To me everybody say Jook the gangster gotti just the rapper
I was living in Memphis in the 2002-03 school year, I was in 8th grade. I can't remember the radio station, but there used to be a morning show there called "Mike Evans In The Morning". That same radio station, during this same year, is around the time Yo Gotti debuted as a rapper...
I remember hearing Gotti on this segment they would do on Friday nights (I think it was Friday) pushing new Memphis artists. And back then there was a website called "memphisrap.com" that had a bunch of music from around the city. So I was aware of Gotti as early as 2002, right when he first started bubbling locally...
Ridgecrest where Gotti is from, is literally maybe 5 minutes from this block we went to church on:
Building
maps.app.goo.gl
This church used to have a different name 20+ years ago, and this was a time my mom was in a religious phase, she was the secretary at this church and (possibly, she'll never confirm it) she was in an affair with the married pastor of this church. So we were at this church and on this strip alot, the main avenue up the road called "Range Line Rd" used to be called "Hollywood Blvd" and there's a Church's Chicken we would hang out at, like it was a corner store...
We were from South Memphis, me and everyone my mom was related to or affiliated with, at this church in North Memphis. Every other kid we went to church with was from the neighborhood, including Ridgecrest. And my brother and I were 13 & 14 during this year, so we and other teens at that church were up to a bunch of sneaky shyt, not just sitting in pews, we weren't in the choir or ushers or nothing, we were just always there because our (step)mom worked there. We were tryna fukk and smoke and hang out and do a bunch of teenage shyt...
I'm giving this backdrop to illustrate that I'm familiar with not only the neighborhood Gotti from, I remember when he first started gaining attention locally, and for several years thereafter I followed his career. We knew kids that knew who he was. And he woulda been around 21-22 during the time I became aware of him...
I would say I was never a huge fan of Memphis rappers or Memphis rap in general, but Gotti was probably my favorite Memphis artist. As it stands now I haven't listened to a Gotti drop since maybe 2010. But he was my favorite local rapper for a few years of my youth, and I spent plenty of time in Memphis in years thereafter...
Gotti was a dealer from his section, I legit never even heard any assertions of him as this tough guy in any form, until the public issues with he and Dolph circa 2016-17. Nobody I knew back in the day viewed Gotti as a tough guy, but money changes people and it also changes people's perceptions of you...
He a street guy who came up dealing, was never at no major level but he wasn't a nobody. People in that Hollywood/Ridgecrest/Frayser region knew who he was...
Now I don't know anything about Jook, at the age I was around there and into Gotti I was into the rapper and the music. He may have always been the man behind the music but 13-14 year old me wasn't interested in faces behind the music and when I was a little older I was into my own shyt and not interested in anyone else's dirt. But Gotti was definitely a name in his section...
That’s just some bytch shyt
Where I’m from is small and everybody grew up with each other…when we got older, sides started forming and beefs took place…a few nikkas died…the homeboys of the deceased are currently cool with the killers/homeboys of the killers….nikkas cool with nikkas that shot them
Maybe I’m different because I’m a grudge holder and not an ass kisser, but I could never be cool or cordial with someone I was once at bloody war at…fighting is one thing…once lives get lost blood gets spilled, that’s a forever thing for me
It doesn’t have to be an eternal war, you can grow up and realize the shyt ain’t worth it, but we gonna have to agree to disagree with each other and move on…not hang out laughing and kickin it like you ain’t try to blow my head off a few years ago
Absolutely not
And this is another reason why I stay to myself and outta shyt…cause with my pride I’d crash out like a mf…I’m talkin bout going on a killing spree…I’ve visualized it…mapped out every detail in my head…numerous times
But how would my mama and kids feel with me being on death row
So I chill
But that being cool with nikkas who shot at, shot, and or killed ppl close to you is pure p*ssy shyt
I wouldn't say it's bytch shyt, shyt changes people in different ways...