Michael Wayne Atha, better known by his stage name Yelawolf (often stylized as Y elaWolf), is an American rapper.

He is currently signed to Shady Records, Ghet-O -Vision, Interscope Records, and has since founded his own independent record la bel, Slumerican. From 2005 to 2010, Yelawolf released an independent debut studi o album titled Creek Water[3] in 2005, an extended play, and four mixtapes.[4] T he last of the four, titled Trunk Muzik,[5] amassed a strong following for the r apper, eventually landing him a deal with Interscope Records,[6] which re-releas ed the mixtape as Trunk Muzik 0-60 later that year.[7] In March 2011, Yelawolf s igned with Eminem's record label, Shady Records,[8] and released his critically acclaimed album, Radioactive on November 21, 2011. The album debuted at #27 on B illboard 200. Yelawolf released his sequel to his breakthrough mixtape Trunk Muz ik, titled Trunk Muzik Returns on March 14th, 2013, and his sophomore album unde r Shady Records, titled Love Story is set to be released in 2013.Contents [hide ] 1 Musical career 1.1 Early career 1.2 2010-2011: Trunk Muzik and Radioactive 1.3 2012: The Slumdon Bridge, Heart of Dixie and Psycho White 1.4 2012-present: Trunk Muzik Returns, Love Story and Country Cousins 2 Discography 3 References 4 External links [edit] Musical career [edit] Early career Atha appeared on UPN Network reality series The Road to Stardom with Missy Ellio tt in 2005, gaining attention as a contract artist (mural painting) from Rainbow City, Alabama. After his elimination from the show, he released his debut mixta pe Pissn' in a Barrel of Beez in 2005, later the same year he released his indep endent debut album titled Creek Water. Two years later, Atha signed to Columbia Records and released the single "Kickin'" from his unreleased first studio album , Fearin' and Loathin' in Smalltown, U.S.A.. The album was never released becaus e Atha was dropped from the label later that same year.[9] Atha released two mix tapes following his release from Columbia, titled Balls of Flames: The Ballad of Slick Rick E. Bobby and Stereo: A Hip Hop Tribute to Classic Rock, the two of w hich went mainly unnoticed. In 2009, he signed with Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment and released his debut Extended Play Arena Rap. [edit] 2010-2011: Trunk Muzik and Radioactive In late 2009, he began to work with Ghet-O-Vision producer, WillPower, on his br eakthrough mixtape titled "Trunk Muzik". Released in January 2010, the mixtape c reated an enormous online following for Atha, and is considered by many to be on e of the greatest mixtapes of all time. Later that year, Atha signed a major rec ord deal with Interscope Records,[6] and began to work on a re-release of the mi xtape titled "Trunk Muzik 0-60". It was released on November 22, 2010 under Ghet -O-Vision Entertainment and Interscope Records, which became his most acclaimed work to date.[10][11] In March 2011, after speculation of a joint record deal wi th Eminem, Yelawolf was featured on the cover of XXL's March 2011 issue, with Em inem and fellow new Shady Records signees Slaughterhouse, with the issue confirm ing his record deal with Shady Records.[2] Yelawolf was also featured among XXL' s Top 11 Freshmen of 2011, releasing several songs on the magazine's yearly Fres hman mixtape, along with Kendrick Lamar, Cyhi Da Prynce and Big K.R.I.T., among others.[12] On April 14, 2011, Yelawolf announced the title of his debut Shady r elease "Radioactive" with a release date that aimed for September.[13] On May 18 , Yelawolf announced his album's first single, titled "Gangsta of Love", produce d by Jim Jonsin and featuring Cyhi Da Prynce. The song was leaked in early July,

