If I told you there was this white guy named Yelawolf, born Michael Wayne Atha, who grew up in Alabama listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd, you’d probably develop some pretty hasty stereotypes about him.

If I then told you he was also half Cherokee (hence the stage name) and considered becoming a pro skateboarder before doing the music thing, that stereotype might go in a completely different direction, but one image it almost certainly wouldn’t conjure is that of one of hip-hop’s hottest rising stars.

That’s right—this kid who looks like something in between Eminem and Travis Barker is the hottest new rapper I’ve come across since J. Cole (who’s new album is hot, hot heat, by the way). He’s been featured on a track from the new Big Boi album and has made cameos for Slim Thug and Juelz Santana as well, but his own debut record won’t hit stores until September. Still, there’s enough stuff from the kid out there already for us to know that Yelawolf is the real deal.

Seriously, he’s bona fide.

Check out “Pop the Trunk” or “I Wish” to witness Yela successfully walking that delicate tight rope between lyrics and flow. There’s a very clear southern influence in most of his early songs, compiled on his Trunk Muzik mixtape, both in terms of beats and his clearly Alabaman twang. That, added to his energetic, quick-tongued lyrical style, gives him a unique vibe that’s earned him quite a lot of recognition before even recording an album with his new label, Interscope Records—coincidentally, also Eminem’s label.

He’s infectious, and one of the better “fast” rappers I’ve heard in a long time. That style sort of went out when the popularity of Bone Thugs and Twista waned a little bit, but this is a guy who’ll make you want to sit and figure out what he’s saying so you can sing along in your car. The beats hit, the lyrics are tight, and Yelawolf is legitimately doing some innovative stuff with the genre.

How many half-white, half-Cherokee skateboarding rappers from Alabama do you know? At least one, but that’s more than you probably knew yesterday, and trust me—you’ll be glad I added him to repertoire.

Check out “I Wish” here:

And “Pop the Trunk”:

I like my hip-hop blended with a splash of Indian music.  Well, bangra music to be exact.  Yeah, that’s how I roll.  In order to get a good feel for what I am talking about, we will need to drop on back to 2003, and take a listen to Panjabi MC’s Beware.  If you claim that you have been exposed to Indian culture because you watched Slumdog Millionaire, well, you need to get out more.  Strap yourself in and let’s learn you something new.

Panjabi MC, aka Rajinder Singh Rai, had been crafting beats for a while when he finally got deserved attention in 2002-2003.  Are you wondering where his moniker came from?  Well, I am glad you asked.  His stage name “Panjabi” pays homage to his Punjabi culture.  “MC” pays homage to Master of Ceremonies.  With me so far?  Now that you understand his name, it is important to understand the music.  Panjabi MC has made it a goal to create a unique fusion of bhangra and hip-hop.  What we get is a beat driven style that never quits.  Do you need to understand all of the lyrics to enjoy the music?  Not at all.  I mean, do you honestly understand the lyrics of most of the current hip-hop coming out of the states?  My point exactly.

Beware really gained steam in 2003, because of its phenomenal head-bobbing title track.  It also didn’t hurt that Jay-Z tossed his talent into the mix.  Add it all up and you got yourself an international smash hit.  Since Beware, Panjabi MC has continued to put out new music and find ways to forge great partnerships with other artists.  Beware was a big deal for me because it marked a eye-opening moment in my musical appreciation.  Panjabi MC reminded me that there is a whole bunch of music floating around the globe that is just waiting to be shared with others.  Get your dancing shoes on and expand your horizons with Beware.

KC’s Personal Picks: “Beware”, “Jogi” and “Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee”

Scope out the Jay-Z remix of “Beware”

Buy the Album

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So in researching this week’s Throwback, I literally tripped and fell down the rabbit hole. Well, okay, so I’m using the word “literally” wrong here; I didn’t literally trip and fall into any hole, but if you’re familiar with any incarnation of “Alice and Wonderland,” you get the allusion. I was minding my own business, and before I knew it there was a whole unknown world sitting right in front of me.

I should explain. I wanted to feature “Lucas With the Lid Off” this week—a killer jazz-infused hip-hop track from 1994—but doubted that I’d find anything recent about the songwriter, the aptly named “Lucas.” I was wrong.

