Alabama rapper Yelawolf, real name Michael Wayne Atha, has released his second major label artist album Love Story. Almost entirely absent of features, a rarity in hip-hop these days, the "Till It's Gone" rapper only calls upon his mentor Eminem to lead the way on their aptly collaboration "Best Friends." The album is a clear progression on the unorganized and at time compromised 2011 Radioactive, that Yelawolf regrets putting out in full. All 18-tracks on Atha's Love Story are available to stream below on Spotify. You can also go purchase the album on iTunes.
The album is a much more personal look into his life, as one might expect without any features as he slows things down and alternates between rapping and singing about topics like abuse, drugs and love.
Atha spoke to Billboard about the freedom he had making the album and the direction he wanted to go with it as an artist.
"Marshall and Paul were like, 'Hey man, go do what the f**k you wanna do. When you're done give us a call and then we'll bring you up to Detroit and we'll wrap it up and that's it,'" Atha said.
The album has been four years in the making and the process was not rushed at all, which is reflected in the final product.
"It was not at all rushed and it wasn't contrived," he contineud. "There was not one single idea on Love Story where we walked into the studio and were like, 'Man, we need a single,'" reflected Yelawolf.
The direction of this album has been something he always wanted to do with his music.
"It's the album that I fought for the freedom to do. I've definitely always wanted to do this," he said. "I'm not at all upset though. Hip-hop and being an MC obviously has taken me all the way to Shady Records and has done great for me. So I'm excited that there is this whole other base of ideas that I just unlocked. There's a lot to follow that."
