Veteran rapper Yelawolf surprised fans by announcing his new album, “Trunk Muzik 3“, which includes a song called “Rowdy” featuring Machine Gun Kelly (MGK). MGK has been in a rap battle with Yelawolf’s mentor, Eminem. The song is a powerful anthem that highlights the talents of both rappers and could help ease tensions in the hip-hop feud.
How “Rowdy” Came to Be
According to Yelawolf, the song “Rowdy” was initially intended to be a peace offering between MGK and Eminem, who had a long-standing beef over various issues, including comments about Eminem’s daughter. Yelawolf, signed to Eminem’s label, Shady Records, teamed up with legendary producer DJ Paul to create the track and wanted both rappers to be on it.
“I sent my verse to Kells, he sent his verse back, and then I sent it to Em. And I haven’t heard anything back from Em. So I just took it as ‘He ain’t fucking with it,'”
Yelawolf said in an interview.
The Plot Thickens
However, things took an unexpected turn when Eminem dropped his surprise album, “Kamikaze,” in 2018, which included a scathing diss track against MGK called “Not Alike.” Yelawolf was unaware of this and was shocked when he heard it. Meanwhile, MGK had already recorded his verse for “Rowdy” and even mentioned it in his diss track, “Rap Devil,” where he taunted Eminem for not responding to Yelawolf’s offer.
“I sent you a record with Yelawolf / To make a whole song about you called ‘Rowdy’ / You should thank me for all the attention I gave you,”
MGK rapped on “Rap Devil.”
Yelawolf’s Bold Move
Despite the escalating tension, Yelawolf decided to still release “Rowdy” as part of his fifth album, “Trunk Muzik 3“, his final project under Shady Records. He called Eminem and explained the situation, and to his surprise, Eminem gave him the green light to go ahead with the song, even with MGK’s verse on it.
“He was like, ‘Fuck it, man, run it. People need to hear that. People want to hear that.’ He was super cool about it, man. He’s always been selfless with me and my work,”
Yelawolf said.
Respect for the Art and the Artists
Yelawolf also praised MGK for his response to Eminem’s diss, saying that he respected him for his quick comeback and for standing his ground. He said that he had no personal issues with MGK and was a fan of his music.
“He did his thing, man. He came back fast. He stood up for himself. I respect that. I respect anybody who stands up for themselves,”
Yelawolf said.
He also clarified his position on the feud, saying he was loyal to Eminem and respected MGK for holding his own. He hoped that the song “Rowdy” would help ease the tension between the two rappers or show that they could coexist on the same track.
“I’m Shady till I die. That’s my brother. But I also respect Kells for doing his thing. I hope that ‘Rowdy’ can be a bridge or at least show that we can all make music together,”
Yelawolf said.
The Bottom Line
“Rowdy” is a remarkable song that showcases the talent and versatility of both Yelawolf and MGK while shedding light on the behind-the-scenes story of the hip-hop feud. Yelawolf played a crucial role in facilitating the collaboration and getting Eminem’s approval. The song is a testament to the power of music and the respect artists can have for each other, even amid a rap battle.
