You’ve been in the game for quite some time, how do you think you relate to this new generation of hip-hop fans?

Yo Gotti: I think anything you do the ship evolves and it changes and I think that’s what makes it exciting. If it stayed the same way the new generation wouldn’t have been able to come up and the fans got to evolve with it. I think you just got to be in tune with what’s poppin’ and be able to shift your craft to what’s relevant.

How do you find yourself shifting?

Yo Gotti: See one thing about the streets, the streets don’t change. Some people change but the real laws of the streets goin’ stay the same beyond me. People always goin’ take state penitentiary and federal penitentiary chances to feed they family whether the laws get stricter over time. And me really coming from that I feel like they story is always goin be accepted somewhere.

What is missing from music today that you fill?

Yo Gotti: People really living what they talking about or done lived it because sometimes it’s really stupid to be still living it. When I grew up on NWA and shit like that when I was watching the videos to me – Eazy, Cube all of them – when I bumped into them I expected them to be gangsters. It would’ve hurt my feelings if they’d been something different than that. I think it needs to be more of that. When a fan meets Yo Gotti they want you to be what you talking about, what you represent, what you stand for. They don’t want you to be one these pop artists or no shit like that.

What sparked your interest to start your label?

Yo Gotti: My whole life I had my own everything. In my hustle, I had my own set. I gamble with my own money. I lost my own money. If I go to jail, I’m going to do my own time. Everything about me is doing for myself and putting your people on so I wouldn’t have it no other way.

What’s your process in deciding what artists you choose sign?

Yo Gotti: They just got to be talented. I try to let music be music. You don’t got to be no gangster to sign with me. If you make good music and you’re talented than CMG welcomes you.

What is one lesson you pass on to the artists coming up under you?

Yo Gotti: To be on top of your business and to understand that whatever you stand for or represent, that’s your business. Sometimes not the people you’re in partnership with their vision might be different than yours. You got to learn how to do business with people and still keep your focus on your lane first. Stay on top of your business and your team.