YO GOTTI from Memphis, USA | Interviews

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YO GOTTI from Memphis, USA

(5 Votes)

Written by Jai Boo

Friday, 08 January 2010 00:00

YoGottipic1

Memphis rapper Yo Gotti has been called ‘The next Jeezy’. This ex street hustler has the ability to translate real life situations and experience into his music and has been labelled one of the hottest rappers in the streets.

You hail from Memphis home of artists like 8Ball and MJG, Three 6 Mafia, Playa Fly, Lord Infamous etc. Can you tell us what was it like as a young kid growing up in Memphis?
I grew up in North Memphis; it was like typical hood life like anywhere in America. I grew up listening to all the people you just mentioned.

Being a young hustler on the streets how and why did you make the transition from a hustler to a rapper?
It’s the same, you know what I mean? You approach it everyday in the same way. You turn one dollar into two, a thousand into two, whatever. It’s the same drive you’re up early, go to sleep late, It’s the same hustle. When the door opens to make the switch you just got to make sure that you make the switch.

After a self-created buzz you got signed to TVT Records how did that come about and what releases did you have out through TVT?
I put out a CD called ‘Back 2 Da Basics’ through TVT. How that came about was I did a record called ‘Shawty’ and it got real hot. That time I was hustling when they offered me the deal, I don’t think I got the right legal people involved. I just looked at it like it was a better situation than what I was doing in the street at that time, so I just done it anyway. Later I found out that it could have been the worst sh*t I have ever done!

Really!! Well, now you got a new deal with your company Inevitable Entertainment and Polo Grounds Music/J Records. After TVT went bankrupt did it take you long to get a new deal, how did the deal with Polo Grounds/J Records come about?It was simple really when TVT went bust another company had my contract and they gave me the opportunity to buy myself out of the contract for like $500,000 so after I dealt with that I was a free agent again. Then came J Records and Polo Grounds and we started a negotiation and created a new team to work with.

Let’s talk about the new album ‘Live from the Kitchen’ what kind of concepts can we expect to hear from Yo Gotti on there?
It’s all reality music you know what I mean? Real life, things I have done and things I’ve seen things that are close around me. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be similar to a lot of people’s lives who have come from the same lifestyle that I come from. Of course there’s also the club music to make you feel good that you can party to.

Why did you call the album ‘Live from the Kitchen’?
The kitchen is where you prepare a meal and put the recipes together. So, you know no matter what you’re doing you got that whole plan you got that whole recipe.

I see you’ve hooked up with Trina, Nicky Minaj and Gucci Mane for the single ‘5 Star Chick’ can you tell us about that track?
Yeah ‘5 Star Chick’ was a record I put out to create a real street buzz before I dropped the real single. It done way past the expectation of what we expected it would do. We came back with the remix with Gucci and Nicky Minaj and Trina.

Who else features on the album and when will it be released?
We got Rick Ross on there we got Lil Wayne, that’s all I’ve got on album but as far as my team I got All Star and Zed Zilla. The album should be out the first quarter of 2010.

How many albums have you released so far?
I’ve had four albums out so far. ‘From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game’, ‘Self-Explanatory’, ‘Life’ and ‘Back 2 Da Basics’. I can’t even count how many mixtapes I’ve put out!

In times where some artists are struggling to sell their albums you’ve strived through these times putting out so many mixtapes, what do you think has made you gain so much success?
You got to stay consistent and that’s what mixtapes are for, where you’re able to give away 15 – 20 songs per month. Other rappers are holding onto their songs, I’m flooding the market. If you’re out of sight you’re out of mind. Mixtapes are a big promotional tool if you’ve got a following. When I do a mixtape I got people waiting on the material, I know it’s not going to waste because I got a fanbase of people waiting already.

You’re also the CEO of Inevitable Entertainment and one of your artists called All Star is signed to Cash Money/Universal. Do you think that you’ll want to concentrate more on being a CEO and an Entrepreneur like someone like Master P than being a rapper?
I like to be the businessman more so than a rapper, I just happen to know how to rap! (Laughs) If I could stay at home and be with my kids and make money, I’d rather do that!

What other artists are on your roster?
All Star and new artist Zed Zilla, myself and Zed Zilla are releasing a mixtape called ‘Cocaine Muzik volume 4: Gangsta Grillz’ with DJ Drama, that should be out this month.

Will this mixtape bridge the gap before you drop your album?
Yeah I’m dropping this then ‘Cocaine Muzik Volume 4.5’ that will be out before the album.

Yo Gotti thanks for taking the time out to do the interview what plans do you have for 2010?
I’ll be just staying in the studio and working with Zed Zilla and All Star and continue to stay consistent.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?
My New Year resolution is smash on these f***ers! (Laughs)

Interview by Jai Boo
www.myspace.com/jaiboowolftown

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