although it only featured unfinished vocals by Cyhi da Prynce at the end of the song. The song was later scrapped and no longer appeared on the album. Yelawolf partnered up with the video game Driver: San Francisco to release a music video for the song "No Hands" which was supposed to be included in Radioactive, but w as later scrapped. On August 8, 2011, Yelawolf released the first official singl e from his album titled "Hard White (Up in the Club)", which features fellow rap per Lil Jon. The album's release date was moved down to October, and later had a final release date to November 21, 2011. On October 30, Yelawolf released the s econd single off Radioactive, titled "Let's Roll" featuring vocals from Kid Rock . Anticipation for the album increased when influential hip hop magazine The Sou rce (magazine), gave the album a rare 4.5 out of 5 mics, meaning the album was " near classic". Radioactive, was released November 21, 2011 under Interscope Reco rds and Shady Records, debuting the following week at #27 on Billboard 200.[14] The album featured production from Eminem (who is also the executive producer fo r the album), Jim Jonsin, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Diplo, The Audibles, Pooh Bear and WillPower of SupaHot Beats, and features from Eminem, Kid Rock, Lil Jon, Fef e Dobson, Mystikal, Shawty Fatt, Rittz, Killer Mike, and Gangsta Boo among other s. [edit] 2012: The Slumdon Bridge, Heart of Dixie and Psycho White On January 24, 2012, Yelawolf released a promotional track with British singer E d Sheeran titled "You Don't Know (For Fuck's Sake)". The track was for a upcomin g collaborative Extended Play, titled The Slumdon Bridge. On January 31, 2012, a trailer for the EP was released, it featured both artists in a studio recording the EP. In the video Yelawolf revealed the EP was recorded in 10 hours, and inc luded 4 tracks.The Slumdon Bridge, which was released as a free download on Vale ntine's Day, February 14, 2012, marking Yelawolf's second EP, and his first coll aborative project.[15] It was later re-released to retail markets under Warner M usic on April 14, 2012. On June 16, 2012, in order to commemorate Father's Day, Yelawolf released a song titled "Happy Father's Day". The song was produced by Alabama producer M16. Wit h the track, Yelawolf announced his fifth official mixtape Heart of Dixie.[16] T he mixtape was a project between Yelawolf and producer M16 and hosted by DJ Fran k White. Coincidentally, all three are from the state of Alabama, therefore the title was derived from the state's popular nickname, "The Heart of Dixie". The m ixtape was released on July 4, 2012 to coincide with Independence Day. It receiv ed mostly positive reviews. In August 2012, Yelawolf announced the long-awaited joint EP with Blink-182 drum mer Travis Barker, titled Psycho White. The first single to the EP, titled "Push 'Em" features background vocals by Transplants members Skinhead Rob and Tim Arm strong, and was released as a free download on September 12. After several pushbacks, the EP was finally released on November 13, 2012. Debuting at #49 on Bill board 200 with first week sales of 11,000. Yelawolf stated that all the tracks o n the album will have a music video and during a an article with Rolling Stone, both him and Barker hinted at a sequel to the EP.[17] [edit] 2012-present: Trunk Muzik Returns, Love Story and Country Cousins On March 20, 2012, Yelawolf announced his sophomore album under Shady Records wi ll start recording in June, titled Love Story.[18][19] Due to a stage diving inc ident which caused a ruptured spleen, Yelawolf decided to delay the album's reco rding process. During an interview with DJ Skee he revealed that a sequel to his 2010 mixtape Trunk Muzik, titled Trunk Muzik Returns, would be released in Augu st after "the dust settles on the Heart of Dixie" but since then has been delaye d. He also shed light on his often delayed collaborative mixtape Country Cousins with fellow rapper Big K.R.I.T., during the interview DJ Skee offered to host t he project.[20] In December 2012, Yelawolf addressed the status of all of his pr

ojects in an interview.[21] He also spoke on his upcoming sophomore release, Lov e Story, and how it would be different compares to his debut effort Radioactive. "With Radioactive, I gave up a lot of creative space, and like I predicted woul d happen, there were some records that didn't translate to my audience." He stat ed he would record the album in Nashville and go to Detroit so him and Eminem co uld finish the album. Yelawolf also said that Trunk Muzik Returns would hopefull y released in February 2013, with the date later confirmed.[22] On February 5 Yelawolf released the first song from Trunk Muzik Returns with "Wa y Out" and announced a release date of March 14, 2013 for the mixtape.[23] In Fe bruary 2013 Shady Records president Paul Rosenberg confirmed Yelawolf was record ing the album in Nashville currently and it would be released in 2013.[24] On Fe bruary 26 Yelawolf released a second song from Trunk Muzik Returns titled "F.A.S .T. Ride".[25] On March 12 a third song from Trunk Muzik Returns was released ti tled "Gangster" featuring fellow rappers A$AP Rocky and Big Henry.[26] The mixta pe contains ten original tracks and features guest appearances from Raekwon, Pau l Wall, Killer Mike and A$AP Rocky. The album is entirely produced by his go-to producer WillPower.[27]