YelaWolf's mystery illness has been revealed - the rapper suffered a ruptured spleen.

The hip-hop star, real name Michael Wayne Atha, was hospitalized after falling ill following a performance in Madison, Wisconsin earlier this month.

He went on to postpone a gig in Detroit, Michigan although details of his condition were not made public.

Now, it has emerged that the Alabama native ruptured his spleen, according to a press release.

The statement reads, "Interscope Records recording artist Yelawolf is still recuperating from a ruptured spleen suffered earlier this month."

Yelawolf was due to perform in the Shady Records showcase at the South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Texas on Friday but he has pulled out as he continues to recover.