Yelawolf » Passion of the Weiss

Feb
17

Tosten Burks has definitely gone Linsane. So Yelawolf debuts to high expectations and high critic cred (that’s what matters, right?) with an album largely criticized for being too poppy, and then responds with a project with a British pop songwriter? It’s the type of move that reads as gimmicky, but is delivered with a conviction… Continue reading »

Dec
07

The Hard White Wolf: Empty Towns and Radioactivity

A few weeks ago, I spent 24 hours in Vegas with Yelawolf for a piece in the latest Rolling Stone (it’s not available online, so pick it up, pick it up). It’s a uniquely weird phenomena to shadow a rapper on the verge of dropping an album that you haven’t heard, but have insanely high… Continue reading »

Nov
28

“Throwing it Up” at White Castle with Eminem, Yelawolf, & Gangsta Boo

Evan Nabavian was photo shopped out of this photo. For all the promise and accolades, the road to Yelawolf’s debut album did not inspire confidence. He signed a deal with the reanimated corpse of Shady Records and released two singles conceived by witless Interscope A&Rs. I was loath to admit it, but Radioactive seemed destined… Continue reading »

Aug
29

Video: Yelawolf – “No Hands”

If Yelawolf doesn’t become the next rap superstar, my faith will be forever shook in the industry system. Considering I still have a scintilla of faith despite reviewing nearly every major rap record release, is enough to convince me that I may not be a pure pessimist after all. If Eminem can make Royce go… Continue reading »

Aug
04

Wolf Blitzing: Yelawolf’s Next First Single

Things that make me go hmm: In 2011, why would you recruit Lil Jon to screech on your first single, when you can have the Valkyrie crunk of Lebron Flocka James. After all, Joaquin essentially stole the Golem’s ring and made “Bow Bow Bow,” the new “Yeah.” All this with a bare minimum of facility… Continue reading »

Jul
05

Some People Call Me the Gangsta of Love

The last six months have seen writers rush to reify the cult of the new weird rapper, but few immured Yelawolf into that minimum security prison. Admittedly, Odd Future may have gotten the youth of America to tear down pictures of Polow Da Don’s dick on their walls and replace them with Grizzly Bear paraphernalia,… Continue reading »

May
18

Kill Yelawolf’s Nightmares

Evan Nabavian dreams of electric beats. “Kill My Nightmare” begins with a scene from any slasher movie. There’s a steady heartbeat and a background of white noise. Then a woman’s scream, a wet stab, and the sound of the killer’s breath. The heartbeat slows. Yelawolf uses Friday, May 13th as an occasion for a cold,… Continue reading »

Mar
14

Oh, I’m Still Alive: Game and Yelawolf’s “Rough’

First “Zombie Nation” now a Pearl Jam sample. Jayceon Taylor is going for that brodown Bonnaroo money come hell or hydraulics. “Rough” posted for posterity, but also because I am partial to “emo” Game. See also: “My Life,” all of “Doctor’s Advocate,” none of that stupid facial tatoo. Emotional > sensitive. Really rappers, stop bitching… Continue reading »

Mar
02

Shady 2.Oh

Simultaneously effective and everything I feared would happen, the first collaboration between the new Shady roster capitalizes on the crew’s strengths and exposes their weaknesses. First the good: these guys are good at rapping and their entire raison d’ etre is to let you know that they are GOOD AT RAPPING. Their worldviews were forged… Continue reading »

Feb
16

Video: Yelawolf ft. Bun B – “Good to Go”

Always a wise decision to wait until the major label foots the bill for your video. Though Catfish Billy and the formerly stone-pocketed Bun B opt to keep things reasonably minimal, save for the flashy epilepsy-inducing graphics. I saw Yelawolf two weeks ago, my third time in the last year, and easily the most impressive… Continue reading »