Big Smo Show Could Be Hick Hop’s Backdoor to the Mainstream
For over half a decade now, hick-hop has been a smoldering, underground phenomenon threatening to break into the mainstream at any moment, but never quite finding the right outlet to ever pull it off. Understand we’re not talking about country rap in general here, though there is some obvious similarities between country rap and hick-hop. Country rap is a sub-genre that has seen some of country music’s top stars dabble in it quite successfully, including Jason Aldean taking the song “Dirt Road Anthem” to #1 in 2011, and eventually scoring the biggest song in the entire country genre in that year. That opened the mainstream floodgates for country rap, and now other established mainstream artists like Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan have scored #1 country rap hits.
But far away from all the glitz of mainstream country radio and big award shows is a whole other entire subculture of hick-hoppers that work in what would be considered underground circles in music. In fact, hick-hop, or RebelCore as some would have you call it, very well may be the biggest, most organized type of underground music in America right now when you see the size of the crowds at many of hick-hop’s live events, and how many hits hick-hop artists get on their online videos. The movement relies none on radio play, and beyond the Colt Ford-owed label Average Joe’s, really doesn’t have any solid infrastructure.
Colt Ford, arguably the Godfather of hick-hop, has been complaining for years that it is unfair he can’t get any radio play or other support from the mainstream country music industry. Ford wrote “Dirt Road Anthem” with Brantley Gilbert and released it three years before Jason Aldean cut the song, but it took an established, accepted mainstream personality to take the song to the big time. Big hick-hop acts like the LoCash Cowboys, The Moonshine Bandits, and Bubba Sparxxx have huge followings, but hick-hop has always been seen as off limits to the mainstream unless it is in the form of a single from an established country artist.
Well all of that might be about to change.
On Wednesday night, cable channel A&E debuted the first episode of Big Smo, a show about a hick-hop artist who is looking to try and break it big in the music business. Big Smo is already a well-established hick-hop artist, with one of his videos garnering him over 6 million views on YouTube, which is not uncommon for hick-hop performers who regularly use videos to distribute their music in lieu of radio support or labels. But now Big Smo will be following in the footsteps of Duck Dynasty, which is currently reality TV’s most successful show, amidst A&E’s redneck reality show lineup.
The appetite of Americans to peer into the lives of rednecks to point and laugh seems to be endless, and CMT and other networks are betting big on redneck reality bankrolling their future. But with A&E and their wild success with Duck Dynasty, this is a completely different game for Big Smo and hick-hop. A&E has also been marketing the Big Smo show heavily, throwing ridiculous amounts of money into advertising, clearly envisioning the show as their new blockbuster by saying “A New ‘Dynasty’ Is Beginning” in commercials for the show, and targeting their marketing directly at mainstream country music consumers.
Similar to Duck Dynasty, Wal-Mart has already thrown their support behind Big Smo, distributing his music and merchandise. The debut of Big Smo on A&E was synced up with the release of his new album Kuntry Livin’, and unlike Big Smo’s hick-hop compadres, he’s signed to a major label in the form of Warner Nashville. Kuntry Livin’ released on June 3rd debuted at #9 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart, and that was before the support the new A&E show will surely give him.
All of this could put hick-hop, and Big Smo specifically, at the center stage of American culture. We’ve already seen the Duck Dynasty characters, who are not even true musicians or performers, dominate the charts when they released a holiday album, and their images permeates just about every sector of American culture. You take an artist that already has an established fan base, along with millions of underground hick hop fans in one of the strongest grassroots networks in music, and we could be seeing the launching of the next American music superstar. And that is exactly what A&E is expecting to happen, making it an underlying premise of the reality show.
READ: How Wal-Mart Is Helping The Spread Of Hick-Hop
And since the music business, especially country, is such a copycat world, there’s no reason to think a rising tide couldn’t raise all hick-hop boats, and the hick-hop roster of Average Joe’s, as well as other outlier hick-hop organizations and acts, couldn’t see a significant bump by the show, while new recruits come out of the woodwork to emulate the new hot reality TV star.
Of course, the extent of the Big Smo impact is yet to be seen since the show just debuted and Big Smo’s album was just released, but this is not something to be taken lightly. Big Smo, the show and the artist, could finally be the backdoor to the mainstream hick-hop has been waiting for.
June 12, 2014 @ 10:16 am
Just when we all thought mainstream country music couldn’t get any worse, we now might be hearing Big Smo and Colt Ford get regular radio time. I think I’m going to go barf.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:16 pm
I don’t know; which would you rather hear, songs from this subgenre or a cavalcade of songs like “Donkey” by Jerrod Niemann? That’s sort of like asking whether you’d rather be burned or waterboarded to death, but it’s nonetheless a relevant question.
June 14, 2014 @ 7:48 am
I have no doubt, this is why Shooters cousin made his album… He was trying to land this gig.
March 16, 2016 @ 1:19 pm
Hey its still better then Justin Bieber lol
June 12, 2014 @ 10:19 am
Hick hop reminds me of El Caminos. The El Camino tried to be a muscle car and a truck, but couldn’t do either well.
Same is going to hold for hick hop. I completely understand where these kids are coming from. Hip hop is a major influence on that generation, I get that. They just can’t relate to the normal context of true hip hop out in the sticks. So they came up with their own version. I don’t see it lasting any longer than the metal rap genre did.
On another note Trig – you need to let everyone know about Whitey Morgan’s Pledgemusic drive for his next album!
