Raised in Gadsden, Alabama, Atha appeared on the reality series The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott and released his independent debut album Creek Water in 2005. Two years later, Atha signed to Columbia Records and released the single "Kickin'" from his unreleased first studio album, before being released from the label later that same year. From 2008 to 2010, Atha released an extended play and four mixtapes with Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment. Trunk Muzik 0-60, Atha's fourth mixtape, was also released by Interscope Records. In 2011, Atha signed to Shady Records and his debut studio album Radioactive was released on November 21, 2011 to positive reviews. It entered the Billboard 200 at number 27. He spent much of his childhood in various locations around the southern United States, including Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Atlanta, Georgia, and Antioch, Tennessee.
Atha is half white and Cherokee, and the name Yelawolf is a reference to his Native American roots.
Yelawolf is an avid skateboarder and made attempts at a professional skateboarding career but was forced to abandon due to injuries. Yelawolf began releasing mixtapes independently in 2007. He was briefly signed to Columbia Records in 2007 and left the label the same year.
In 2009, Yelawolf was featured on the Slim Thug album Boss of All Bosses, and in the lead single Mixin' Up the Medicine from Juelz Santana's upcoming album Born to Lose, Built to Win. In 2010 he appeared in the track Down This Road from Bizarre's third studio album Friday Night at St. Andrews, in Big Boi's first solo album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty track "You Ain't No DJ" which was produced by André 3000, and his most recent appareance is in Paul Wall's fifth studio album Heart of a Champion track "Live It" which also features Jay Electronica and Raekwon, produced by Travis Barker. In 2010, Atha confirmed he has signed with Interscope Records, he announced that he is working in his debut studio album with the label, and has a desire to work with Eminem.
In 2011 Yelawolf revealed that he went to visit Eminem in Detroit, Michigan and has subsequently been signed to Shady Records.
Radioactive Introduction
Yelawolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Three nuclear bombs have been launched from North Korea and will hit
Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York City, New York
This will expire at five o'clock A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Please get to an underground shelter or a fallout shelter at this time
Once again, three nuclear bombs have been launched by North Korea
And will hit Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York city, new york
This warning will expire at five o'clock am eastern standard time
I am
I am the American Eagle, eyes of a sparrow
Right hand branch, left hand arrow
Chasing a dollar, in an Impala
White trash heart throb, mellow yellow
Drinking hard liquor, brauds get on my level
I'm hotter than the bottom side of a whistlin' kettle
They threw a mountain at me, I got hit with a pebble
Sent me to hell, and I shit on the Devil
Try to bury my Chevy box but I won't buckle
And that's a deep hole bitch, bring your own shovel
Long gone, I'm grown up, and I'm gone cut you
With a chrome blade, if you want a play then holmes fuck you
Fuck you till you can't take a shit
Yeah I'm a fucking a tsunami, better anchor the ship
Aim for the ankles and wrist, I came for the dangerous shit
I claimed to be named for the hits, the game is a chain that I grip
Slang from the pain of a trip it took to see Wayne in the whip
I became what I came to get the chains for the chain I give
A quarter for your thought, appreciate the contribution
Slumerican, I'd appreciate the Constitution
Alleviate the crew when, I leave a page in ruins
To each is own, I guess I own each and every room in
The house I built is full of hopes, no ifs
So I stand with a giant like a king, no stilts
If I'm Generation X, I'm sellin' Ex, no pills
Dopeman chopping up lines you don't sniff
Read 'em, I'm bringin' back booklets and hookless, lyrics
So you can be certain just in case you didn't hear it
But what he says, come again? What is that?
