From Gadsden, Alabama to the edge of the rap-rock frontier, Yelawolf has always existed in the in-between. Too Southern for hip hop purists, too wild for Nashville’s comfort, and too experimental for major label suits, he carved his own lane and never once asked for permission.
Raised in Antioch, Tennessee after a turbulent Alabama childhood, Michael Wayne Atha found his rhythm in the cultural cracks. Skateboarding, Outkast records, dive bars, and rock guitars all soaked into his bloodstream long before he touched a mic. His earliest work (Creekwater, Pissin’ in a Barrel of Beez) hinted at the restlessness to come, but it was 2010’s Trunk Muzik that turned heads and lit a fire. Re-released as Trunk Muzik 0-60, it pushed him from underground buzz to mainstream radar.
That landed him in the orbit of Eminem, signing to Shady Records for Radioactive (2011), a technically sharp, guest-heavy debut that flirted with chart success but never quite fit Yelawolf’s own DNA. It was 2015’s Love Story that changed everything. Blending country soul, trap beats and outlaw poetry, the album captured his contradictions perfectly. The hit single ‘Till It’s Gone’ didn’t just go platinum, it cemented Yela as a singular voice in American music.
Slumerican
The years that followed weren’t smooth. Label drama, cancelled tours, a mental health crisis, and creative burnout saw him retreat, only to emerge again under his own flag: Slumerican. With albums like Trial by Fire, Trunk Muzik III, and Ghetto Cowboy, he leaned fully into independence, experimenting with sound, tone, and identity on his own terms.
Fast forward to 2024 and War Story has him back in full swing, darker, sharper, and riding the high of his current 45 Tour, which is burning through US cities this summer.
Watch This: 5 Essential Yelawolf Videos
How do you choose just 5? At least we tried though right?
‘Pop the Trunk’ – Raw Southern menace from the Trunk Muzik era.
‘Till It’s Gone’ (Love Story) — Taken from arguably Yela’s best album, this one is a must. The whole album however is a masterpiece!
‘Best Friend’ ft. Eminem – What a feature, teaming up with Slim Shady for an instant classic.
‘Unnatural Born Killer’ – Cinematic, off the chain visuals. This video is a FUN one!
Amnesia ft. J. Michael Phillips – Evolution, from his latest project ‘Whiskey & Roses’ with J. Michael Philips.
On the Road Now
Catch Yelawolf on the 45 Tour right now across the US.
- August 9 – Iron Horse Saloon, Sturgis, SD
- August 10 – The District, Sioux Falls, SD
November 2025
- November 7 – Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi, TX
- November 8 – The Aztec Theatre, San Antonio, TX
- November 9 – Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall, Fort Worth, TX
- November 13 – The Plant, Dothan, AL
- November 14 – The Signal, Chattanooga, TN
- November 15 – The Hall, Little Rock, AR
- November 16 – Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN
- November 18 – EPIC Event Center, Green Bay, WI
- November 20 – Uptown Theatre, Kansas City, MO
- November 21 – Uptown Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
- November 22 – The Sylvee, Madison, WI
- November 23 – House of Blues, Chicago, IL
Further details and your tickets here!
Keep up to date with all things Yelawolf on all of his social media outlets, they can be found on his website along with tour dates and merch, right here!
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