Yelawolf Compares New Eminem-Endorsed “Love Story” To OutKast: “I’m Pushing The Limits”

[With the new “Love Story” album climbing the sales chart this month, Alabama rapper Yelawolf breaks down his newest Shady Records release for SOHH and offers a take on today’s rap scene.]

When I tell you that [Eminem] locked the door at the studio, there’s no one even allowed in. I’m a fan of many artists out there but this project, I needed to get open and be alone.

There were features done in the past that I’ve just welcomed but when I pick a feature and I hear the song and you can hear that person whoever it is, like Anthony Kiedis will be dope on this, there’s no real rhyme or reason why that happened or how it happened.

You just know, it just fits them. I’m not the type of dude to go and grab a feature to try and get a hit or go get someone to write a hit hook.

If this album came out when [OutKast‘s] Aquemini came out, it’d probably fit in right it. It has too much variety in it to fit in to what I consider as hip-hop. Hip-hop now, it tends to be very one track minded, not as expressive as it was in the early 2000s or even early 90s when people were very experimental.

OutKast is a prime example. I think that if it did fit in a style then that would be what it is. I’m pushing the limits, some of the tracks are not hip hop at all. But it’s funny, the core of it is though.

If a country band heard, “Have a Great Flight”, which is one of the records on my album, they might not define it as hip hop. But if they hear the last track, maybe they will. Or if they heard “Devil In My Veins” they might not define it as hip hop, or they might. I just went in there and did what felt right.

I always tried to look at music, like I’m the painter. It’s y’all’s job to come critique it, buy it if you want, make what you want of it. I’m not going to tell you what it is or definite it for you. Hip hop, is the core, rock and roll will always be the core and country.

Follow Yelawolf on Instagram – @Yelawolf