Come to Earth, touchdown, I might be your running back
Because you hot then run it back, stay cool enough to wear
Toboggans as a summer hat
Steady on the throne I rap, hope there's no one under that
Rock that I roll, mosh pit flow
Girls on your shoulders get topless at the show
Fuck your mop and glow, can't mop a dirt road
It only makes mud, raised around a deer
I know how to chase bucks
Babysitter, sixteen, taught me how to make fuck
At seven, I've been raising hell
So I can make it to Heaven
Pick up a two-Liter but I only need the plastic
I know how to make bombs with aluminum and acid
Butterfly effect over hurricane's magic
Tornado pathin', rear view mirror of my eighty seven classic
I'm talking about Gadsden
Look mama no hands, I'm radioactive
The opening lines of YelaWolf's Radioactive Introduction create a sense of urgency and chaos. The lyrics describe a warning issued by the United States Army stating that three nuclear bombs have been launched by North Korea, and will hit Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York City. The listener is urged to seek shelter in an underground or fallout shelter immediately. The lyrics build suspense, with the warning being repeated and the time limit for action emphasized. The reference to a nuclear attack, combined with the eerie instrumental introduction, leaves the listener with a feeling of unease.
After this ominous introduction, the lyrics shift gears to YelaWolf's personal story. He describes himself as the "American Eagle," with the eyes of a sparrow and hands that are both branches and arrows. He refers to his pursuit of money in a car, his tendency to drink hard liquor, and his rebellious nature as "white trash heartthrob." YelaWolf's skill as a lyricist comes through in catchy phrases like "hotter than the bottom side of a whistlin' kettle" and "I shit on the Devil." He boasts of his resilience and determination, even in the face of obstacles, claiming that he won't buckle in the face of a deep hole.
Overall, the lyrics to Radioactive Introduction are multifaceted, covering difficult topics like nuclear war and personal adversity while also boasting YelaWolf's skills as a rapper.
Line by Line Meaning
The United States Army has issued a warning
The military has released a notification about a severe situation.
Three nuclear bombs have been launched from North Korea and will hit
Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York City, New York
Three nuclear bombs have been launched by North Korea, destined to hit some major cities of the US.
This will expire at five o'clock A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Please get to an underground shelter or a fallout shelter at this time
The warning is set to expire at a particular time, and citizens are advised to seek shelter to avoid the aftermath of the nuclear attack.
Once again, three nuclear bombs have been launched by North Korea
And will hit Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York city, new york
This warning will expire at five o'clock am eastern standard time
Yet again, the US is being attacked by North Korea through nuclear missiles aimed at major cities. The warning is set to expire at a specific time.
I am
The moment of danger seems to have passed since the artist is introducing himself.
I am the American Eagle, eyes of a sparrow
Right hand branch, left hand arrow
Chasing a dollar, in an Impala
He compares himself to an eagle with sharp eyesight, holding an arrow in one hand, and a branch on the other, chasing after wealth in a Chevrolet Impala.
White trash heart throb, mellow yellow
Drinking hard liquor, brauds get on my level
I'm hotter than the bottom side of a whistlin' kettle
Describing himself as a popular figure for white trash, he drinks hard liquor, and girls are attracted to him. He feels he's on fire and unstoppable.
They threw a mountain at me, I got hit with a pebble
Sent me to hell, and I shit on the Devil
Although a mountain was thrown at him, he brushes it off as it was only equivalent to a pebble. Even when he went through hell, he was still majorly unaffected.
Try to bury my Chevy box but I won't buckle
And that's a deep hole bitch, bring your own shovel
He refuses to be broken by any obstacles, regardless of how bad they are. And for those who wish to bury him, they should expect it to be a deep hole to dig.
Long gone, I'm grown up, and I'm gone cut you
With a chrome blade, if you want a play then holmes fuck you
The artist has evolved and is more matured now. He's willing to engage in a fight if necessary, and if anyone wants to play with him, they should know what to expect.
Fuck you till you can't take a shit
Yeah, I'm a fucking tsunami, better anchor the ship
He's willing to hurt his enemies so bad that they'll lose control of their bowel movement. He's a force to reckon with and can wipe out anyone in his path with ease.
Aim for the ankles and wrist, I came for the dangerous shit
I claimed to be named for the hits, the game is a chain that I grip
He aims to hit strategic body parts while being in the streets filled with danger. He's confident in his ability to cause trouble and create a buzz in the music industry.
Slang from the pain of a trip it took to see Wayne in the whip
I became what I came to get the chains for the chain I give
His experiences gave him the street-smart language, including seeing Lil Wayne with a car inspired by that trip. He attained the level of success he wanted but didn't forget to give back to those who helped him.
