Apparently mega-producer Rick Rubin doesn’t think Michael Wayne Atha, A.K.A Yelawolf, has what it takes to be a rapper, or at least make his label, Columbia Records any money.

When Rubin became co-head of Columbia in 2007, Yelawolf was among the swaths of cost-cutting measures that ran through the label.

In response, Atha said on his website, ““It was frustrating. I was just like, ‘You don’t get it? Alright, that’s cool, then I guess I’m extra special. … I mean, Rick Rubin didn’t like me? But that’s just not my style. I refuse to quit.”

Rubin likely hasn’t batted an eye at what Yelawolf has done to date, but that’s only because the prodigal producer has bigger concerns on his mind, like how to possibly

save the music industry from the download drain.

While Rubin has a long track record of wrangling talent into profits, the Beastie Boys, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Neal Diamond to name a few, that record makes dropping Yelawolf seem much like batting an eyelash.

But it was David Geffen, who echoed Rubin’s influence on the industry saying, “… the top priority at any record company has to be coming up with great music. And for

that reason, Sony was very smart to hire Rick.”

Maybe, maybe not? Perhaps a better judge of Rubin’s prowess will be the extent of a small, upstart artist like Yelawolf’s career.

Still, since being dropped from Columbia, Yelawolf has found a friend in Eminem’s stable on Interscope Records, branding himself in the same sort of vein as another one of Detroit’s favorites, Kid Rock.

From humble and rough beginnings in the south, Yelawolf has fashioned a mix of sounds from the Dungeon Family, 8ball & MJG, and UGK as well as classic rock

favorites like Lynard Skynard, Pink Floyd, The Allman Brothers for a type of southern rock hip-hop hybrid.

Most recently, Yelawolf toured to Texas, where he played shows at SXSW, a proverbial jumping-off point from many new artist.

On March, 23 Yelawolf will visit the Intersection for an all ages show, courtesy of Mike G Productions.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.

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