Jan 21, 2005 - 5:00pm EST

(Portions reprinted from UPN's official release)

Yelawolf, a 24 year-old contract artist (mural painting) from Rainbow City, Ala., was the third performer eliminated from UPN's new dramality series, THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, reducing the pool from 11 participants to 10.

When the tour arrived in Missy's hometown of Norfolk, Va., the performers were surprised when challenged to utilize items found in a local junkyard to create an artistic tribute to what inspires them. When the tributes were completed, Missy and her dancers Holly, Eboni and Oth'than met with each of the participants, asking them to explain their inspiration. An emotional Yelawolf said that the red-painted tractor/tire display he built was dedicated to his grandfather, who told him stories while they road together on his lawnmower and 'taught him to be a man.'

Following the emotionally revealing day, the performers joined Missy at a local Chinese restaurant for dinner. During the meal, Yelawolf insulted Missy by mentioning he wasn't fond of the track she wrote for them, claiming he wanted 'fly beats.' Missy laughingly responded, 'Why don't you cook up one then if you want fly beats? I didn't think your rap was all that hot...You better not mess up.'

The next day, the competitors were asked to team up and perform some of Missy's biggest hits before one of the toughest crowds imaginable -- the students at Missy's former high school. While Yelawolf and Akil rapped 'Gossip Folks' to the cheering students, it was Nic and Matthew's coordinated rendition of the same song that really got the girls hollering. While reviewing each team's performance, judges Mona Scott, Dallas Austin and Teena Marie agreed that Akil was one of the stars of the day, but Mona said, 'I don't think Yelawolf ever stepped up to the plate and did his part.'

Ultimately, the judges offered Yelawolf and Melissa, who had been almost booed from the stage after stumbling with the lyrics to 'Get Ur Freak On,' up to Missy for final elimination. As Yelawolf went in to plead his case, Missy said, 'Your rhymes' feels are hot, but you don't stand out.' Meanwhile, Missy questioned Melissa's inner strength, but she claimed, 'This is my life, my passion and I'll do anything, even if I have to stand there while they boo me through the whole song.'

So, with a green lollipop in hand, Missy admitted that while Yelawolf's 'performance was actually great' and his 'skills are crazy,' it was Melissa who gave her 'the unexpected' by not running from the stage and told Yelawolf he was off the tour.

Elites TV Interviewed Yelawolf to get his take on his elimination. He clearly thought it was unfair:

ETV: Hello Yelawolf, this is Steve Leser from Elite's TV. How are you doing?

YELAWOLF: I'm chillin'

ETV: Glad to hear it. OK, if you don't mind, let me jump right in with a question. Did you think you would be one of the two chosen to go before Missy? I watched the episode and thought you did a great job at Missy's High School.

YELAWOLF: Right, I seen it coming, after I had the conversation with Missy. I knew it was coming. I mean, why would they choose me to be up there? It was all politics. There are a few people who should have been chosen to go home before me.

ETV: That brings up another question I was going to ask you. We saw that you had an interaction with Missy regarding the choice of a track that didn't go so well. Do you think that had an impact on her choosing you to go home?

YELAWOLF: Of course. She even said I had 'good skills' and was a great MC. I mean, that's it, that's what it is all about.

ETV: So, once it came down to you or Melissa, did you think you would be the one going home?

YELAWOLF: I knew, that's why I said I appreciated the experience of being on the show when I exited the bus. I knew. Come on man, I feel like there is so much more to come for me. What is this competition about? It's about music. Can you write musing and records? I've got my thing, I've been approached by a lot of industry big people. I'm going to go on.

ETV: So you are going to continue pursuing a rapping career?

YELAWOLF: Absolutely, I'm going to try and get on the radio. My dreams aren't crushed like the announcers on the show say about being eliminated. Come on. I've been writing songs for the last seven years, and meeting with people in the business.

ETV: Do you have a website?

YELAWOLF: Yes, it should be up in a week or two. It's http://www.oneyelawolf.com

ETV: This is the second week in a row that I think most viewers thought Melissa would be going home and we were all surprised. Melissa really performed poorly at Missy's old high school. Why and how do you think she keeps avoiding being sent home?

YELAWOLF: Man, I dont know. That's a question like, who knows. I don't even know what this show is about anymore. She has a good voice, but she is so young with so much to learn.

