat. It's not tough to make em, because they are so real. Records like 'Pride to the Side,' all them personal records are my favorites. My favorite music to me, where I'm best at is where I talk about what I'm going through, shit I seen.
"If you follow my music, you'll know what I like to do. "That's a personal joint," Gotti details. "He gives searing commentary on "Ghetto America,' while "Pride To The Side" details his personal relationships with his girl that led to betrayal and one of his best friends getting addicted to drugs and stealing money. Other hip-hop royalty included on the project is Lil Wayne, who raps "Pray if I ever come out the sky, I'm lightning rod" on "Turnt Up On My Haters.'īut even with the high powered cameos, I Am's most poignant moments come when Gotti is alone, reflecting on his life's hardships. It's that party vibe, that will be an anthem for years to come." Tip is always going deliver, so you know I had to come with my best. 'Going Down,' we just had fun with it, using different flows, riding on the beat. They've been good friends of mine for quite some time and there's always been mutual respect both professionally and personally. "You know, making songs with people like Jeezy and Tip, it's just natural Gotti continues. The high class revilement continues on "Going Down," with Grammy Award winner T.I. When I recorded 'Act Right' I was just in that I ain't turning down for nothin mood "trying to break a record like a DJ" I felt like I was at the club turnt up to the max in every element, swag, bottles, women.just everything. 'Act Right,' can mean whatever you want it to mean really. "This one is the perfect soundtrack for that nightlife," Gotti says with a grin of the record.
West coast rapper, YG is along for the ride as well. The I Am rollout commences with the thunderously thumping club anthem 'Act Right,' which features one of Gotti's closest friends in the industry and multiple time collaborator Jeezy. The other deals I had, the companies weren't on the same page with me so it wasn't worth it." I had a few deals with major labels, it just took me a while to find the right partnership. "All the work I put in, has gotten me to this point where I can elevate my career and the other artists I signed. "I feel good about the partnership with Epic," Gotti says about his joint venture for his CMG imprint. With I Am however, Gotti says he's finally found the perfect partner to distribute his music widely to the world. While some of his peers have basked in the mainstream spotlight with commercial success, the chiseled street King has become the people's champ amassing millions of fans and dollars, largely with his independently released magnum opuses such as the Cocaine Muzik series. In the 13 years since he's started recording professionally, Gotti, has been one of hip-hop's remarkable success stories. I am real, I am a hustler, I am the streets, I am a business man, I am a father, I am a brother, I am success." "I Am is an adlib I started using a few years ago," the Memphis magnate began to explain. This fall he commences a brand new business venture with the release of his CMG/Epic records debut I Am. Yo Gotti has become one of hip-hop's most respected street griots just by doing what he's always done speaking the truth on his records and being relentless with serving his product.