Mario Sentell Giden Mims, known professionally as Yo Gotti is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. In 1996, Gotti released his debut albumYoungsta's On a Come Up under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game, Self-Explanatory, Life, Back 2 da Basics, Live from the Kitchen, I Am, The Art of Hustle, I Still Am and Untrapped.
Career
2000–06: Career beginnings
Mims 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. Between 2000 and 2006, Yo Gotti released a string of independent albums: From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game, Self-Explanatory, Life, and Back 2 da Basics.
2009–12: ''Live from the Kitchen''
After several delays, Yo Gotti released his major label debut studio albumLive From The Kitchen on January 10, 2012. The album's original first single was titled "5 Star" and it was released on May 20, 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 on December 11, 2009. The song peaked at 81 on 100, 22 on the U.S R&B and 12 on the U.S Rap. "Look In the Mirror" was the third single released 7 months after the second single on July 27, 2010. The song peaked at 97 on the U.S R&B chart. Live From The Kitchen debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200, with 16,000 copies sold in its first week of sales in the United States. After three weeks on the chart the album has sold 36,000 copies in the United States. In 2012 due to Gotti's views of the low sales of his debut album he took his departure from RCA Records & Polo Grounds Music. On October 17, 2012, he released the 7th version of his well-known mixtape series Cocaine Muzik entitled Cocaine Muzik 7: The World Is Yours.
2013–present: ''I Am'', ''The Art of Hustle'' and going independent
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. On May 28, 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. On August 22, 2013, he announced the I Am Tour Dates, a tour in promotion of I Am which ran from September 14, 2013, until November 19, 2013, with supporting acts including YG, Zed Zilla, Shy Glizzy and Cash Out. On September 2, 2013, Yo Gotti released the mixtape Nov 19th: 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, 2013, the music video for "King Shit" featuring T.I. was released. "King Shit" has since peaked at five on the US BillboardBubbling 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. On February 1, 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. The album released on February 19, 2016, and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200. The album's lead single "Down in the DM" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. In August 2016, singer Meghan Trainor released "Better" featuring Gotti, as the third single from her second major-label album, Thank You. Gotti closed out 2016 with the announcement of a deal with Jay Z and his Roc Nation label, in partnership with his own CMG imprint. On June 1, 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, has so far peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his highest charting single in the country. "Rake It Up" was later included on his ninth album I Still Am. His tenth album, Untrapped, was released in January 2020 and became Yo Gotti's fourth consecutive top-ten debut on the Billboard 200. It also marked Gotti's fourth and final album with Epic Records. On July 3, 2020, he released his first single as an independent artist, "Recession Proof", on his label CMG. Sophie Caraan of Hypebeast said on the song, "He celebrates his longevity in the music industry, his growth as a businessman and rise as a music exec, boasting his label's lineup that includes the likes of 42 Dugg, Blac Youngsta and Lil Migo, and his management work with Moneybagg Yo and Blocboy JB".
Collective Music Group also known as CMG, formerly known as Cocaine Muzik Group, is a record label founded by Yo Gotti. He currently is at the labels helm as CEO. The labels current president is Yo Gotti's relative, Brandon Mims. The label's first official release was Yo Gotti's sixth studio album I Am. The label released a collective project featuring the whole roster titled Chapter One in 2014.
