Yela’s verse on “Animal” was absolutely inspired and featured all of the tricks that make the Wolf special. It was a signature moment in turn-up, and it reminded many of Yela’s almost unlimited versatility, fitting in damn near anywhere anyone needed him. This choice cut off of Radioactive featured the rap God himself and the infectious energy of the Three 6 Mafia first lady adding her terse “Yeah Hoe!” intermittently on the track.

“Throw It Up” Featuring Eminem & Gangsta Boo Yela’s sole producer on Trunk Muzik Returns, WillPower, provides one of the project’s best beats pouring spacey melodies over heavy yet sparse drums. For track five from the mixtape, Yela goes down to H-Town in recruiting Paul Wall for “Hustle.” While the Shady emcee spits about emerging from the trials and tribulations of his career, Paul Wall gives exactly what many expect from one the city’s finest. Regardless, the project was a solid effort from the Alabama native three years after he dropped his major label debut Radioactive. Sure, Trunk Muzik Returns paled in comparison to its predecessor. Holding everything together is one of DJ Burn One’s most underappreciated productions with Yela. Compared to her time with the same folks who blessed the world with “Knuck If You Buck,” Diamond’s verse is just as vicious. Catfish Billy saw it too and collaborated on this highlight from Trunk Muzik where he proclaims his love for cunnilingus because, well, “you know white boys eat pussy like a sandwich.” It’s a blending of Yela’s clever humor, slick delivery and country bounce. Remember that one time former Crime Mob member Diamond had the potential to have a relevant solo career? Before that Sisterhood of Hip Hop mess, the Atlanta native really had tons of promise before the downward spiral into irrelevancy. If you’re up to speed, then none of these will come as a surprise, but if you’re new to the Slumerican, then these are songs you should certainly visit. With that, and after hearing “Best Friend,” “Whiskey In A Bottle,” “American You” and “Fiddle Me This,” we decided to put together a list of Yela’s must hear records. So everybody was all impatient and talking all that s–t ‘til they heard “Till It’s Gone.” There was a lot of talk before “Till It’s Gone,” but now look, it’s making sense to people. You gotta think of the meeting of the minds when people are talking like, “What’s the f–king hold up? Or, what’s the trickery with the label? You gotta think Marshal Mathers, Paul Rosenberg, Jimmy Iovine, myself, my manager… those five people right there man… we’re really breaking this s–t down and trying to do it the right way.

Every move on this album is very calculated. Here’s what he had to say to about fans being impatient, “This isn’t a game.

He’s said before in interviews that the thing will be out when it’s ready and that he was “rushed” during the making of Radioactive. Still, something was missing, and with his sophomore project Love Story rattling around the bend next week (April 21) it’s obvious the man means business.

Psycho White, Arena Rap, Black Fall, Heart Of Dixie and Trunk Muzik Returns followed, and the Alabaman with a penchant for twin cams, bluesy singing and spitfire raps had returned to relative form. The fact is that his fan base has built slowly and dedicatedly since his major label debut Radioactive received mostly mixed reviews (and an overall Metacritic score of 62). But a closer gaze into the man and a different scene emerges. A casual look at Catfish Billy after Trunk Muzik can make it seem like, no matter what he does, he can’t quite get off the snide and into the game. Yelawolf’s run has been stunted at almost every turn after his raucous mix of southern gothic and straight up drugs (and the darkness that eventually followed) rocketed him into the Hip Hop consciousness.

Yelawolf arena rap