Few are surprised that the Internet’s latest sensation MC and skateboarder Yelawolf is drawing comparisons to rap legend Eminem. But after recently wowing crowds at this year’s South By Southwest, the Los Angeles Times joined numerous fans in declaring the Huntsville, Alabama, native “the best White rapper since Eminem.”
Unfortunately, Yelawolf, 27, doesn’t read the LA Timesor anything about himself, for that matter.
“I dont go online. I would prefer not to hear peoples opinions, good or bad,” Yelawolf told VIBE. “It just helps me [stay] where Im supposed to be as an artist.”
Yelawho worked as a deep sea fisherman in Seattle before his music took offmissed much of the hoopla over his South By Southwest sets, which included a Fader stage, and a Nahright stage. He also claimed to have miss the Eminem comparison. “I havent heard that. Oh, that’s great, man!” he said. “I swear on everything on my life, thats the first time Ive ever heard that. But thats awesome, man. Eminem is a f**king robot. Hes the greatest recording artist Ive ever heard, period. When it comes to rapping words, its like hes a robot. Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Mystikal, Twista, Pharoahe Monch…these guys got this robot-precision, and Ems got that. Hes just phenomenal. So for anybody to say that, its just the highest compliment and I appreciate it.”
While Yela hasn’t met Em yet, he assures, “If I’m ever in the same room with him, I definitely would holla at him. Im sure in the near future well cross paths.”
Besides working on a follow-up to his mixtape, Trunk Muzik, Yelawolf is currently on a 20-date tour with Wiz Khalifa.For more go to Vibe.com.