Tag Archives: hottest-breakthrough

Lil Twist Reps Young Money In Hottest Breakthrough MC Race

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Can 18-year-old up-and-comer top MTV News’ 2011 list? Vote now! By Rob Markman Lil Twist Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News You try standing out on a label headed by Lil Wayne and anchored by Drake and Nicki Minaj . That’s exactly what Lil Twist did in 2011 as he carved out his own identity in the omnipresent YMCMB machine. Twist appeared on the 2011 XXL Freshman cover at the top of the year and capitalized on that exposure by releasing a number of singles, including his cheater’s ballad “Love Affair” with Young Money boss Lil Wayne. From there the Mohawked Dallas, Texas, rapper released “New Money” with R&B crooner Mishon and then “Turnt Up,” a rapid-fire Busta Rhymes collaboration. The 18-year-old up-and-comer also hit the road this year, joining labelmate Tyga and R&B group Mindless Behavior on the Closer to My Dreams Tour. When he wasn’t out performing, Twist was busy putting the finishing touches on his upcoming debut album, Don’t Get It Twisted. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established by MTV News in 2010 as a fan-driven initiative that spotlights, celebrates and cultivates new talent. MTV News chose a pool of young rappers and urged fans to vote for their favorite. When it was all said and done, Wiz Khalifa emerged as the Hottest Breakthrough of last year. The competition was tough, but the Taylor Gang General beat out runner-up Nicki Minaj, ATL group Travis Porter, Diggy Simmons and J. Cole. This year, you can vote for Lil Twist (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com , and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, MTV News will spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude December 13 when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC , an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner December 13 on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs Related Artists Lil Twist

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Freddie Gibbs Is Tough Candidate For Hottest Breakthrough MC

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Gangsta Gibbs’ mixtapes earned him a deal with Young Jeezy and a spot on MTV News’ 2011 Hottest Breakthrough list — vote now! By Nadeska Alexis Freddie Gibbs Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News When Freddie Gibbs joined Sway on “RapFix Live” in September, the Gary, Indiana, native was firm in insisting that he would never stray from the deeply lyrical gangster rap that fans now expect from him. His recent deal with Young Jeezy ‘s CTE label bolstered his efforts and kept the spotlight on his releases this year, earning him a nomination for MTV News’ Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 . Despite a fizzled deal with Interscope Records in 2007, Gibbs (born Frederick Tipton) continued his rise to lyrical prominence by dropping popular mixtapes, including 2009’s The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs and Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik . The success of those two mixtapes landed him a spot on XXL ‘s 2010 Freshman cover, but that was only the beginning for Gangsta Gibbs. The 29-year-old rapper continued his manic music run, releasing the independent EP Str8 Killa No Filla via Decon Records in 2010, and in April he made his biggest career move thus far, inking a new deal with Young Jeezy’s CTE (Corporate Thugz Entertainment). Besides teaming up with the Snowman on singles like “Run DMC” and “Do It for You,” Gibbs put in some extra time in the lab, turning out his mixtape Cold Day in Hell in October. The project showcased his growth, with standout cuts including “Anything to Survive” and “Menace II Society” and a slew of guest features from Freeway, Jeezy, Juicy J and 2 Chainz. Major label or not, don’t expect Gibbs to soften the content of his material anytime soon. “I wanna be taboo. I want your parents to not want my music in your iPod,” Gibbs told MTV News. “I want your mom to be scared of what I’m talking about because it’s so real.” His fellow contenders for Hottest Breakthrough MC should probably be scared too. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established by MTV News in 2010 as a fan-driven initiative that spotlights, celebrates and cultivates new talent. MTV News chose a pool of young rappers and urged fans to vote for their favorite. When it was all said and done, Wiz Khalifa emerged as the Hottest Breakthrough of last year. The competition was tough, but the Taylor Gang General beat out runner-up Nicki Minaj, ATL group Travis Porter, Diggy Simmons and J. Cole. This year, you can vote for Machine Gun Kelly (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com , and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, we’ll spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude on December 13 when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC, an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner December 13 on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs ‘RapFix Live’ With Freddie Gibbs, Kendrick Lamar And Jay Rock Related Artists Freddie Gibbs

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Machine Gun Kelly Calls Hottest Breakthrough MC Nod ‘An Honor’

