From College Girls to College Funds:
3 Questions With Yo Gotti
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Yo
Gotti was raised in Memphis’ notorious Ridge Crest Projects and the
rapper’s music was born out of his hometown’s soul, rock, blues and rap
vibe. “Memphis is known for soul,” says Gotti. “That’s why you’re going
to hear a lot of soul and pain in music.” Since elbowing his way onto
the music scene independently with 2000’s From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game,
Gotti has carved out his own career path by staying true to himself and
his art. As he readies his next release, the DJ Drama-hosted Cocaine
Muzik II, ro got Yo Gotti’s take on …
Respect — how do you define it?
Break bread with your team. If you’re eating and nobody else is eating,
how do you expect them to be real with you? And you’ve gotta respect
everybody. I respect a ten-dollar n—- just like a million dollar
n—-; everybody who works for me gets the same respect.
How is life on the road?
I always like a college city, college city — college girls! We went to
Chattanooga, [Tenn.] did a show there, and didn’t leave. I mean we
stayed there for a week [at] different dorms every night. They had four
rooms in a dorm and we just moved to a new dorm every day.
What does fatherhood mean to you?
Kids settled [me] down. Before I had kids, I was a little wilder. You
watch how you spend your money — a lot of things are different. When
you’ve got kids, you have something else to live for.
Gotti
says he’s grateful for his success, but the rapper born Mario Mims
never forgets where he’s from. “Can’t no amount of money make me not be
a real person,” he says. “I [couldn’t] live with it. Be a real person
with yourself first, no matter what.” –todd williams
