INTERVIEW: Yo Gotti Talks 'Rake It Up' Success & New 'I Still Am' Album

If there's one person who's having a great year, it's Yo Gotti. The Memphis rapper recently released his latest studio album entitled I Still Am and it features tracks that have propelled his career to a whole new level. 

Prior to his new project being dropped, Gotti released his biggest record entitled "Rake It Up," which features Nicki Minaj. Since the song premiered, "Rake It Up" has been one of the top songs of the year to turn up to. From the catchy lyrics to the sick Mike Will Made-It beat, the single was an instant banger from day one. 

Want more proof that this song goes hard? It's been spending the past four plus months on the Hot 100 charts, peaking at the No. 8 spot. Moreover, it went platinum in early October. Also, it's peaked as the No. 1 song on Rhythmic radio. 

Since this smash, Gotti has been riding high. The recording artist recently inked a management deal with Roc Nation and he's ready to continue to make the rest of the year his. Gotti's latest single is "Juice," which is also doing great numbers. Both "Juice" and "Rake It Up" are featured on his brand new LP, I Still Am.  

The new 13-track album has other guest appearances besides Minaj including Chris Brown, French Montana, 21 Savage, Meek Mill,  and YFN Lucci. iHeartRadio spoke with Gotti about his new project, the massive success he's had this year, and more.

Peep our interview with Yo Gotti below. Buy I Still Am here. 

What's the mood of your I Still Am album?

The album I Still Am is like a mix... half of our music [is] club music, turn up music. I want you to have a good time [and] vibe. It's a mixture of that and we just give you my life history.

"Rake It Up" is the number one song on Rhythm radio right now. Did you expect it to blow up the way it did?

I just do music, I just do me. I do music, try to make good music and all I care about is, if the fans like it and respect it and appreciate it. I don't even think past that.

Did you record it with Nicki or a female voice in mind, or did she hop on it after you were done with it?

Yeah, at first, I recorded the record. I got the track from Mike Will and I recorded the record and after me and Mike listened to it, we just heard Nicki all over it. We were like, 'Yo, we should try to get Nicki on this record.'

How was it shooting the "Rake It Up" video?

Shooting the video to 'Rake It Up' was dope. We had Nicki there, we had Blac Chyna there. Benny Boom shot it. We had a lot of dancers there. It was a cool deal. It was probably one of the best videos I shot.

Speaking of Nicki, have you heard her new album yet?

Nah, I ain't got the chance to hear the Nicki album yet. But, I'm pretty sure it's dope.

Was it easy to record I Still Am or were there any hurdles you had to overcome?

Nah, recording I Still Am, I think there's always a hurdle somewhere in the process of recording an album. It always going to be some kind of time restrictions or something poppin' up... we artists, we still regular people living regular lives. So, you're always going to have some type of distraction to mix with. Sometimes, it helps the album come out better.

Your new single is called "Juice." How does someone get juice?

You see, I've been poppin' right? (laughing) If you poppin', you got the juice, ya know what I'm saying? The juice [is] just a vibe. It's like confidence, too. I think you should just wake up and feel like you got the juice.

Is it something you're born with or do you have to develop it?

I think, some people just got natural juice. It's natural swag, natural sauce. But, you probably could... mix some together, come up with it a little later in life.

Who are you now that you weren't five years ago?

I'm probably more mature, more patient. Five years ago, I wouldn't heard nothing you had to say. Probably just moving on my own... Now, it's more listening and learning, watching, paying attention.

How are you the same?

I'm still determined to be what I want to be, still focused and still got the hustle.

How do you want your fans to feel when they hear I Still Am?

When my fans hear I Still Am, I just want them to appreciate the music. I want them to feel like, 'Yo, This is what we've been waiting on from Gotti. This is what we want to hear from Gotti.'

Photos: Katherine Tyler for iHeartRadio