Yo Gotti has become one ofhip-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 hisproduct. This fall he commences a brand new business venture with the releaseof his CMG/Epic records debut I Am.

“I Am is an adlibI started using a few years ago,” the Memphis magnate began to explain. “Itfits perfectly. 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.”

In the 13 years since he’s started recording professionally,Gotti, has been one of hip-hop’s remarkable success stories. While some of hispeers have basked in the mainstream spotlight with commercial success, thechiseled street King has become the people’s champ; amassing millions of fansand dollars, largely with his independently released magnum opuses such as the Cocaine Muzik series. With I Am however, Gotti says he’s finallyfound the perfect partner to distribute his music widely to the world.

“I feel good about the partnership with Epic,” Gotti saysabout his joint venture for his CMG imprint. “All the work I put in, has gottenme to this point where I can elevate my career and the other artists I signed. Ihad a few deals with major labels, it just took me a while to find the rightpartnership. The other deals I had, the companies weren’t on the same page withme so it wasn’t worth it.”

The I Am rolloutcommences with the thunderously thumping club anthem ‘Act Right,’ whichfeatures one of Gotti’s closest friends in the industry and multiple time collaboratorJeezy. West coast rapper, YG is along for theride as well.

“This one is the perfect soundtrack for that nightlife,”Gotti says with a grin of the record. “I felt it was great to launch my album.‘Act Right,’ can mean whatever you want it to mean really. When I recorded 'Act Right' I was just inthat I ain't turning down for nothin mood "trying to break a record like aDJ" I felt like I was at the club turnt up to the max in every element,swag, bottles, women....just everything. It’s a feel good party record!”

The high class revilement continues on “Going Down,” withGrammy Award winner T.I.

“You know, making songs with people like Jeezy and Tip, it’sjust natural Gotti continues. They’ve been good friends of mine for quite sometime and there’s always been mutual respect both professionally and personally.‘Going Down,’ we just had fun with it, using different flows, riding on thebeat. Tip is always going deliver, so you know I had to come with my best. It’sthat party vibe, that will be an anthem for years to come.”

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 MyHaters.’

But even with the high powered cameos, I Am’s most poignant moments come when Gotti is alone, reflectingon his life’s hardships. “He gives searing commentary on “Ghetto America,’while “Pride To The Side” details his personal relationships with his girl thatled to betrayal and one of his best friends getting addicted to drugs andstealing money.

“That’s a personal joint,” Gotti details. “If you follow mymusic, you’ll know what I like to do. My favorite music to me, where I’m best atis where I talk about what I’m going through, shit I seen. Records like ‘Prideto the Side,’ all them personal records are my favorites. It’s not tough to make em, because they are so real. It’slike you’re having conversations on the beat. It’s real life. Straight like that. People aregoing to accept it because it’s nothing I’m going through, they haven’t gonethrough or couldn’t relate to.”

Gotti was introduced to the Memphis underbelly almost frombirth. Both of his parents were hustlers, so were several of his aunts and hisolder brother. He later followed in their footsteps.

“I remember our family, we had Benzes, six, seven cars,lived in nice areas. Then one day the police came in the house,” he remembers.“I was in second grade. They kicked in everybody’s doors at the same time, mygrandma’s house, my aunties’ house, they shut the whole operation down. Like25, 30 people’s houses. Next thing you know, we don’t have no cars, we don’tget new clothes or shoes, no food in the refrigerator. You notice the drasticchange, but you don’t understand why.”

With most of his family in jail, and the remaining members struggling,the then youngster would find himself in the streets as a time to provide forhis household. Slowly however, Gotti began to gravitate towards music,especially when he saw he could make music from it. In 2000, he released hisfirst LP From The Dope Game To the RapGame. Five years later, he got a production deal from Cash Money Records tobring new talent to the label. Meeting Cash Money’s Birdman, was a lifealtering experience, because it was then that it clicked that you can becomewealthy from rap music. In 2012, Gotti released his first ever major label LP, Live From The Kitchen through PoloGrounds/RCA, , but soon decided to split ways with the company after his albumwas under shipped which resulted in an outrage from fans not being albe to findthe album in common outlets. "I believe that if you're not doing businessin good faith that it’s best to move on".

He chronicles his journey both with illegal and legallifestyle on “Been Through It All.”