Turns out that after the video for “Lucas With the Lid Off” was nominated for a Grammy, Lucas Secon stepped out of the limelight and decided to focus on production instead. I took a look at his résumé and felt my jaw drop. Check this out:

Britney Spears
Pixie Lott
Kylie Minogue
Weezer
Sean Paul
Toni Braxton
Gym Class Heroes
Jordin Sparks
The Pussycat Dolls
Sean Kingston
Aaron Carter
Mos Def

That’s only a sample of the people he helped write songs for. And then there’s the story of how he introduced the Notorious B.I.G. to Puff Daddy. I mean, he didn’t exactly discover one of the top three greatest rappers of all time, but he certainly played a huge role in getting him to fame and fortune, right?

See what I mean? Rabbit hole.

To tie it all up in a pretty bow, Secon’s father and Uncle Morris founded Pottery Barn in the 1950s. You can’t make this shit up.

To come full circle, allow me introduce you to “Lucas With the Lid Off,” one of my favorite songs of the ‘90s and a pretty sweet video, to boot. But I gotta wrap this up. I’m late. I’m late for a very important date.

Let’s make a list of the things that Atlanta group The Constellations have going for them:

#1 – They’ve got an awesome logo:

#2 – They combine rap and rock in a way that’s not gimmicky or unauthentic, which is really, really hard to do.
#3 – Their new album, “Southern Gothic,” not only has one of the better album names of 2010 so far, but also features studs like Cee-Lo Green and Asher Roth.
#4 – They know who the great Tom Waits is, and even dedicated an entire song to the guy.
#5 – Capturing real local color on a record isn’t easy, but these guys have deliberately assembled eleven songs that do exactly that for the city of Atlanta. It’s ambitious and fun, and we like that sort of thing.

And there’s more. A lot more, actually, starting with the swagger of lead singer Elijah Jones, who’s got a completely unique and exciting vocal style. Do in large part to Jones’s nasally, too-cool-for-school vocal cadences, these guys have the potential to be the sort of band that is instantly recognizable the moment they come on the radio with a new song. You’ll say, “Isn’t this The Constellations?” And your friend will be all, “Yup.” And you’ll have known because Jones is so distinctive.

We first fell in love with the guys upon hearing “Felicia,” a seedy, tambouriney party anthem about a buxom beauty in a club, because it was so fun and energetic. The rest of “Southern Gothic” is equally entertaining, each track trying on different vibes and styles and genres. “Setback” is hip-hoppy, “Perfect Day” is indie-ish, “Love Is A Murder” is somewhere in between pop and soul, and “Step Right Up” is a jam-tastic musical narrative.

How many words did I make up in that last paragraph? I count four, but The Constellations probably deserve more.

For audio diversity, for fun, for a fair musical portrayal of night life in Atlanta, you’ve got to pick up “Southern Gothic.” We’ve got a list of five things they currently have going for them, but that list is going to grow, and quickly. Don’t wait for these guys to hit it big before you jump on their bandwagon. The Constellations are stars already. (Get it?)

Check out “Love Is A Murder,” featuring Cee-Lo:

And pick up “Southern Gothic” as soon as you can!

Aw naw, hell naw boy ya’ll done up and done it. It’s like pure poetry. Could have came right from Edgar Allen Poe or Ernest Hemingway. But alas, this gem came from the Nappy Roots.  I first heard “Aw Naw” in college during my most formidable years. There was nothing like getting the party started with a little Nappy Roots (and possibly some “No Diggity” or “California Love”, but that’s neither here nor there.)

This hip-hop group from Kentucky is probably best known for their 2002 single “Po’ Folks”.  Eight years later and the boys are still kicking with their latest release (and see if you can catch the play on words here) The Pursuit of Nappyness.  The entire album includes super funky fresh beats throughout as well as an Outkast-ish style of rapping.  The album is a little more club-ish than we here at FreshScouts are used to, but everyone’s got to hit the town for booty scrumpin’ sometimes right?

Check out the video for the single “Ride”:

Buy the album:

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