The Alabama MC finally drops his major label debut with this confident attitude-filled set of white-trash trash-talking. Yelawolf balances early Beasties inspired rap/rock ballast (“Get the [expletive] Up’’) with infectious bounce (“I Just Wanna Party’’) and nimble narratives (“Billy Crystal’’) while retaining a classic dirty south sensibility (“Good to Go’’ with Bun B). While some titles appear to be the stuff of lame-brain, party hip-hop, they’re deceptive as the MC shows wit and smarts along with his fleet flow, filled with brisk, double-time rhymes. He maintains a trailer park white-boy bravado, whether he’s spitting about meth cookers, vacuous Hollywood party girls (the sly “Daddy’s Lambo’’) or weed. “I Wish,’’ a dynamic collaboration with Raekwon, uses a hooky chorus and militaristic beats as a defiant affirmation of his skills. Over a haunting piano line, he delivers a dramatic scenario like a crime novelist on the riveting “Pop the Trunk.’’ “Love Is Not Enough’’ is as much about class differences as it is matters of the heart, and it’s sharp enough to spill blood. “Trunk Musik,’’ with its ominous keyboards and lightning rhymes, is one of the best cruising songs since the sounds of the LBC ruled hip-hop. (Out now) KEN CAPOBIANCO
ESSENTIAL “Trunk Muzik’’
