Mario Sentell Giden Mims, known as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper born May 19, 1981. He built Memphis hip-hop into a national brand through his label, Collective Music Group. Gotti is also a father of six children from past relationships.
Who is Yo Gotti?
Yo Gotti grew up in the Ridgecrest Apartments in the Frayser neighborhood of Memphis. His childhood was shaped by hardship and street life.
He began rapping at age 14 under the name Lil Yo.
Since then, Gotti has released ten studio albums and dozens of mixtapes. He also founded the label Collective Music Group in 2012.
Today, he remains one of Memphis’s most influential rap executives. Gotti also serves as a minority owner of Major League Soccer club D.C. United.
Early Life of Yo Gotti
Mario Mims was born on May 19, 1981, in Memphis, Tennessee. His family lived in the Ridgecrest Apartments in the Frayser section of the city.
Federal agents raided his family’s home when he was in third grade.
Several relatives were arrested and later sentenced to lengthy prison terms. As a result, young Mario began hustling on the streets to help support his household.
He eventually chose music over street life. That decision led him toward his first rap performances in the mid 1990s.
Yo Gotti Age
Yo Gotti is 45 years old as of 2026, born on May 19, 1981. His zodiac sign is Taurus. He continues to run Collective Music Group and record new music.
Yo Gotti Ethnicity and Nationality
Yo Gotti is an American citizen, born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He is African American, with his father’s family tracing roots to Zimbabwe. His mother’s side of the family has South African heritage.
Yo Gotti Musical Style and Influences
Yo Gotti raps mainly in the gangsta and Southern hip-hop styles. His lyrics often focus on street life, hustling, and personal struggle.
He cites Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre among his biggest influences.
Memphis acts like Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG, and Kingpin Skinny Pimp also shaped his early sound. Al Kapone and Gangsta Black rounded out his list of local influences.
Yo Gotti Education
Yo Gotti does not hold a college degree. He left traditional schooling behind early to focus on music and street hustling.
In 2024, Gotti enrolled in a corporate valuation course at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business.
The course was meant to sharpen his skills for acquisitions and business deals. Gotti said the training would help him understand financial language beyond what his advisors explain to him.
Yo Gotti Career
Early Career
Yo Gotti released his debut project, Youngsta’s on a Come Up, in 1996 under the name Lil Yo. He worked with DJ Sound and his crew during those early years.
He adopted the name Yo Gotti for his 2000 album, From da Dope Game 2 da Rap Game.
He followed with Self-Explanatory in 2001 and Life in 2003. The single Dirty South Soldiers, featuring Lil Jon, helped build his reputation across the South.
In 2006, he released Back 2 da Basics, which reached number six on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart. That same era, his song Full Time appeared on the soundtrack for Hustle & Flow.
Breakthrough
Yo Gotti signed with J Records in 2009. His singles 5 Star and Women Lie, Men Lie, featuring Lil Wayne, both earned gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Both songs entered the Billboard Hot 100 that same year.
In 2012, Gotti released his major label debut, Live from the Kitchen. The album peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200.
Despite the chart success, Gotti later left RCA Records over dissatisfaction with sales support. He then built his own label, Collective Music Group, to gain more creative control.
Recent Work
Gotti signed CMG to Epic Records in 2013 and released the album I Am the same year. His single Act Right, featuring Jeezy and YG, went platinum.
His 2017 song Rake It Up, featuring Nicki Minaj, peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In September 2021, Gotti became a minority owner of D.C. United, a Major League Soccer club. He also owns the Memphis restaurant Privé, where his mother works as a chef.
His brother, Anthony Big Jook Mims, was fatally shot in Memphis in January 2024. Gotti’s label CMG has continued to sign new artists, including GloRilla and EST Gee.
Yo Gotti Discography
Yo Gotti has released ten studio albums since 1996.
- Youngsta’s on a Come Up (1996)
- From da Dope Game 2 da Rap Game (2000)
- Self-Explanatory (2001)
- Life (2003)
- Back 2 da Basics (2006)
- Live from the Kitchen (2012)
- I Am (2013)
- The Art of Hustle (2016)
- I Still Am (2017)
- Untrapped (2020)
His eleventh album, CM10: Free Game, arrived in 2022.
Along with these albums, Gotti has released more than twenty mixtapes since 2006. His Cocaine Muzik mixtape series remains one of his most popular projects.
Yo Gotti Awards and Recognition
Yo Gotti earned a BET Hip-Hop Award nomination in 2014. His singles Act Right and Rake It Up both reached platinum status.
His single 5 Star received a gold certification from the RIAA in 2009.
His early mixtape, From the Dope Game to the Rap Game, was named a top independent record of 2000 by Murderdog Magazine. That recognition helped establish him as a rising voice in Memphis rap.
Yo Gotti Tours and Concerts
Yo Gotti launched the I Am Tour in September 2013 to support his sixth studio album. The tour ran through November 2013.
Supporting acts included YG, Zed Zilla, Shy Glizzy, and Cash Out.
Gotti has also headlined numerous festival dates across the South since the 2000s. He regularly performs alongside CMG label artists at his own events.
Yo Gotti Relationship History
Yo Gotti was previously married to Lakeisha Mims. The couple had three children together before divorcing.
He later had a relationship with Jammie Moses, with whom he shares three more children.
From December 2022 to June 2025, Gotti dated entrepreneur Angela Simmons. Simmons confirmed the breakup publicly in June 2025.
Gotti has kept his more recent personal life largely private. As of 2026, he has not publicly confirmed a new relationship.
Yo Gotti Children
Yo Gotti is the father of six children from his past relationships. Two daughters, Kayla Mims and Mariah Mims, come from his marriage to Lakeisha Mims.
He also has a son with Lakeisha Mims.
Gotti gifted his daughter Kayla a Mercedes-Benz SUV for her 16th birthday. He shares three additional children with his former partner, Jammie Moses, though their identities remain private.
Gotti occasionally shares photos of his children on social media. He has kept most details about their lives out of the public eye.
Yo Gotti Net Worth
Yo Gotti’s estimated net worth is $100 million as of 2026. His wealth comes mainly from his music catalog and his label, Collective Music Group.
CMG has signed successful artists including Moneybagg Yo, GloRilla, and 42 Dugg.
Gotti also earns income from his restaurant, Privé, and his stake in D.C. United. He has said he prioritizes long-term, generational wealth over short-term deals.
Yo Gotti Social Media
Yo Gotti is active on Instagram, where he shares music updates and glimpses of his family life. His verified handle is @yogotti.
He also posts on X under the same handle, @YoGotti.
Gotti frequently promotes his label’s artists through his social accounts. He also uses the platforms to announce new music and business ventures.
The Bottom Line
Yo Gotti built Live from the Kitchen into a Billboard top-15 debut, then launched Collective Music Group in 2012. His platinum single Act Right, featuring Jeezy and YG, remains one of his biggest career records.
Raised in the Ridgecrest Apartments in Memphis, Gotti turned early hardship into a decades-long rap career. He now balances music with business roles at D.C. United and his restaurant, Privé.
Gotti continues to run CMG and mentor younger Memphis artists. He is also a private but devoted father to his six children.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Who Are Yo Gotti. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!