Yelawolf Discusses His New Album ‘Love Story’ and Signing With Shady Records

Stephanie Hernandez

Michael Wayne Atha, better known by his stage name Yelawolf is a rapper hailing from the Heart of Dixie, Gadsden, Alabama. Starting out in 2005 by self-releasing his debut album, “Creek Water” Yelawolf has been making waves in the hip-hop world ever since. Yelawolf’s genre bending sound and thoughtful lyrics caught the attention of fellow rapper Eminem, who then signed him to his label Shady Records in 2011 and produced his next album “Radioactive.” Yelawolf took the time out of planning his international tour to sit down and talk to Entertainment Voice about the release of his latest record “Love Story,” growing up in the South and possibly making music with Marilyn Manson.

When did you figure out that you wanted music to be not just a part of your life but your career? Did you always know hip-hop and rap was the type of music you wanted to create?

No, I didn’t know it was something that I wanted to be a part of. Hip-hop just sort of happened. It became very present in my world; being a skater, living in Antioch there were local rappers everywhere. Biggie, EightBall & MJG, and Ice Cube were huge. I appreciated it and I found a passion for it and I started doing it. It’s taken this long to kind of figure out how to get this idea to the public. It’s not new to me, to blend these genres, because I did it on arena rap, a record I put out in 2008. But I feel like now, I have the attention and the ears, and people are ready for it so to speak.

Being born and raised in the South, more specifically in Alabama, how do you think your surroundings influenced the perspective of your lyrics and your musical style?

It 100% effected it. It is what my music is. My surroundings created everything. I’m very visual about how I  see and make music. Writing a song can be a lot like writing a treatment for a video. A treatment for a feature length movie, is like writing an album. So, my surroundings became a part of who I am and my music. Whether it’s a reference to cars, clothes, people, neighborhoods, family, to bible belt type references. People from the South are very proud, and I can’t help but put that into my songs.

You are currently signed with Shady Records, how was the transition between being an independent artist to now working with Eminem been?

I mean, Marshall is a Megalodon of a fucking artist! He’s an anomaly, it was an honor to get signed to Shady and an honor to work with him. I do put the same passion into working with, let’s say, Raekwon or Robby Turner, who played lap steel for me – he’s played with artists like Willy and Johnny. I do not really put a measure on the artists, but I do measure the song. I’ve always done collaborations based on the song, it’s great, and I love working with other musicians when it makes sense.

You’ve released several mixtapes and EPs with some amazing artists, from Travis Barker on Psycho White, to DJ Paul from Three 6 Mafia on “Black Fall” etc…. Who has been your favorite person to work with? Anyone you’d like to collaborate with in the future?

I’d say Travis is my favorite artist to work with. Being a drummer, it adds another element to the work. It’s a joined force. It’s not like, hey, you get a verse and I get a verse, we just rock together. He doesn’t say shit, he just destroys the drums! He’s ultimately my favorite, we are really good friends now, we’re like family. He’s my favorite to jam with, but favorite artist to rock with are Bones Owens and DJ Clever. I also just got Marilyn Manson’s number, I heard he was coming out to “Till It’s Gone,” he plays it every night before his shows. And I was like, are you for real? I’m a huge Manson fan! We’re definitely going to kick it. Like hey, what up dude? We should work! No build up no nothing, just hit him with it.

Your music is so layered with influences from various genres, from country, rock and blues, do you find it difficult to blend those together? What would you classify your music as?

Man this is always the hardest question to answer! Lately when me Bones and Clever walk together, it’s like every five minutes people ask us, “What band are you guys in?” (laughs). The times are changing, I guess I’d just say my music is American, American music. All those ideas combined, I mean that’s what America is about, the whole idea of it. There are records on “Love Story” that are just straight singing, there is no rap at all, you know? There are songs that sound like country space funk rap (laughs). What does iTunes say? Grown man outlaw hip-hop? It’s like a form that says, pick black white and other. The alternative to everything else. It makes sense to people like hip-hop, it makes sense to people who like rock and roll and it makes sense to people who like country. I’m starting to make a lot of friends out here in Nashville, country music wise, they’re all about it.

What was the inspiration and vision behind your latest album “Love Story”? What was the writing process for the album like?

The inspiration, was just life. Mistakes that I’ve made, just wanting to reinvent and reintroduce myself. Cut the bullshit, literally and metaphorically speaking; and make a project that just reflects me as sharply as possible. As close as you sitting in my goddamn living room, this is me, what’s up? Right here. Welcome to my world type of deal. It was important that every song was a reflection of not just who I am but who we are, and a reflection of where I’m from. It took a lot of time to get that first record, about 5 months. Before that first song was recorded, I had forty ideas, no this ain’t it, no this ain’t it, no this ain’t it and then Boom! We had that one record, and once we had the first track we had it, we knew where we wanted to go. It took a while, it took a long time, we went through a lot of musicians, went through a lot of tracks, it was no easy task, I’m really proud of what came out of all the hard work. I can’t wait for the album to come out, it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s like a rocket in your pocket! I know what I’m sitting on and it’s a good feeling. It’s just like pulling up in a new car to your mom’s house but all she see’s is the big bow on top, she doesn’t know what’s inside, but you know it’s good. It’s cool, we are all super excited, and if people are digging what they are hearing so far, it’s going to be received very well.

What can fans who have not see you on stage expect from your live performances on this tour?

It’s a pretty rowdy show. It’s a lot of energy, I try and live each song up there and give those people the best experience possible. When they come to the show, I want them to feel like they’ve witnessed something. Something that they can take from the show that can last them a lifetime. I’m only human, I have nights when I might not be feeling so good, but something always clicks as soon as the music starts, you get up there and sweat it out. It’s like my therapy chair.

You’re releasing “Love Story,’ going on tour playing some great venues, even heading to Russia in April, what else do you have planned for the rest of 2015?

I’m just going to get out here and play these shows and perform this music. That’s all I’m really focused on, what comes my way. I’ve done the album and now comes the other part, that’s getting out there performing it and living it. Lots of touring, a whole lot of shows, television appearances this year. Shit.

Yelawolf’s new album “Love Story” will be released on iTunes April 21. Catch him live at The Fonda on June 10.