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Bad Boy signee MGK says, ‘I want to be the hottest ,’ on MTV News’ 2011 list — vote now! By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Machine Gun Kelly Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News Machine Gun Kelly went from a troubled youth trying to find his way in the streets of Cleveland to one of rap’s top prospects in a year’s time. Now, not only has the rapid-fire lyricist gone on to sign with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, he’s already cutting records with Waka Flocka Flame and his idol, DMX. MGK has created so much of a stir in the rap game that he is now a nominee for MTV News’ 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC. “To be considered for the hottest breakthrough MC of 2011, it’s obviously an honor, but I want to be the hottest . I’ve never been comfortable with sharing anything: I was a single child,” Machine Gun Kelly said on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live.” Kells began battle-rapping around 2004 while he was still in high school, and graduated to the studio in 2006 when he dropped his very first mixtape, Stamp of Approval . All the while, he struggled through school, but eventually graduated. Kells went on to work a few odd jobs and become a dad. In 2010, he dropped another tape, 100 Words and Runnin’ — but it was with his second tape that year, Lace Up, that folks really began to take notice. Songs like his hometown ode “Cleveland” and the heartfelt “End of the Road” went on to establish MGK as not only a relatable MC, but a fully capable spitter as well. Kells went on to tour and perform across the country, then in August, he announced on “RapFix Live” he had signed a deal with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records . Now MGK is putting the finishing touches on his debut, set to drop in 2012. One of the album’s guests will be Kells’ all-time favorite rapper, DMX. For MGK, recording with the dog was surreal. “I felt like he was going to think I was weird because I kept staring at him the whole time, ’cause I’m like, ‘Dude, this is my idol,’ ” MGK said. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established by MTV News in 2010 as a fan-driven initiative that spotlights, celebrates and cultivates new talent. MTV News chose a pool of young rappers and urged fans to vote for their favorite. When it was all said and done, Wiz Khalifa emerged as the Hottest Breakthrough of last year. The competition was tough, but the Taylor Gang General beat out runner-up Nicki Minaj, ATL group Travis Porter, Diggy Simmons and J. Cole. This year, you can vote for Machine Gun Kelly (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com, and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, we’ll spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude December 13 when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC, an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner December 13 on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs ‘RapFix Live’ With Machine Gun Kelly And Kendrick Lamar Related Artists Machine Gun Kelly

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Meek Mill Shows Who’s ‘Boss’ As Hottest Breakthrough MC Candidate

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

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Lady Gaga Is ‘Fearless’ In ‘Marry The Night’ Video

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Born This Way collaborator Fernando Garibay calls the clip a ‘thank you’ to Gaga’s label, Interscope. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Vanessa WhiteWolf Lady Gaga Photo: Joe Scarnici/ WireImage Lady Gaga has said the 14-minute “Marry the Night” video is an avant garde look at her early struggles before hitting it big, and frequent musical collaborator Fernando Garibay told MTV News he remembers seeing a lot of that strife that plays out in the clip. “She directed the whole video. It was her concept from beginning to end,” he said. “It was amazing to see. I was brought in to do the music for the video and additional scoring and such, and so I got to sit and watch the whole process. It’s pretty spectacular. It’s still breathtaking how much effort and input she has for concepts. … I might be biased, but it’s my favorite video so far. It looks great, and it captures the feeling of the song. It’s her story.” So what exactly is that story? The video follows a fictionalized Gaga pursuing her dreams as a ballerina. After she’s told to quit, she reinvents herself and becomes a pop sensation. It mirrors her real-life story of being dropped by Island/Def Jam before being signed to Interscope Records, and the rest is history. “It wasn’t easy — that’s like an understatement,” Garibay said of Gaga’s early days in the industry. “It wasn’t easy for her to get started in the music business, and I was there early on when she was already taking extreme risks. And a lot of the stuff, it’s tough to watch, ’cause I’ve seen that happen, some of those parts. And her honoring and paying homage to Interscope — ’cause it’s great, ’cause it’s our label and they were always believers in us, particularly her — so it’s great to see that. It’s like gratitude. It’s like a ‘thank you.’ ” In the lead-up to the video, Garibay said his pop-star pal wasn’t in any way scared to put so much of her life out there for public consumption. “I don’t think she’s nervous at all,” he said. “She’s fearless. There’s nothing to hide with her. She really put a lot of herself out there this time, but it’s something we see all the time. It’s nice for the public to see the story and what happened and the true expression of herself in video. It is very autobiographical. She’s been wanting to tell the story, so she finally got the opportunity. So it’ll be interesting to see what’s gonna happen next with her vision.” What did you think of the “Marry the Night” video? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos MTV First: Lady Gaga Related Artists Lady Gaga

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Kendrick Lamar Kicks Off Hottest Breakthrough MCs!

