Mixtape Review: Yelawolf – Trunk Muzik

On January 1st, 2010, there was an abundance of mixtapes released to ring in the new year.

Many hip hop fans were disappointed though, as key mixtapes that were promised to be released by this date were nowhere to be found (Lupe Fiasco, Fabolous, Jay Electronica, etc)

Having said that, Yelawolf and his Ghett-O-Vision family came through in a major way with Trunk Muzik, hosted by DJ Burn One.

They set out to create a project that listeners would “really fuckin love or really fuckin hate,” and this mindset has proven to be a recipe for success!

The tape features production from Will Power of SupahotBeats, who produced a whopping 9 of the 12 tracks, as well as Kane Beatz and KP & Malay.

Since I already covered “I Wish,” “Mixin’ Up The Medicine,” and “Good To Go” in my Yelawolf interview, I decided to dig a bit deeper into the mixtape’s track list and go in on a few of my other favorites.  I also asked Will Power to give us an insider’s look on what went down behind the scenes.

Let’s start with the opening track, “Trunk Muzik:”

Yelawolf tries to use his voice as an instrument in his music by exploring different flows.  Yelawolf went to work on the progressive beat, provided by Will Power, by singing the hook and rapping at various speeds alongside the changing tempo.

The third verse has Yelawolf speaking on his nicknames, Ricky Bobby and Catfish Billy, as well as his camp’s presence in hip hop:

“I have to be the hardest,
I got diamond nuts,
I piss excellence,
Ricky Bobby lines em up,
Catfish Billy half pints em up,
Yelawolf country fries em up,
Put em in a duffle bag then and roll em in the river,
Then I,
Hold Up.
Watch what the fuck you hold up,
Dynamite sticks will blow up
Ghett-O-Vision got this sewed up,
Roll up, smoke up,
Everybody wishin they chose us,
But we don’t give a fuck, you know what,
I know you didn’t see me comin, but I’m comin anyway,
Bitch, Yelawolf is stylin’ on em.”

If you listen to enough of Yelawolf’s music, Catfish Billy and Slick Ricky Bobby will become almost as familiar as the Alabama emcee’s stage name.  I particularly like the last lines of the verse, “I know you didn’t see me comin, but I’m comin anyway/ Bitch, Yelawolf is stylin’ on em.” That’s a great summary of Yelawolf’s attitude!

Yelawolf – “F.U.”

Will Power told us that “F.U.” was actually the first track recorded off Trunk Muzik, and was intended to be an album cut.  Ghett-O-Vision was able to receive Millie Jackson’s blessing on the track, and Keshia Jackson re-cut the hook for Yelawolf off of her mom’s “Phuck U Symphony.”

Looking at the lyrics, Yelawolf wastes no time confronting haters with the first verse:

“I’m from Alabama buddy, And what?
What does that mean?
You don’t like my state?
You put a stereotype on my people homie,
Well you know exactly what I’m gonna to say,
You see me shining without a diamond at all,
But you’d rather see me stuck in the shade.
Oh you mad I’m gettin butter muthaphucker,
You don’t wanna see Yela get paid.
That’s a reasonable excuse to hate,
So thank you, I must bless you,
It’s unbelievable you could rescue the nephew and then let loose,
Who am I? Well you know who I am when Catfish Billy’s middle finger flings,
And all the love I’m getting from the critics is makin me just turn around and sing.
Sing! {Insert Chorus of ‘Fuck You’s’}.”

This track will get stuck in your head before you know it!

Yelawolf – “Love Is Not Enough.”

Yelawolf explains the motivation behind “Love Is Not Enough” in our recent interview!

Will Power pointed out that “Love Is Not Enough” was inspired by Devin The Dude’s “Anything,” and you can already tell, after just one listen, how well Yelawolf’s camp recreated The Dude’s sound!

Yelawolf captures the confused and sad emotions of a man in an ending relationship with his hook:

“Rollin down 20 mane,
With this Jack in my cup,
feeling down on my luck.
And I’m doing 120 mane,
Maybe I’m givin up,
Baby I’m givin up.
Baby what is happening?
Don’t you believe in us? Don’t you believe in us?
She said ‘I know you gave me everything,’
But love is not enough, love is not enough, love is not enough.”

Aside from the hook and impressive recreation of Devin the Dude’s sound, Yelawolf uses this track to display his storytelling skills, as each verse builds off the last.

Here’s the second verse, used to comment on the broken relationship:

“Used to fuck so much we missed school,
You was there when I needed you,
I was there when you needed me,
We were unseparable,
When I was broke with no fucking food,
You was tough enough to be cool,
Skate holes all in my shoes,
Dope boys had me confused,
I was in love with hip hop,
You was in love with that dude,
What made it come to a stop,
Had to have been the money issue,
Bitchhhh,
And I really miss the ring,
I gave you all of my soul and all I got was a key chain.”

Aside from his storytelling, fans of Yelawolf’s music enjoy hearing the artist’s many car references.  For example, the “My Box Chevy Pt 3” track was one of the most anticipated on the project, drawing a lot of buzz from its predecessor, “My Box Chevy Part 2.”

We see Yelawolf revisit this common theme with “Speak Her Sex:”

When speaking to Will Power, I found out that my favorite track off the project, “Speak Her Sex,” was actually his personal favorite as well!  He also let me know that it was Yelawolf’s idea to bring their friend, Nikkiya, on for the hook – an idea I must applaud, as she killed her feature:

“Nikkiya: Every night my little box, these speakers sexin me,
Yelawolf: Just hop in the box let the drop move you around,
Nikkiya: Hoppin out them juices flow like rivers on my sheets,
Yelawolf: So much knock in it, liftin you straight off the ground,
Nikkiya: Everything I really love be coming through them speaks,
Yelawolf: Vibrate get you so wet girl long as my speakers on,
Nikkiya: I’m cumin strong, it’s like ‘Speak Her Sex’ to me.”

Aside from the hook, which is my favorite part of the track, I feel like I’m riding along in Yelawolf’s Box Chevy when I hear him spit verses like this:

“How bout a ride, yea you,
Would you like to sit inside of this pontoon?
Sip some tea, while the sun sets over my new seats and Caprice goes boom boom,
That’s right, bright like the headlights,
High beams,
I should get a ticket the way I lean,
Robbin these rappers like me and Irene,
Oops that’s Dick and Jane,
Oops that’s my dick in Jane,
I took a shot of Jack D and I threw the dice on the board like it was a Christmas game.
Mylo,
You got tube socks and a box of Krispey Kreme,
And a wish list for the business in the back of the whip with this mystic mane.”

The other sexual track off the mixtape features Diamond, previously of Crime Mobb, getting nasty with Yelawolf on “Lick The Cat.”

Although it was disappointing to not find a remix to “I Wish,” featuring Pill, as was alluded to in our interview, I was happy to hear the remix to “Mixin’ Up The Medicine,” featuring a verse from Yelawolf.

With no skits and only 12 tracks, Trunk Muzik is one of the more enjoyable mixtapes I have listened to in a while.  The short length left me wanting to hear another Yelawolf project, but I was satisfied with the great sample of his talent.

For more on Yelawolf, check out our feature article and recent interview.   Download the Trunk Muzik project here via DJ Booth.  If you’re in Atlanta on January 22nd, be sure to stop by SMKA’s release party as Yelawolf is scheduled to give a performance.