SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Arizona hip-hop artist Yawnee Gunna is set to release his highly anticipated new album, Tales from Copper Country, on August 2, 2026. The project’s first physical copies will debut exclusively at the Wild & Wicked Birthday Bash at Pub Rock in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The event, which celebrates the birthday of CJ, owner of Surefire Bookings, represents more than another live performance. For Yawnee Gunna, it marks a full-circle moment in a career that has moved from major-label opportunities back to the underground culture that first inspired him to create music.
After gaining momentum with his single “Wolves,” Yawnee Gunna was formerly distributed through Sony and built a reputation through national performances, radio play, chart recognition, and a growing fanbase across streaming platforms. But rather than continue chasing the mainstream industry path, he chose to reconnect with the sound, stories, and community that shaped him.
“I realized the music I wanted to make wasn’t about fitting into an industry lane anymore,” Yawnee Gunna says. “I wanted to make records that actually represented where I come from.”
That realization became Tales from Copper Country.
Inspired by Arizona mining towns, desert folklore, blue-collar life, rural isolation, and underground horrorcore influences, the album blends cinematic storytelling with hard-hitting production. Songs such as “TommyKnockers,” “In the Trailer Park,” “Moonshine,” and “Throw Up Your Y’s” paint a vivid picture of life in rural Arizona while embracing the independent spirit that has always defined the underground scene.
The album also includes features from MidnightinYami and YB DaBagSnatcher, adding new voices to a project rooted in collaboration, authenticity, and regional identity.
Fittingly, the album’s official launch will take place at the Wild & Wicked Birthday Bash, where Yawnee Gunna will perform a special extended set while co-headlining alongside Majik Ninja Entertainment artist Young Wicked. Fans in attendance will have the first chance to purchase the limited first pressing of Tales from Copper Country before the album becomes available worldwide on streaming platforms later that day.
Tickets for the Wild & Wicked Birthday Bash are available here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wild-wicked-birthday-bash-w-young-wicked-featuring-yawnee-gunna-more-tickets-1991872641691
The celebration will also be documented by Desert Juggalos, who will be on-site capturing performances, interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments from what is shaping up to be one of Arizona’s biggest underground gatherings of the summer.
Beyond the album release, Yawnee Gunna’s momentum continues to build. With plans to attend the Gathering of the Juggalos, an upcoming performance at the Havasu Halloween Haunt Festival alongside Kottonmouth Kings, and new collaborations already in the works, 2026 is becoming a defining year for the Arizona artist.
More information on the Havasu Halloween Haunt Festival can be found here:
https://havasuhaunt.com/
For Yawnee Gunna, however, success is no longer measured by labels, charts, or industry approval. It is about building something real.
“Copper Country isn’t just an album,” he says. “It’s home. It’s every mine, every trailer, every dirt road, every story I grew up around. This record is for the people who understand that world.”
As Yawnee Gunna returns to the underground foundation that first inspired him, August 2 is set to be more than an album release. It will be a celebration of Arizona’s independent music scene, CJ’s birthday, and a powerful new chapter for one of the state’s fastest-rising underground artists.