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Cali MC got a boost from Drake and Dr. Dre, but he didn’t rely on co-signs to make MTV News’ 2011 Hottest Breakthrough list — vote now! By Rob Markman Kendrick Lamar Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News The year started off with a bang for Kendrick Lamar . After appearing on the cover of XXL ‘s Freshmen issue and in MTV News’ New West coverage , the Compton, California, MC proceeded to show and prove. Now, K. Dot is a 2011 MTV News Hottest Breakthrough MC candidate. He may have received a co-sign from Dr. Dre, but Kendrick didn’t use the Doc’s glowing endorsement as a crutch. Instead, he hit the studio and in July released Section.80, a tightly woven independent album on which he examined his place in the world. Songs like the J. Cole-produced “HiiiPower,” the soulful “Kush & Corinthians” and the socially enlightening “Ronald Reagan Era” proved that not only is Kendrick one of the most exciting newcomers, he also has substance to rival most veterans. Not just message-heavy, Section.80 also displayed Lamar’s ability to spit raw rhymes on “Rigamortus” and “The Spiteful Chant.” Kendrick — who made his name releasing free music online — for the first time set a price point with Section.80 and sold it on iTunes. It was another mark of his growth. “It was something that I had to understand, that my company had to make me understand. I’m putting out this free music, constantly putting it out,” Lamar told MTV News back in July of his old way of thinking. “My whole thing is bringing music back to where people actually buy it, but at the same time, you know what? I don’t think I’m ready yet to start selling my project, because I feel the world don’t know me yet.” This year, thanks to his hustle, drive and, of course, overall talent, Kendrick is in contention. Aside from his solo material, the nimble-tongued MC has been working with Dre on Detox and landed key appearances on Game’s The R.E.D. Album, TechN9ne’s All 6’s and 7’s and his own solo track “Buried Alive” on Drake’s Take Care. In fact, Drizzy has taken such a liking to Kendrick that he has booked the budding MC to open for him during his Club Paradise Tour in 2012. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established in 2010 by MTV News as a fan-driven initiative that spotlights, celebrates and cultivates new talent. MTV News chose a pool of young rappers and urged fans to vote for their favorite. When it was all said and done, Wiz Khalifa emerged as the Hottest Breakthrough of last year. The competition was tough, but the Taylor Gang General beat out runner-up Nicki Minaj, ATL group Travis Porter, Diggy Simmons and J. Cole. This year, you can vote for Kendrick (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com , and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, we’ll spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude December 13 when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC, an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner December 13 on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs Related Artists Kendrick Lamar

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Josiah Leming Returns, Reinvigorated, With Come On Kid

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I know I’ve still got a lot to prove, but I’m ready,’ the ‘American Idol’ castoff says of his debut, due September 14. By James Montgomery Josiah Leming on the cover of his album Come On Kid Photo: Warner Bros. Josiah Leming knows you’ve probably forgotten about him. After all, there was a time not that long ago when he had forgotten about himself too. “Absolutely, people have forgotten me, and rightfully so. I haven’t given them too much to think about,” he laughed. “I basically disappeared for a while. I had let the momentum drop. I hadn’t been writing. I was stubborn, and I was not prepared to fully dedicate myself to this. I had completely lost touch. And then, three little words popped into my head.” Those words were “Come On Kid,” a mantra he kept repeating to himself as he fought to rediscover the spark that had made him a standout on “American Idol” back in 2008 (despite not even making the top 24 ) and earned him an unheard-of contract with Warner Bros. Records soon after. Eventually, the phrase drove him to ditch his two-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles, disconnect from all the distractions — both external and internal — that had kept him from finishing his Warner full-length, and, as he puts it, “re-center himself.” And for all of those reasons, there was really nothing else Leming could call his debut, which will finally see the light of day September 14. It’s an album that showcases not only his skills as a singer/songwriter (which were pretty apparent early on ), but his newfound sense of maturity too. And that, really, was the key all along. “A lot of people that get off ‘Idol’ and jump into a contract don’t think there’s any more development to be done, since there’s a fanbase now. And I was definitely like that,” he said. “I was a little cocky, I wanted it all right away, and [Warner] realized they needed to develop me. They told me that I needed to keep writing, that I needed to be ready mentally, and that there was really no choice but to wait until I was ready. “But I kept writing songs that I liked, and the label liked them, too, but they just didn’t feel like there was a single for radio, so they didn’t want to put an album out,” he continued. “And I was getting more and more frustrated, because, really, I wasn’t ready to do the work. Like I’ve always done, I wanted to run. When I was young, I ran away from home. After ‘Idol’ didn’t work out, I ran from that. And I wanted to run from this. But, luckily, I didn’t.” Leming said he had an awakening last summer, after his mother died following a lengthy battle with cancer . He realized he had no other options, that making music was his dream, and he was about to blow a tremendous opportunity. Inspired, he parted ways with his previous management team, got back to writing and told the label that he was finally ready to work. “I just realized that I was meant to do this, there was no other plan,” he said. “So I sat down and figured out how I was going to make this work.” And the end result is, finally, Come On Kid. While its release should be triumph enough, the newly invigorated Leming is hitting the road hard to promote it, playing new songs and still aiming for the stars, despite the fact that most folks have forgotten his name. His new mission, he said, is to change that. “I like being the man down, and I know I’ve still got a lot to prove, but I’m ready,” he said. “The dream is still there, and I’ve still got the same lofty and unrealistic goals. Why wouldn’t I? I’m a 21-year-old kid.” Are you rooting for Josiah Leming to make it big? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Josiah Leming

