Exclusive Yelawolf Portraits
Select shots and stats of the firebrand MC.
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Country Cousin - Although he was born in Gadsden, Alabama, and often reps Rainbow City Alabama, Yela has lived all over the South, calling Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Antioch, Tennessee; Gainesville, Florida, and Atlanta home. (Photo: Candice Lawler/BET)
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Chasing Dreams - Yela never finished high school in the traditional sense but he got his GED from Gadsden State Community College and with a car given to him by his stepfather, headed off to Berkeley, California, to pursue a career as a professional skateboarder. Repeated injuries caused him to re-evaluate that career path.(Photo: Candice Lawler/BET)
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The Road to Stardom - In 2005 Yelawolf appeared on the reality televison series The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott. Traveling coast to coast on a tour bus, Yela competed against other aspiring talent for a record contract and $100,000. Yela left the show in the early rounds of the competition.(Photo: Candice Lawler/BET)
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Kickin' It - Two years after The Road to Stardom, Yelawolf signed a deal with Columbia Records where he released the single "Kickin'."(Photo: Candice Lawler/BET)
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Grind Time - After his short-lived deal with Columbia Records, Yela spent the time between 2008 and 2010 on an intense grind. He released a bunch of mixtapes. The most notable being Trunk Muzik, which was released in January 2010.(Photo: Candice Lawler/BET)
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Trunk Muzik - Trunk Muzik, which featured Bun B, Diamond, Raekwon and Juelz Santana, became a breakout project for Yela, garnering national recognition.(Photo: Candice Lawler/BET)