And who mjight this troubador be, all ye political junkies? We don’t have 64 silver dollars to offer for a right answer, but we will appreciate your acumen, if that’s a help. (And don’t say we don’t offer a few fun facts once in a while!)
Month: November 2013
It’s been more than a decade since North Memphis-bred lyricist Yo Gotti dropped his underground debut album From Da Dope Game to The Rap Game. And the artistic growth that he’s managed to acquire over the years following its release manifests significantly on his sixth album, I Am.
Gotti refrains from switching up the formula that’s gained him popularity in the past on the album; the tales of street life, being one of the most authentic spitters in the rap game, and enjoying the spoils of hard labor are all present on I Am. But there is a sense of growth in Gotti’s perspective on life as well as his ear for production.
On the album’s opening track and namesake, “I Am,” Gotti reminisces on his rags to riches story of going from dope-peddling in Memphis to generating millions from his words. “I used to save pennies, now I stay next door to Penny Hardaway,” Gotti spits on the song. He also uses the track to reveal the meaning behind the album’s moniker: “I am the struggle. I am the hustle. I am the city. I’m the pot in the kitchen.”
“Don’t Come Around” is a well-crafted song that features singer Kendall Morgan. On the song’s first verse, Gotti drops bars about both the respect and disloyalty that comes with being a prosperous street hustler. However, he takes a different approach on the song’s second verse, requesting the attention of young women wrapped up in social media. “Half-naked pictures but you’re looking for a gentleman,” Gotti says, alluding to how the image that ladies portray online can potentially have a detrimental effect.
Elements of The Luniz’ “I Got 5 On It” are incorporated in the beat of the Rich Homie Quan-featured “I Know.” And “Sorry” finds Gotti sending a sarcastic apology to those he’s offended or hurt with his candid, nonchalant attitude.
One of the album’s best records is the Meek Mill-assisted “F-U.” Over a bass-filled beat perfect for any set of subwoofers, the two artists deliver hard-hitting flows in an I-don’t-give-a-damn fashion.
Gotti opens up about the complicated relationship he shares with his child’s mother on “Pride To The Side.” He also addresses a childhood friend that he hustled with who resorted to using the product they were selling on the song.
I Am is Gotti’s first release under Epic Records, which is also home to his CMG imprint. The project’s cover art displays Gotti standing in front of a group of men wielding signs that state things like “I Am Memphis,” “I Am The Struggle,” “I Am The Streets,” and “I Am Real.” The cover art pays homage to the Memphis Sanitation workers who went on strike in 1968; many of the workers held signs that stated “I Am a Man” while they protested.
Another highlight on I Am is “Cold Blood,” which features a verse from thriving lyricist J. Cole and a heartfelt chorus from Canei Finch. Gotti and Cole both spit stories about underprivileged youth who fall victim to crime-filled lifestyles over a soulful track that samples The 24-Carat Black’s “Poverty’s Paradise.”
Other solid records include the Ne-Yo and Wale-assisted song, “Respect That You Earn,” which questions ladies who demand respect but carry themselves in an unclassy manner; the bass-ridden record “Die A Real Nigga”; and the Bay Area-influenced “Act Right,” which features Jeezy and Y.G.
Gotti’s transition from dominating the underground rap circuit to enjoying mainstream success with hits like “5 Star” and “Men Lie, Women Lie” convey that hard work pays off. And he continues to utilize the very same work ethic that’s brought him to this point in his career on his latest project. Although Gotti doesn’t sway too far from his usual topics on the album, he doesn’t display any signs of decline creatively either. After more than 10 years in the game, Gotti still has the ability to provide listeners with quality music and this is evident with I Am.
Show information: On Thursday, November 28th, Yo Gotti will be performing at Minglewood Hall (1555 Madison). The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information, contact 901-312-6058 or visit minglewoodhall.com
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Memphis Pummels Nicholls State, 98-59
Frank Murtaugh reports on the Tigers’ trouncing of hapless Nicholls State.
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Tigers 98, Nicholls 59
Tonight’s game at FedExForum offered the Tigers a chance to shake the stink off, four days after a drubbing at Oklahoma State changed the citywide view of where the 2013-14 team is heading. With the words “course correction” in the air, Memphis raced out to a 21-8 lead over the game’s first nine minutes and cruised to its second win of the season and final game before next weekend’s Old Spice Classic in Orlando.
“I deserve to be criticized after our performance Tuesday night,” said Memphis coach Josh Pastner after the game. “I knew [our team] would hear a lot of things this week. And I want to take as much of the heat as possible. We’re grateful for the coverage we get; that’s part of the territory.”
“We didn’t play Oklahoma State tonight,” Pastner added. “I recognize that. This was more about us, and course correction.”
- Larry Kuzniewski
- Austin Nichols
Freshman Austin Nichols led the Tigers with 20 points in 24 minutes, hitting nine of 15 field goal attempts. He was one of four native Memphians to reach double figures, with Joe Jackson adding 18 (hitting 14 of 15 from the free-throw line), Chris Crawford 11, and freshman Nick King 12 (despite missing nine of 13 free throws). Michael Dixon (alas, a native of Kansas City) added 16 points and hit all three of his three-point attempts despite suffering a nasty scratch to his left eye early in the game.
The Tigers got to the foul line 50 times (Nicholls committed 37 fouls), but made only 31. They shared the ball well, though, picking up 22 assists on their 31 made field goals.
With 16 points, Jeremy Smith was the only Colonel to reach double digits. Nicholls has lost its first four games of the season, while the Tigers are now 2-1.
When asked if focus was difficult against an inferior opponent, Crawford insisted the Tigers’ veterans made sure it was not. “When you’re older, you know how important it is for you to stay focused, locked in,” he said. “You can’t let up; gotta finish. If we execute and do our job, we’ll win.”