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J. Cole ‘Honored’ To Be A ‘Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010’ Finalist

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I think I had a fabulous year, and I wanna thank all y’all for the support,’ Jay-Z prot

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Trae Tha Truth Can’t Be ‘Disputed’ As ‘Hottest Breakthrough MCs Of 2010’ Candidate

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Fans decide our ‘Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010’ — vote now! The winner will be revealed on July 25. By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes Trae The Truth Photo: MTV News “Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010” Candidate: Trae Tha Truth Trae Tha Truth is one of the biggest names in Houston. Fans love his mixtapes and independent albums . And he’s earned the large numbers in his core audience through the streets, gaining credibility in all of the ‘hoods. Despite the love, of all the candidates, Trae is going to have the toughest time breaking through this year. Apart from music videos, the streets may be Tha Truth’s only outlet for getting heard. The only hip-hop station in his hometown, KBXX 97.9, has decided to not play his music on-air. Truth (born Frazier Thompson) is currently suing the station’s parent company, Radio One, in an attempt to get the now-infamous “ban” lifted. His music hasn’t been played in about a year. It may have been taking a toll on the Texas MC: Trae didn’t have on his trademark shades or all of that jewelry when MTV News met up with him just before the Fourth of July weekend at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Houston. “Mr. Thompson’s lawsuit seeks to require Radio One to play his songs on their radio station and to let advertisements [air] that either pertain to him [or] help him with his agreements with promoters,” Radio One lawyer Victor Vital, told MTV News via phone on Thursday (July 15). “Radio One’s position in the case, just like I would imagine any broadcaster’s position to be, is that it has the right to decide what its programming would be. Radio One has decided that his music won’t be played and advertisement that concerns him won’t be aired.” While Trae has been occupied mostly with his legal battle, he’s still working on a new album titled Tha Truth, set to feature Rick Ross, Lil’ Wayne, Bun B and others. He also shouted out all of the fans who’ve supported him for Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010. “I am Houston,” Trae told us. “I doubt if there’s somebody that can dispute that. What y’all did to me with the MTV Jams’ Jam of the Week and Sucker Free meant more to me than anything [and] to the streets of Houston. They were like, ‘They are actually giving us, one of the underdogs, a shot.’ With that said, I’m determined.” After violence erupted at his Trae Day festival last year, Trae took exception to what he felt were disparaging remarks made by one of the Box’s radio personalities. In response, Trae called her “fat” in one of his raps. From there, everything went downhill. Regardless of what happens when Trae and lawyers for Radio One head back to court on August 16, Trae wants to keep giving back to those who’ve supported him. He’s forging on with Trae Day, an outreach fest targeted at the Houston community, but he admitted the annual event is being met with some resistance. As he sat down with MTV News, the original venue he was planning to use backed out. “They can’t ban the truth,” Trae said, his words measured, his demeanor calm. “The truth is coming. A lot of these kids can’t afford shoes, can’t afford pencils, paper, a backpack, really can’t afford a dollar to go get lunch. You feel right taking this away from them? The event ain’t got nothing to do with me. This is strictly for the less fortunate. Everybody needs help at one point in there life. If you would take that help away from them, I lose all respect.Move me out the equation: you would take away from those in need?” At press time, Trae Day was still going on as planned, scheduled for July 22 at Houston’s Northwest Mall. (The rapper will have a ferris wheel and super-slides for the kids, among other attractions.) “Somehow, some way,even if I gotta line up on a corner with boxes and sacks for these kids, we gonna find a way to make it work,” Trae said.”We gonna find a way to get it to them.” Trae and 19 other up-and-coming MCs are in the running to become MTV News’ “Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010” — and the winner will be decided by you! Cast your vote for the “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” right here . The top five will be revealed beginning on July 19, and the winner will be announced on the “Sucker Free Summit” July 25.