ETV: Well, I'm not sure how much of this you know, but the rest of the contestants were really upset that Melissa was chosen to stay on instead of you. They gave her a hard time when she got back on the bus. How do you feel about that?

YELAWOLF: They said what they felt. The elimination was bogus, so what are you going to do? They thought it was disrespectful. It was bogus. I'm not upset or sad for her. She needs to hear it.

ETV: MY wife and I both watched the show and we were both struck by how nice and down to earth you are. Do you think growing up in the south, in Alabama in a small to medium sized city had anything to do with that?

YELAWOLF: Nah, I've lived in Atlanta, LA, Queens...

ETV: Wait, Queens? Where in Queens?

YELAWOLF: Woodhaven.

ETV: Really, because I currently live in Astoria.

YELAWOLF: Oh, Astoria, yeah, Woodhaven isnt far from there, No, I mean, you know, Atlanta, Oakland, California. I went to 15 different schools growing up and five different schools between 9th and 10th grades alone. Also, the show keeps saying I'm from Rainbow City, Alabama, but I'm really from Gadsden, Alabama. That's where I really represent. The humility comes from my family, my grandmother. Alabama didn't have anything to do with it.

ETV: Oh, OK. What is Gadsden, Alabama like?

YELAWOLF: It's a small place compared to Atlanta. There is a large hip hop community there. It is like a miniaturized small city. It has a mall...etc.

ETV: You did an impressive display of a red tractor and talked about your grandfather. Tell me a little more about him and the effect he had on your life.

YELAWOLF: He was a father figure. My mother travelled around a lot and had a lot of relationships with wannabe daddies, but my grandfather was always there. He also raised my grandmother's four kids [from a previous marriage]. He worked thirty years on the third shift and all that time was a volunteer firefighter and medic. He was an important part of my life. He grew up poor in the projects and raised himself up. He is a tremendous inspiration.

ETV: Did he see the show?

YELAWOLF: No, here in Alabama, the show doesnt show on Wednesdays, it shows on Fridays. He'll be working tonight, he's always working. We're going to tape it for him.

ETV: I'm sure he is going to be touched by the things you said. I can't imagine anyone not feeling something strong after seeing that. What other family do you have? Am I remembering correctly in saying you have a wife and child?

YELAWOLF: I have a wife and two children. Actually, my youngest, Phoenix, was in the belly while I was on the show. He is now six months old.

ETV: Congratulations!

YELAWOLF: Thanks. My older son's name is Tariq. Both of their middle names are Blackfeather. So it's Phoenix Blackfeather Atha and Tariq Blackfeather Atha.

ETV: Wow. OK. I understand you paint murals. Are you going to have information about that on your website?

YELAWOLF: Yeah, I can do that. I can put a couple of pictures up there. People can see articles the Gadsden Times wrote on my work. I think they did three articles.

ETV: I think you should. You never know. People may really like what they see and there may be good money in that. {I found one of the articles Yelawolf mentioned at http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20021007/NEWS/210070319&SearchID=73196761276343 If that link is too difficult to follow, go to the main Gadsden Times site at www.gadsdentimes.com click on the link for the archives and for the search terms type in atha mural } .

YELAWOLF: I will. Also, can you include an MP3 of mine with your article online?

ETV: I don't think so, but I can ask. Go ahead and send it to my email address.

YELAWOLF: OK

ETV: Did you make any enduring friendships with anyone on the show?

YELAWOLF: Me and Frank got along pretty good. I know we seemed to butt heads a little on the first episode, but it turns out we became good friends. Also Marcus, me Frank and Marcus got along the best.

ETV: Are you still in touch with them?

YELAWOLF: No, I haven't been really, as an artist, I have to let this show go and get on with making music.

ETV: Do you have anything else to add?

YELAWOLF: Tell the people thatthere is so much more in store, keep their eyes and ears open and get ready to see more of me.

ETV: Definitely. I'm looking to hearing your song. Good luck with everything and thanks for spending time with me today.

YELAWOLF: Take care.


On UPN'S THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, 13 aspiring vocal performers travel coast-to-coast with Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott, living together on the road in an austere tour bus and competing against each other for a record contract, a released single and $100,000. Missy leads the panel of music industry judges, including Grammy Award-nominated R&B artist Teena Marie, Grammy Award-winning producer Dallas Austin, and president of Violator Management Mona Scott.

THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT airs Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.