Memphis outrebounded Nicholls, 48-34, Shaq Goodwin leading the way with eight while King and Geron Johnson added six each. Johnson took only two shots but led the Tigers with five assists.
“We’ve got to continue to get better,” said Dixon. “We’ve got to work on our craft individually, and as a team, then keep moving forward. I think we’ll be fine. [Tonight] there was tremendous emphasis on getting the ball inside. Austin Nichols, Dominic Woodson (eight points in seven minutes), and Nick King all did a great a job. That was the biggest thing, getting our big guys involved.”
And forget the blowout win, according to Dixon: “That’s senior leadership. We’ve got to play like the score is always zero-zero. And at halftime, they erase the score. It’s a new ballgame.”
The Tigers will next take the floor Thursday night in Orlando when they face Siena in their opening game of the Old Spice Classic.
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Memphis Potters’ Guild Holiday Sale
Sunday is the final day for the Memphis Potters’ Guild annual holiday sale. Bargains galore.
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Louisville Tops Tigers, 24-17
Frank Murtaugh reports on the Tigers’ loss to Louisville Saturday.
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Louisville 24, Tigers 17
The Tigers traveled to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in Louisville today as 23-point underdogs. They left with perhaps the most promising performance in two years under coach Justin Fuente.
Facing the second-ranked defense in the country, Memphis scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull with seven points and had a chance, with three minutes left in the game, to take possession for a chance to tie the 21st-ranked Cardinals. Tiger sophomore Reggis Ball, though, was penalized for roughing the Louisville punter near midfield, giving the ball back to the Cardinals. By the time the Tigers regained possession (having exhausted their timeouts), there was less than a minute to play and more than 85 yards of field to travel. The clock expired after a Paxton Lynch pass fell incomplete near midfield.
Louisville scored the game’s first points on a 47-yard fumble return by Preston Brown just over ten minutes into the game. Despite the ball traveling 10 yards forward upon leaving Lynch’s hand — and despite an official review of the replay — the apparent pass attempt was confirmed a fumble and the Cardinals had a 7-0 lead.
The U of M got on the board with 6:54 to play before halftime when Jake Elliott converted an 18-yard field goal. The Tigers were held on three attempts inside the Cardinal five-yard line after Lynch completed a 47-yard pass to Keiwone Malone. On the Cardinals’ next possession, though. All-America candidate Teddy Bridgewater completed a 39-yard touchdown pass-and-run to DeVante Parker. (Bridgewater played gingerly for much of the game, fighting an apparent back injury.) Cardinal kicker John Wallace added a 39-yard field goal to make the score 17-3 at the half.
The Tigers attempted an onside kick to open the second half, only to have Elliott touch the ball before it traveled the required ten yards. Bridgewater proceeded to lead a 16-play drive that chewed up more than six minutes, culminating with a four-yard touchdown run by Dominique Brown to extend the home team’s lead to 24-3.
Behind a ground game led by senior Brandon Hayes (86 yards on 22 carries), the Tiger offense rose near the end of the third quarter, and Lynch stretched into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown on the first play of the final period. The freshman quarterback later scampered for 15 yards on fourth-and-11 to extend a Tiger drive that resulted in a Lynch-to-Jesse Milleson touchdown pass of six yards. The score came with 6:07 to play and would be the final points of the afternoon.
Bridgewater completed 26 of 36 passes for 220 yards to help Louisville improve to 10-1 on the season. Lynch was 11 for 23 for 144 yards as the Tigers fell to 3-7. Overall, Louisville outgained Memphis, 342 yards to 279, though the Tigers won the ground battle, 135-122. Memphis entered the game as the country’s most penalized team and only committed three for the game (including that errant onside kick). Alas, the roughing-the-punter infraction killed the Tigers’ late-game momentum and too much of the remaining game time for Memphis to pull off the upset.
The Tigers return home for Senior Day next Saturday when Temple visits the Liberty Bowl for the first time. As a longtime gridiron rivalry with the Cardinals comes to a close, a new one with the Owls is set to begin.
- Larry Kuzniewski
- The Grizzlies are going to miss Marc Gasol while he’s gone, and there’s no good way around that.
Well, it looks like Zach Randolph might have known what he was talking about last night.
Reports are emerging that Marc Gasol suffered a Grade 2 sprain of his MCL in last night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs, and is out “indefinitely” while he heals. It’s a similar situation to Quincy Pondexter’s injury last year that sidelined him for several weeks, and also the 2012 injury to Zach Randolph that put him on the bench for 10 weeks during that lockout-shortened season.
It’s not good for the Grizzlies in the close Western Conference this year. Gasol could be out for a while. The Grizzlies are equipped to handle the loss of Gasol through the addition of Kosta Koufos in the offseason, but there’s no question that Marc Gasol in the high post is the main facilitator of the Grizzlies’ offense, and without him, everything is going to get more difficult. Gasol is probably the best passing center in the league, and there’s not really a good way to replace a player like that.
It could be worse, though: Gasol’s injury doesn’t require surgery, which could have put him out until the playoffs—assuming the Grizzlies would get there without him for the rest of the regular season. Gasol’s road back to health is going to be a long one, and Grizzlies fans are just going to have to be patient with that recovery.
In the meantime, Grizzlies basketball is going to be interesting for the next six to ten weeks. I had some thoughts on potential outcomes in my postgame piece from last night, and I still think they hold true now that we know the extent of Gasol’s injury.
So, don’t panic, but do fasten your seatbelts and prepare for turbulence.
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Gasol Injured, Grizz Lose to Spurs
Kevin Lipe reports on a basketball game that didn’t go the Grizzlies’ way, in more ways than one.