Memphis rapper Yo Gotti, who recently signed to TVT and is riding high off of a huge street buzz, sees things differently. “Hustle & Flow was a good look in general for Memphis,” he contends. “People complained, but you got people comin’ from Hollywood trying to imitate a lifestyle in Memphis, so of course they’re not gonna get it perfect.” While the reaction to the movie is mixed, most were disappointed with the soundtrack, which was released by T.I.’s Grand Hustle label. Though the character DJay’s rhymes (written by Al Kapone, Frayser Boy and Three 6) were included, Memphis artists were virtually absent from the album. “We had two weeks to do the soundtrack, and that’s the bottom line,” explains Jason Geter, co-owner of Grand Hustle and executive producer of the project. “Another company had the soundtrack and I guess it didn’t work out. Of course I wanted to do it. Clearance issues are really almost impossible to get in two weeks.” Geter says he understands why Memphis artists were so angry. “I wanted Yo Gotti, I love Project Pat, I wanted it to be authentic,” he says. “I knew people from Memphis were gonna be pissed because they deserve to be pissed, but I had to work with what I had.” But DJ Squeeky tells a different story. “[Craig Brewer] came to me with that shit, trying to get me to be on the album or whatever, tryin to pay me like $200 or $300,” he recalls. “I’m not no $200 or $300 ass nigga. Instead of them doin’ a whole album on Memphis they took what they had and they ran to another area instead of makin the shit happen. We already hungry, we already feel like we being fucked, so don’t come out here with that bullshit.”
Above: DJ Squeeky, Kingpin Skinny Pimp Right: Yo Gotti, doing his best Superman impression Below: Gangsta Pat
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// Da Resurrection
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n March 5, 2006, hip-hop won its first Oscar. Thirty years after Stax fell, Memphis collectively stood on its feet when Three 6 Mafia took to the stage and performed Hustle & Flow’s theme song, “Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” and collected an Academy Award. “It’s such a big blessing because we’ve been around for so long and it seems like everything paid off,” says Juicy J. “The first thing we hollered out was Memphis [on stage]. We’re reppin’ to the fullest.” To the outside world, Three 6’s top 40 hit, “Stay Fly” featuring 8Ball & MJG and Nashville native Young Buck, Yo Gotti releasing his anticipated album Back to the Basics this month and Skinny’s pending deal with Lil Flip makes it seem like Memphis is on its way back to the top. But looks can be deceiving. According to Moetown Lee, ex-manager of 8ball & MJG, David Banner was instrumental in making the rare collab between the city’s two biggest groups happen. “They were on David Banner’s ‘Gangsta Walk’ together. He hooked it all up and they reached out to each other, got in the studio and made it happen.” Many Memphis artists feel three things must occur before the city can truly shine: more radio support, recognition from other cities as being musical innovators, and an end to all the beef. For RedBoss it’s about respect. “Just give us our props for our music and the rest will follow suit,” he maintains. “Even if we’re not known for having the hottest clubs or the nightlife or whatever, just respect us for our music. I’d be happy with that.”