Yo Gotti - Life
Reviewed By: ULTIMATECDLINK
Album Rate: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Yo Gotti was born and raised in Frayser located in North Memphis & grew up listening to pioneers like 8Ball & MJG, Al Kapone, Three 6 Mafia, & Skinny Pimp. He hustled his 2 underground albums around town & developed a reputation as the hottest underground rapper in Memphis. Now on TVT Records, his third release "Life" features Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Lil Flip, Lil Jon, Nakia Shine, Jack Frost, & more.
1. Intro-- this track has a nice midtempo beat. Yo Gotti drops a few bars about how he came up in the M-town listening to Three 6 Mafia, how he hooked up with Mista Ian, and now he's ballin with his Block Burnin Records label. The verse that caused controversy among Memphis rap fans was "The King of Memphis? You trippin, give me the fuckin crown" because many saw this as a diss to DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia. Very nice intro track which just gives you a taste of what's to come on the album.
2. All I Ever Wanted (f/ Nakia Shine)-- this track has a tight gangstafied beat with deep basslines. Yo Gotti raps about hustlin and slangin that dope in the neighborhoods. Nice catchy hook by Nakia Shine, the CEO of Rap Hustlaz goes "all I ever wanted to do was live the life - money, drugs, cars, clothes, hoes - bricks, pints, pounds of dro fa sho - a young nigga livin now I suppose you know". Another fire track that is setting the bar higher and higher for the album.
3. Sell My Dope-- this track was one of the singles released to Memphis radio stations and actually continues to get a lot of airplay. The tempo of the rappin by Yo Gotti will have ya bobbin ya head to this catchy ass track. The hook will be stuck in your head once you hear it "I'mma sell my dope can't trust no bitch - pop my whip break bread with my click." Another tight song.
4. Dirty South Soldiers (f/ Lil Jon)-- this track was actually the first single released off the album and managed to chart on Billboard singles chart which is very impressive. There is that signature Lil Jon production sound on this one with the snappin snares and that trademarked Lil Jon yell "We some Dirty South Soldiers - bitch get ya mind right". Another fire track that is a club favorite around town.
5. Reppin North Memphis-- this track has a simple Beastie Boys-like beat. Yo Gotti comes alright on this one but nothing like the previous tracks on the album. The hook is a simple "We reppin North Memphis - posse up". It's bumpable but like I said, not nearly as good as the first 4 songs.
6. Str8 From Da North-- this track has a laid back bassline along with a zippity beat mixed in with the soulful crooning "back when you str8 from the North". Yo Gotti flows pretty nicely on this one while reppin his hood of North Memphis.
7. Get Down (f/ Lil Flip)-- this track samples the classic song "Jungle Boogie". Yo Gotti rips the song again while Lil Flip does a nice job on the mic as well. If you enjoy Lil Flip's elementary style of rap, you'll like this song.
8. After I Fuck Ya Bitch-- this track has a beat similar to Trillville's "Neva Eva" single off of Lil Jon's BME label. The song title says it all. Yo Gotti raps about how he's gonna fuck ya bitch and then tell ya about it. Decent song worth givin a listen to.
9. Entering The Game-- this track has a tight bassline, Indian flute, and hi-hat beat. Yo Gotti comes tight on the mic about how hard it is to get in the rap game because he can't his songs played on radio and people wanna hold him down. The hook goes "all I ever wanted to do was - get in the game make some music like you - but these niggas try to baller block". Tight song.
10. Life (f/ Erika Kane)-- this track has a midtempo brass and snare bassline beat. The female R&B hook goes "take a look at my life and see what I see".
Basically, Yo Gotti raps about how hard it had it growin up in North Memphis with the gang bangers and the hustlers and how everything has changed now that he's made it in the rap game. Very tight song.
11. 9 To 5-- this track has a beat similar to "Dirty South Soldiers" except this has some old school mixin and scratchin in it. Yo Gotti lays down his verses about trying to hold down a 9 to 5 job instead of hustlin on the block but it doesn't work out. The hook goes "I tried me a 9 to 5 but even worse - put my trust in a bitch and end up gettin hurt." Nice song.
12. Breakaman (f/ Nakia Shine)-- this track has a slower piano laced beat with pounding basslines. Very slow delivery from both Yo Gotti and Nakia Shine about their girls that was down with them when they were still hustlin before they hit the big time on the rap tip and how they end up tryin to take their money once they start ballin from the rap game. One of my favorite tracks on the album. Even Nakia Shine comes through with a decent verse in my opinion.
13. Shake It-- this track has a futuristic space age pimpin beat. It's a club type song although a bit slower than your typical party shaker. It has more of a slow dancehall or reggae vibe to it. Probably one of my least favorite songs on the album. Thank goodness it's the shortest song as well.
14. Look At Old Girl-- this track takes it old school by playing on the elementary school song "she got the whole world in her hands" by flippin it to "she got the whole world in her pants". This track has a bouncy beat that samples DJ Jimi's classic song that goes "pop that thang girl". It's a decent song worth givin a listen to.
15. On Da Grind-- this track has another space age pimpin beat with lots of sound effects mixed in. Yo Gotti raps about how his mother kicked him out of the house after she found out he was hustlin on the streets. Now he's gotta find out where to go and how to get the money he owes people. The song could be better but still decent nonetheless.
16. U Understand-- this track has a nice island-like midtempo beat and deep basslines. Yo Gotti drops some nice flows on this one about those weak ass niggas and just life on the streets in general. The hook goes "I got them choppers u understand - fuckin around with us we burn ya block up ya understand - fuck what ya heard we got them birds u understand - come and shop with us if u ain't scared u understand?". A tight track definitely worth checkin out.
17. Mr. Tell It-- this track has a keyboard and hi-hat stutterin type beat with cell phone rings mixed in. Yo Gotti comes tight on the mic but the beat wasn't really doin much for me. Perhaps the same flows over a different beat would do wonders for the song.
18. Dirty South Soldiers (Rap Hustlaz remix)(f/ Lil Jon, Nakia Shine, & Jack Frost)-- this track has the same beat and hook as the original "Dirty South Soldiers" w/ Lil Jon but with a few new verses from the Rap Hustlaz crew. Otherwise, it is the exact same song. Nakia Shine's lazy flow is probably the lowlight of the song but otherwise, it's a step up from the original version.
19. Pop Kone (f/ Nakia Shine)-- Nakia Shine starts the song off with a little talkin. Pop Kone is about hustlin and slangin in the streets and just that baller lifestyle in general. Nakia Shine lays down a verse about ballin on 24's and gettin the record deal with TVT Records. Nice song to end the album off with.
Overall, the production by Yo Gotti, Lil Jon, Slice T, Nakia Shine, Dre Day, & the Drum Squad is top notch throughout the album. Although this is Yo Gotti's third album, it is a major step up from his previous releases. You can see the maturity on this one and shows that Yo Gotti is on the verge of becoming a huge star if he hooked up with the right record label and got the right promotion. His unique M-town flow takes some getting used to if you've never heard him before but he is quickly becoming one of the hottest rappers in Memphis today.
The top half of the album is definitely better than the back half of the album but overall, it is one of the better albums out of Memphis in 2003. A bonus DVD comes with the album gives you a behind the scenes look at the Rap Hustlaz crew. Definitely a CD worth pickin up. Be on the lookout for this rising star in the future.
Yo Gotti - Life