Holleratchee!

Photo credit of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecomeupshow/7281328718/sizes/m/

Michael Wayne Atha also known as Yelawolf was born December 30, 1979 in rural Gadsden Alabama. Michael is half white and Cherokee, and the name Yelawolf is a reference to his Native American roots. 

He was the only son of a single mother.Michael never knew his father as he left before he was born. In his youth he often bounced around the south. Baton Rouge, Franklin, TN Nashville and Gadsden of course.

Around 1993 he started noticing hip-hop more and more and began developing an appreciation of it.While trying to stay afloat in a turbulent home life addled by drug and alcohol abuse, he discovered rap music in Tennesee and it soon became an obsession, along with the classic rock (Lynard Skynard, Pink Floyd, The Allman Brothers) that he was raised on.

He then left home to travel the U.S he tried many different things just to make money. He attempted going out west to pursue a career as a professional skateboarder. But after many injuries he had to let that dream fly. He even worked on a crab fishing boat in Alaska at one point. 

He finally came back to Gadsden Alabama to pursue rapping. He worked with Gheto-O-Vision who helped him land major deal success with Colombia records in 2007. But that was short lived when Rick Rubin was hired as the CEO of Colombia and started cutting everyone out. It was depressing to taste fame and then have it ripped out from under you like that. 

He then decided to go back underground with his rapping he released various mix tapes ranging from Stereo, The Ballad Of Slick Rick E Bobby, Creekwater and Arena Raps. He released Trunk Muzik in 2010 and within weeks it took off and Eminem caught wind of his music and had him meet him and Marshall signed him to Shady records. He then released Trunk Muzik 0-60 and then his debut album Radioactive. 

To me Yelawolf is an inspiration, he is what has kept me going during tough times. I can relate to him in every way. We both have similarities that are crazy. He is the wisest rapper there is and he tells the truth in all of his songs. He is the only person I look up too really. He does not smoke or do any drugs but he deffinatly drinks! He doesn't rap about money or cars or girls. He raps about life and its struggles. Life is a struggle. But for me with Yelawolf it is a litte easier.