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Yelawolf Becomes ‘Hottest Breakthrough MCs Of 2010’ Contender With Big Boi’s Help

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Fans decide our ‘Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010’ — vote now! The winner will be revealed on July 25. By Shaheem Reid Yelawolf Photo: Interscope “Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010” Candidate: Yelawolf Yelawolf just had a show in his hometown of Gadsden, Alabama, and was so moved by what he saw, he was at a loss for words. Luckily, he had rhymes instead. “You had these white boys with these big-ass trucks with mud all over them,” he recalled. “D-boys from the North Side projects rolling up on dunks. You had dune buggies, bikes. It was everything I’ve been saying coming to form.” Wolf has been toiling underground for years, signing with legendary record exec Kawan “KP” Prather in 2007. He went through getting dropped by Sony Records and being snubbed by Def Jam only to heat up so large, Interscope Records picked him up earlier this year. Wolf’s energetic live shows and his performance style — which fuses hip-hop and rock — set him apart. Of late, he’s gotten a major co-sign from Big Boi, appearing on the Andre 3000-produced Sir Lucious Left Foot track “You Ain’t No DJ.” “That was actually my debut feature on a distributed project with a major artist,” said Wolf, who has been on independent projects for Juelz Santana and Slim Thug. “That sh– is jamming. As soon as I found out, I was rubbing my hands together as to when I could work with Outkast. I’ve been with KP since ’07, waiting on that moment.” On his upcoming debut, Trunk Muzik: 0-60, Yela got a chance to work with another ATL superstar: Gucci Mane. “I wanted to take advantage of the moment,” he explained of working with Gucci on the yet-untitled track. “I was like, ‘Let’s go do an intro together. Let’s go intro this bitch and vibe out like MCs. Let’s do this bitch.’ That’s what we did. Gucci’s rock and roll, balls-to-the-wall hip-hop. Straight Southern b-boy rap sh–. I’ve always been a fan of Gucci’s style. I was a huge Crunchy Black fan. Even like the Nutcracker from Group Home, Shawty Lo. Very broken-down, simple rap style. I was excited to have him. It made the record. The record was already crazy; he just took it to that next level.” Wolf’s Trunk Muzik: 0-60 is an enhancement of his mixtape Trunk Muzik. “We picked the 0-60 title because, for one, we didn’t want to alienate any of the new fans we were making,” he described. “We felt it was too soon to step outside of anywhere we were. With Trunk Muzik, we created a sound and feeling we didn’t want to move from. We called it Trunk Muzik: 0-60 because it represents how fast we been moving since we been doing these shows and got a deal with Interscope. Everything is moving. We wanted to mirror that with the music. Picking five of the fan favorites from Trunk Muzik and putting on seven new ones. “I’m never scared what people are gonna think about music that I make,” Yela added. “I just go in there and make music that sounds good to me. And it sounds good to my crew. I just trust my crew. If it leaves the studio and we’re happy with it, that’s what matters the most to us. Because if we’re happy with it, then I can perform it. As long as I can perform that record, I can translate the energy I need to get somebody to understand it. I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment. I’m just soaking it up, taking it day by day, trying not to let it go to my head. I just love my fans and the fans I’m making. My fans are like no other. Completely original people.” Yelawolf and 19 other up-and-coming MCs are in the running to become MTV News’ “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” — and the winner will be decided by you! Cast your vote for the “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” right here . The top five will be revealed beginning July 19, and the winner will be announced on the “Sucker Free Summit” July 25! Related Videos Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010

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Yelawolf Becomes ‘Hottest Breakthrough MCs Of 2010’ Contender With Big Boi’s Help

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