Country rap
| Country rap | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Country music - Hip hop music |
| Cultural origins | 1980s West Coastern, Southwestern, Midwestern, Southern |
| Typical instruments | Vocals - Guitar - Bass - Drums or Drum machines - occasional use of other instruments |
| Other topics | |
| Alternative hip hop | |
Country rap is a subgenre of popular music blending country music with hip hop music-style rapping, also known as hick-hop. The genre has been identified as a genre for about twenty years.[1]
"Country Rap" started to form as a genre when Bubba Sparxxx and producer Shannon "Fat Shan" Houchins created Sparxxx's 2001 debut album "Dark Days, Bright Nights" as an independent release which was later re-released on Interscope Records. The trend continued in 2005 when country artists Big & Rich introduced Cowboy Troy to the country world via 2005's "Loco Motive" released on Warner Brothers. Coming off the success of Bubba Sparxxx's platinum album debut, Houchins soon after created Average Joes Entertainment with country rapper Colt Ford. [2] This was the true beginning of country rap taking its place in the mainstream. Colt Ford has sold over 1.5 million albums including 3 that have landed in the top 10 of Billboard's Country Music chart. Ford's 2012 "Declaration Of Independence" debuted at #1 proving that country rap is a true genre and spawning a slew of new artists like The Lacs and Lenny Cooper who have both sold well.
Other noted for practicing this genre include UGK, Boondox [3] Nappy Roots and Big Smo.
Music journalist Chuck Eddy, in The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll, traces the genre's roots back to Woody Guthrie.[4]
Other examples[edit]
Certain individual country music songs show a hip hop influence, such as Toby Keith's singles "Getcha Some" and "I Wanna Talk About Me," which feature spoken-word verses recited over an insistent rhythm.[5] The same style applies to The Bellamy Brothers' 1987 single "Country Rap."[1] Neal McCoy has also recorded a hip hop version of the theme song of The Beverly Hillbillies called "Hillbilly Rap," which includes samples from other hip hop songs.[1]
Jason Aldean had a number-one country hit in 2011 with "Dirt Road Anthem," which was originally done by country-rapper Colt Ford and country-rock singer Brantley Gilbert. The song was featured on his album My Kinda Party. A remixed Dirt Road Anthem featuring rapper Ludacris was played at both the 2011 CMT Music Awards and the 2011 Grammy Nominations Concert.
The track "Mama do the Hump" by English hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks, produced by Fatboy Slim had a strong country aspect to it. The track reached #2 in the UK Singles Charts.
Rapper B.o.B and country singer Taylor Swift also collaborated for a Country Rap song called "Both Of Us" in 2012. Swift did some vocals, mainly the chorus in a country rhythm and B.o.B performed it as an Hip Hop song with some banjo guitars in the background. A similar song was made by British rapper Rae featuring featured vocals from an Unknown featured artist. It features a dubstep backing over the verses, similar to that of B.o,B's "Both Of Us" and a country-written chorus sung by a Swift-sounding performer
Country group Florida Georgia Line collaborated with rapper Nelly on a remixed version of their single "Cruise".
Country singer Brad Paisley and rapper LL Cool J recorded the controversial song "Accidental Racist" for Paisley's 2013 album Wheelhouse.[6]
Other Country Rap Artists include Mikel Knight, Yelawolf, Moonshine Bandits, Jawga Boys, Redneck Souljers, Bottleneck, Alexander King, MICDALEY, JaneDear girls, Brian "Rooster" King and Clay "Uncle Snaps" Sharpe, Charlie Farley, Jerome Schooley, Troy Neilson, Big Jimmy, Dirty White Boy And Many Others!
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Lawrence, Keith (May 28, 2008). "Bluegrass meets hip-hop at Kentucky school", Chicago Tribune, p. 7. Convenience link.
- ^ David Jeffries. "Colt Ford biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/south-of-hell-mw0001977855
- ^ Eddy, Chuck (1997). The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll. Da Capo Press. pp. 126–27. ISBN 0-306-80741-6
- ^ Farhi, Paul (January 2002). ""Talk": Singing In the Key of Me". WashingtonPost.com. Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
- ^ Tim Nudd (April 9, 2013). "Brad Paisley Defends Controversial 'Accidental Racist' Duet with LL Cool J". People. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
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