Travis Barker and Yelawolf Behind the Scenes
I began the drumbeat for "Push Em" in a hotel room around 2 a.m. in Florida when Yela and I were on the I Am Music tour. I had the urge to write after a performance we did playing "Let's Go" from my album Give the Drummer Some, when Yela said to me he wanted something like it that was really spastic, high energy, that would get the crowd hyped for his future album. I was like, "Ask and you shall receive." A day later I showed him the beat for "Push Em," and he loved it. From there we just started figuring out parts while on tour for the next week or so. It was just an instrumental at the time, but it was straight "punch somebody in the face" music, so I knew when he recorded vocals it was over with.
We ended up regrouping at my studio in L.A. for him to lay vocals, and it was on. The song came to life – Yela killed it! During rough mixes with Chris Holmes, Tim Armstrong and Skinhead Rob heard it and loved it. Transplant$ were also recording in the same studio. Tim amd Rob jumped on the chorus and it came a step further. The rest is history – now we're playing it to crowds of people going buck.
The video was shot by Jason Goldwatch. The goal was to really capture the insane energy of the song through a live performance. So we got a warehouse in South Central L.A. and invited friends, family and some fans. Everybody from Tim Armstrong, Skinhead Rob, Twitch, Paul Wall, Famous Stars & Straps skate team, Brayden Szafranski and Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. to some of our favorite tattoo artists like Franco Vescovi and Chuey Quintanar and longtime homies of all colors, shapes and sizes rolled through to support.
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Yelawolf
Yelawolf looks over some Polaroids taken of him and Travis in the dressing room. He is a big fan of using film, so having his photo taken with a vintage Polaroid camera was a welcome experience.
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Yela gets some direction
Yela gets some direction from director Jason Goldwatch. Travis waits patiently in the back to get started. He plays every take better than the one before.
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Director and DP
Director Jason Goldwatch and Director of Photography Robert Benavides line up the next scene, making sure to capture the spray from the cracked beer cans ever so perfectly.
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Yela comes offstage
Sweat and beer was dripping from everyone and everywhere. Yela is handed a towel as he comes offstage after a take. Minutes later everyone is soaking wet again.
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DJ Muggs, Yelawolf and Travis
DJ Muggs, Yelawolf and Travis warm up for the first take of the day. This will be the last photo taken that does not require beer to be wiped from the camera lens.
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DJ Muggs, Yelawolf and Travis
DJ Muggs, Yelawolf and Travis warm up for the first take of the day. This will be the last photo taken that did not require beer to be wiped from the camera lense.
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Close-up on Yela
A close-up on Yela as the crowd rages in the back, raising their 40s to show support.
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Yela surrounded
Yela surrounded by Paul Wall, Skinhead Rob of the Transplants, Tim Armstrong from Rancid and other supporters. The mosh pit was at an all-time high that day. Surprisingly, no gear was broken.
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Yela giving it his all
While the DP struggles to keep from being trampled, the crowd rages on. Here is Yela giving it his all while the crowd pushes, screams and pulls in every direction.
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Moshpit
Pretty good "staged" moshpit.
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Yela and Travis
Yela and Travis wait for the first shot of the day. Given the heat in the warehouse and the cases of beer that would eventually be thrown in the air during the shoot, this is probably the driest they will be for the remainder of the day.
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Covered in art
The culture that surrounds the world of Yelawolf slightly dwarfed the fact that a video was being made that day. Stumbling across an individual covered in art like this always makes for a great photo. While some may think people like this are unapproachable it is quite the opposite – this guy was one of the easiest people to speak with that day.
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Long Beach brothers
No, you're not seeing double. These are the Long Beach brothers Mark and Brian. They are friends of Travis and Yela and can usually be seen at any Famous event.
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Paul Wall
Paul Wall rolled through to show his support. The concept for the video was to throw a huge party. Who wouldn’t be smiling about that?
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Waiting
Travis waits for the next take as DJ Muggs looks on. That camouflage drum kit is amazing.
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Dudes
Left to right: DJ Muggs, Gwatti, Skinhead Rob, Tim Armstrong, Travis Barker, Yelawolf, Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg and Paul Wall.
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Mickeys, tattoos and girls
Mickeys, tattoos and girls – that was the scene at the latest video shoot for Yelawolf and his new single, "Push Em."
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X Games medalist
Travis and Skinhead Rob greet X Games medalist and star of VH1's The X Life, Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg.
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Photo op
Yela pauses for a photo op between takes on the set of "Push Em."
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Yela takes charge
"Back to the set!" Yela taking charge, getting the unruly crowd back in line.
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Travis Barker
Travis waits patiently as the day starts.
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Tattooed guys and gals
Tattooed guys and gals showed up in droves to be a part of this video. Check out the look on model Alice "Malice" McMunn. She clearly means business.
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Getting in the spirit
Yela getting in the spirit, crowd-surfing.
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Lifted
Yela being lifted by a crowd of fans throwing beer in the air. By the end of the day the ceiling was dripping.
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Liquor store
The entire warehouse was soaked in beer.
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Tats
More tats.
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Tacos
Lunch is served! Yela fills his plate with tacos.
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Alice ‘Malice’ McMunn
Alice "Malice" McMunn poses for a photo.
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’64 Riviera
Travis poses for a photo in his custom '64 Riviera. The gold roof is a nice touch!
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Quote from Yelawolf
"Take a look around you for a second . . . Tim Armstrong, Skinhead Rob, Dj Muggs, the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E , legendary tattoo artists like Franco and his father, a legendary collector, punks, gangsters, bike builders, Old Schools slammed to the dirt, the cold-blooded chopper, pro skateboarders, photographers . . . It's like a sea of misfits hit the Lotto. And they're all here to support and be a part of something that feels right and represented well. This is our village. We're fucking partying and celebrating rad shit! Travis and I just happen to have the kindred musical and cultural background to tell the story. We just cranked the engine with 'Push Em.' This is Psycho White!"
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Polaroid
"Basically, if you took Travis Barker and I and threw us in the studio to do whatever the fuck we wanted to do, you get this – Psycho White! Somehow we've managed to put all of our musical influences and roots into a sound that is completely our own. 'Push Em' is blood-in-your-mouth, dope shit! We just cranked the engine with this one."
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Polaroid of Travis Barker and Yelawolf
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Travis Barker