Yo Gotti, whose real name is Mario Mims, started rapping in 1996 in Memphis, Tennessee and honed his street life story telling, southern style over a series of independently released albums, including 2000’s From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game, 2003’s Life and 2006’s Back 2 da Basics. Following multiple singles between 2009 and 2011, including 5 Star, Look In the Mirror, and Women Lie, Men Lie featuring Lil Wayne, he released his major label debut studio album Live From The Kitchen in January 2012 on RCA Records. It premiered at #12 on the Billboard charts, and featured verses from Rick Ross, Jadakiss and 2 Chainz. In October 2012, he also released the seventh version of his well-known mixtape series Cocaine Muzik, entitled Cocaine Muzik 7: The World Is Yours. In early 2013, Gotti announced that both he and his label CMG had signed a distribution deal with Epic Records and L.A. Reid, and that his next album, I Am, would be released in late 2013. Its first single was Act Right had guests Young Jeezy and YG, followed by King Shit with T.I., and Cold Blood featuring J. Cole and Canei Finch. The I Am tour stopped for concerts in 40 cities in the fall of 2013, exciting ticket buyers with supporting acts YG, Zed Zilla, Shy Glizzy and Cash Out.