When Yelawolf dropped his excellent mixtape Trunk Muzik earlier this year, he reminded everyone that college football isn’t the only good thing happening in Alabama. Since then, Yela signed to Interscope, got with some top-notch producers, and started working on his debut album. Taking cues from Drake—who re-released his mixtape So Far Gone as an EP last year before dropping his proper debut album this year—Interscope is re-releasing Yela’s mixtape as a 12-track EP with a mix of new and old songs. We’re big fans of Catfish Billy’s rapid-fire, rock-tinged delivery, so we just had to put together this track-by-track preview of Trunk Muzik: 0-60.
When Yelawolf dropped his excellent mixtape Trunk Muzik earlier this year, he reminded everyone that college football isn’t the only good thing happening in Alabama. Since then, Yela signed to Interscope, got with some top-notch producers, and started working on his debut album. Taking cues from Drake—who re-released his mixtape So Far Gone as an EP last year before dropping his proper debut album this year—Interscope is re-releasing Yela’s mixtape as a 12-track EP with a mix of new and old songs. We’re big fans of Catfish Billy’s rapid-fire, rock-tinged delivery, so we just had to put together this track-by-track preview of Trunk Muzik: 0-60.
"Get The Fuck Up"
Produced by: SupaHotBeats & Malay
Complex says: “Get the Fuck Up!” opens the album with Yela showing all of his influences at the same time with a beat that’s somehow rock, crunk, and hip-hop all at once. Meanwhile, Yela spits lines like, “Slick, sit down, you ain't in the city, chump/Special K makes the kiddies come/Get ya some/Get many guns.” You're definitely not in Kansas anymore.
“Daddy's Lambo”
Produced by: Drama Beats
Complex says: Playful as shit, this song's rough bassline and deep horns counter the subject matter. Slick Rick E. Bobby weaves the tale of a rich girl who finds Yela’s bad boy charm irresistible. Shorty should have known dude is no good when he says, “That beautiful behind inspires me/Makes one of my rhymes harder/Ya daddy makes a fine daughter/Makes me wanna turn this wine from water.”
“That's What We On Now”
Produced by: SupaHotBeats
Complex says: An ode to how he grew up, “That's What We On Now” is straight rider music with Yela spitting, “20 bucks and I don't give a fuck/A country girl and a pick-up truck.” The deep bass, heavy treble, and country chorus screaming the title are there to tell you what time it is.
“I Just Wanna Party” f/ Gucci Mane
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“Billy Crystal” f/ Rock City
Produced by: Jim Jonsin
Complex says: Jim's minimal 808-driven beat pierces just below Catfish Billy's vivid rendering of Crystal meth abuse, “Take one for the needle/How you feel it now?/Purple moons and lucky charms, yeah that's the sound/With veins turning brown but his fame is so profound/His name is like a noun/They going 'Billy' now.” An upturned, bang-out chorus section sounds the alarm and then it's back to the minimalism as Billy exclaims, “He'll take your house down/Right offa them pillars/And take your moms to Sizzler/And feed her chicken liver/That's cold-blooded love.” This might be the best song on here.
“Pop The Trunk”
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“Box Chevy” f/ Rittz the Rapper
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“Good to Go” f/ Bun B
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“Marijuana”
Produced by: SupaHotBeats
Complex says: Ironically, “Marijuana” is one of the most upbeat tracks on the album. The beat takes inspiration from Lynyrd Skynyrd and Rage Against the Machine, and you can probably tell by the title what inspired the subject matter. What you might not expect is Yela's purely rock-n-roll type delivery. His influences are many, and on this track he aims to prove it.
“Love Is Not Enough”
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“I Wish” f/ Raekwon
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“Trunk Muzik”
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Complex says:PitchforkThe New York TimesThe Fader