A quarter for your thought, appreciate the contribution
Slumerican, I'd appreciate the Constitution
Alleviate the crew when, I leave a page in ruins
He values people's opinions, and he's willing to offer monetary rewards for them. He values the American constitution and its principles. He promises to replace the destroyed pages from an old book.
To each is own, I guess I own each and every room in
The house I built is full of hopes, no ifs
Although he owns everything in his home, he ensures everyone has their space. The house they built is filled with optimism and no doubts.
So I stand with a giant like a king, no stilts
If I'm Generation X, I'm sellin' Ex, no pills
Even if the person he's standing with is a formidable force like a king, he doesn't need stilts. He's part of the millennial generation and sells experience rather than pills.
Dopeman chopping up lines you don't sniff
Read 'em, I'm bringin' back booklets and hookless, lyrics
Drug dealers cut lines of drugs into tiny portions, but he's cutting up books into sections. He's bringing back the era of booklets, and his lyrics have no hooks.
So you can be certain just in case you didn't hear it
But what he says, come again? What is that?
To avoid any confusion, he repeats himself so people can understand him. He questions the ignorance of people who didn't hear him.
Come to Earth, touchdown, I might be your running back
Because you hot then run it back, stay cool enough to wear
Toboggans as a summer hat
He uses an analogy of a football player scoring a touchdown to explain the concept of taking advantage of good opportunities. One should remain calm being hot and cool enough to wear winter hats in the summer.
Steady on the throne I rap, hope there's no one under that
Rock that I roll, mosh pit flow
He's confident and steady on his throne as he raps, but he doesn't want to hurt anyone in the process. His music style can invigorate a crowd to a level where people dance aggressively in a mosh pit.
Girls on your shoulders get topless at the show
Fuck your mop and glow, can't mop a dirt road
He exclaims that his concerts are wild enough where girls will get on their friends' shoulders and flash their breasts. There's no need for a floor cleaner named Mop and Glow. It can't clean filthy roads.
It only makes mud, raised around a deer
I know how to chase bucks
Babysitter, sixteen, taught me how to make fuck
Trying to clean a dirty road only makes more mud. He grew up around wildlife, and he knows how to find valuable things. He learned how to have sex when sixteen by someone paid to babysit him.
At seven, I've been raising hell
So I can make it to Heaven
Pick up a two-Liter but I only need the plastic
He started being mischievous at the age of seven. He's strives to get to heaven through his actions. He's confident enough to know he only needs the plastic portion of the two-liter bottle.
I know how to make bombs with aluminum and acid
Butterfly effect over hurricane's magic
Tornado pathin', rear view mirror of my eighty seven classic
I'm talking about Gadsden
He knows how to create bombs with some household items, and he explains the dramatic consequences of a small action. He controls the path of which his life takes, much like hurricanes and tornadoes. His car is an eighty-seven classics model, and he refers to a place named Gadsden.
Look mama no hands, I'm radioactive
He's referencing his mother and says he's radioactive, like someone who's dangerous.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL WAYNE ATHA, WILLIAM BOOKER WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jonathan M. Lamont
These bars are beyond anything mainstream is dealing rn
Poetic Outlaw
He spent time getting really good at music, before even releasing his first album. He's a true creative hard-working artist.
mncarguy
Sick song. The beginning still trips me out hardcore..
Fl0ww
Listening to this high as a kite 🔥
Arin Hillman
Same
Gavin West
Morphine pills and Blunts 🤯
SMOKE 3
Fuck I'm 70 bongs in and a cpl double jacks passion pop and sum Kahlua n milk fuckin itttt
Kurtis Gniadek
Lmfao 🤣❄🥶
Olivia Spottedwolf
Haha first time I ever heard this song I was on the back roads with my love and we smoked a blunt and just chilled then this cd played and I started trippin on the first part. Lmao shit go to me especially cause I was fucking blown.
Hustlaz Muzik
That's some crazy shit man, bc i swear to god the same thing happen to me homie, i tripped fucking balls lol