Yelawolf - Radioactive

Wed 22nd Feb, 2012 in Music Reviews

It is obvious from the introduction to Yelawolf’s much anticipated Shady Records debut Radioactive, that the main reason to listen to the record is the rapper abilities as an MC and not the production values. Whilst the beats are fairly laid-back with a cool groove, the heavily synthesised music is throw away filler as Yelawolf shows us why he caught the ear of Eminem slowly building the intensity of his rhymes, exhibiting his ability to match syllables with the best of them.

The first main point of exposure for the up and coming rapper was in 2005, on a reality TV show called The Road To Stardom with Missy Elliot. Although this actually sounds like the type of garbage that would do the opposite for its contestants, the show was enough exposure to score Yelawolf a deal with Columbia Records in 2007. After being dropped from the label that same year by Rick Rubin himself, the rapper released a mixtape titled Trunk Muzik in 2010, which made Eminem take notice, in turn including Yelawolf in his new Shady Records intake along with Slaughterhouse.

Radioactive takes its time settling in after the introduction. Whilst Yelawolf’s impressive rhyming speed amps up the second track Get Away, the song is ultimately let down by its poor choice of guest rappers, Shawty Fatt and Mystical, who rhyme like Fat Man Scoop may have roughly ten years ago. Keeping up the outdated guest star theme, the record’s first single, Let’s Roll, features a country inspired hook sung by Kid Rock, with the two rappers trying to push there trailer park roots connection which is the biggest mistake Yelawolf’s marketing team could have made. The beat and Yelawolf verses of Hard White (up In The Club) start the song of strong but is again ruined by the guest, in this case the annoying yells of Lil Jon. Seriously, is Yelawolf just really late to the party or is his guest rapper budget just super low?

Eventually executive producer Eminem steps in to save things on Throw It Up, proving once again why he is one of the best rappers to ever walk the Earth, spitting a verse good enough to make this one of the stand-out tracks, despite its annoying hook. The moments that shine come when the rapper handles his own business on tracks like Hardest Love Song In The World and Everything I Love The Most, songs which are carried by the pure skill of the MC. Ignoring the semi-woeful Radio, the record ends with one of the most interesting production moments on Slumerican Shitzen, and the appropriately titled and emotional The Last Song.

Yelawolf is one of the most talented up and coming rappers we have seen in a while, with better production and a more relevant selection of guest appearances, he could be capable of making a near perfect hip-hop record. In the meantime, Radioactive is an acceptable example of his talents and contains enough interesting moments to make sitting through the uninteresting ones worthwhile.