2000–2006: Career beginnings Gotti grew up in Ridgecrest Apartments in the
Frayser neighborhood of
Memphis, Tennessee. He began his music career around the age of 14, rapping as Lil Yo, affiliated with DJ Sound and his crew.
2009–2012: Live from the Kitchen Yo Gotti released his major label debut studio album
Live from the Kitchen in January 2012, after several delays. "
5 Star", the album's original first single, was released in May 2009. The single peaked at 79 on the Hot 100, 19 on U.S R&B and 11 on U.S Rap. "
Women Lie, Men Lie" featuring
Lil Wayne, the album's second single, was released in December 2009. The song peaked at 81 on 100, 22 on the U.S R&B and 12 on the U.S Rap. The song peaked at 97 on the U.S R&B chart. After three weeks on the chart, the album had sold 36,000 copies in the United States. In 2012, due to Gotti's views following the low sales of his debut album, he left
RCA Records and
Polo Grounds Music. He released the 7th version of his well-known mixtape series
Cocaine Muzik, titled
Cocaine Muzik 7: The World Is Yours, in October 2012.
2013–present: I Am, The Art of Hustle, Untrapped and CM10: Free Game In early 2013, Gotti announced that he and his label
CMG had been signed to a distribution deal with
Epic Records from longtime business partner
L.A. Reid. In May 2013, Yo Gotti announced that his sixth studio album would be titled
I Am. The first single from his sixth studio album
I Am is titled "Act Right" and features
Young Jeezy and
YG. The song debuted at #5 on the
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and at #39 on the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. As of September 21, it has peaked at #100 on the Hot 100, making it Gotti and YG's third Hot 100 entry, #33 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #24 on the
Rap Songs chart. In July 2013, it was announced that the album would be released on November 19, 2013. In August 2013, he announced the
I Am Tour Dates, a tour in promotion of
I Am which ran from September 14 until November 19, 2013, with supporting acts including
YG, Zed Zilla, Shy Glizzy and
Cash Out. In September 2013, Yo Gotti released the mixtape
Nov 19: The Mixtape in promotion for the album. On October 7, 2013, the album's second official single "King Shit" featuring
T.I. was sent to
mainstream urban radio in the United States. On October 15, the music video for "King Shit" featuring T.I. was released. "King Shit" peaked at five on the US
Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. On October 27, 2013, Yo Gotti premiered the album's third single, "Cold Blood" featuring rapper
J. Cole and Canei Finch. In February 2016, Yo Gotti released the official cover art for both the standard and deluxe versions of
The Art of Hustle, and the release date of the album. Released on February 19, 2016, the album peaked at number 4 on the
Billboard 200. The album's lead single "
Down in the DM", featuring
Nicki Minaj on the remix, peaked at number 13 on the
Billboard Hot 100. Gotti closed out 2016 with the announcement of a deal with
Jay-Z and his
Roc Nation label, in partnership with his own CMG (Collective Music Group) imprint. In June 2017, Gotti released a collaborative mixtape with record producer
Mike Will Made It, titled
Gotti Made-It. The mixtape's lead single, "
Rake It Up" featuring Nicki Minaj, peaked at number 8 on the
Billboard Hot 100 and became his highest charting single in the country. The album features
Megan Thee Stallion,
Lil Uzi Vert,
Rick Ross,
Ty Dolla Sign, and
Moneybagg Yo, among others. It was Gotti's fourth and final album under the initial
Epic Records contract. In September 2021, Yo Gotti announced that he had become co-owner of the
Major League Soccer franchise
D.C. United. He explained that he saw its growth over the years after being introduced to the game by his son. It was eventually released in February 2022. It is a double-disc album, consisting of the discs: "Free" and "Game". == Personal life ==