June 12, 2014 @ 11:29 am
That’s why we went with the Ranchero. Now there’s a do-it-all vehicle for ya!
June 12, 2014 @ 11:55 am
It may not last very long. No trend lasts forever, though the folly of man is to think they always will. But it doesn’t mean, like metal rap, it won’t get huge and make some people lots and lots of money.
As for the Whitey Morgan Kickstarter: Saving Country Music, just like most any legitimate music website, cannot and will not promote Kickstarters because of the political implications of doing so. Unless the Kickstarter has an altruistic goal, I will not promote it. Why? Because just like bringing Valentines to class, if you promote one, you have to promote them all, or people cry favoritism. And next thing you know, I’m promotion everyone’s Kickstarter, when in reality, I don’t support the use of Kickstarter at all. Nonetheless, people will use the fact that I’m “not supporting” Whitey’s album as a point of drama in itself, which is yet another reason the Kickstarter paradigm is generally unhealthy for the music environment.
Whitey himself has said he understands this stance, and I would appreciate if everyone else would to. I am a HUGE Whitey Morgan supporter, and will support the album, once it is released, and if the quality is such that it is warranted. In the meantime if people want, they can read my in-depth interview with him from a few months back :
https://savingcountrymusic.com/catching-up-with-whitey-morgan-the-78s
June 12, 2014 @ 12:14 pm
Out of curiosity, what is kickstarter, and why don’t you support the use of it?
June 12, 2014 @ 12:32 pm
This is years old, but it will give you the gist:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/the-kickstarter-dilemma-parody-ethics
June 12, 2014 @ 10:33 am
A little earlier, I came across a review/recap of this show on AV Club (they gave it a D, by the way); from the description, it sounds like it’ll be too boring and uneventful even to make for good clips on ‘The Soup.’ Frankly, I can’t imagine it sticking around, let alone catching on and taking off, but you never know…
June 12, 2014 @ 11:10 am
Yeah, here’s the article in question: http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/big-smo-go-big-or-go-home-205713
Honestly, it looks boring as tar, even by reality TV standards, mostly because there’s no decent drama and Big Smo is something of an inert presence on screen. In comparison to ‘Party Down South’, which at least has sleaze and loads of controversy on its side, I can’t see this taking off.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:00 pm
Two things:
None of this takes into consideration the MASSIVE grassroots foundation of hick-hop, which I would say right now is the most misunderstood and under-appreciated population in American music right now. Millions identify with this music. That is the reason a guy like this with no radio play can debut at #9 on the country charts.
Also, these things don’t get launched, and A&E doesn’t put millions of dollars behind them without being focused-grouped to death and crowd tested. Sure, it may fail. But that is not what A&E’s research is telling them. Is Duck Dynasty on par with Party Down South? It might be the subdued nature of the show that A&E thinks will work.
June 12, 2014 @ 10:33 am
Good Lord.
June 12, 2014 @ 10:41 am
Just what we need. A grown-up, rapping, Honey Boo-Boo.
June 12, 2014 @ 10:46 am
All I will say is when you put country music with rap you get crap. Makes me sick to see what has happened to country music.
June 12, 2014 @ 11:03 am
Jeeze I sure hope Big Smo can do for country music what Big Kuntry sponsor Walmart did for mainstreet small retail businesses.
June 12, 2014 @ 11:34 am
As long as these guys aren’t using it as a marketing stunt to make it big, I can kind of understand their passion for it. If its the kind of music they truly like to make then I won’t bad mouth them for it, as long as they classify it as their own genre
June 12, 2014 @ 12:12 pm
Exactly. We don’t have to like it, but I bet most of us here would agree that mainstream country music would be a LOT less annoying if the artists within didn’t try to pass it off as some “evolution” or “real” country music. If they simply termed it country pop and there was an outlet for traditional country (such as the one that appears to be forming with the proposed format split), I think a lot of us wouldn’t be so hard on this stuff, because it wouldn’t have to pass itself off as something it’s not. These hick hop guys know what they’re doing isn’t country music and they don’t try to call it anything of the sort. Self-awareness apparently isn’t a given, but a gift with entertainers.
June 12, 2014 @ 1:39 pm
“Self-awareness apparently isn”™t a given, but a gift with entertainers.”
Very wise!
June 14, 2014 @ 10:25 am
I agree to me is more about the intentions and passion behind the music that will determine what I think about the actions. I probably will loathe the music. But if they truly are into it I get that at least this evolution seems far less forced and cliched that the bro country or EDM crap.
And also if an artists is really good and and talented I can tell and even if I loathe there music I can still appreciate the artistry behind it. Me personal taste does instantly make something valueless to me.
June 12, 2014 @ 11:39 am
I don’t think this guy actually listens to Pink Floyd. Also, he sucks.
I do respect the grassroots element of this music, even if it’s terrible, terrible music. I wish such a movement would happen with deserving, ignored-by-radio country artists.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:08 pm
You’re right at the epicenter of it here on this site 🙂 spread the word!
June 12, 2014 @ 11:50 am
Big Smo? Sounds like something on the menu at Dairy Queen.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:01 pm
I wish I could’ve been born in 1920, so I could’ve lived and died before I had to see or hear about this shit.
I’m crawling back under my rock now, incase anyone needs me.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:06 pm
I’ve always thought of Cowboy Troy as the “Godfather” of hick hop. According to interviews with him, he was pulling off certain renditions of his act as far back as 1993. In addition, I recall him being one of (if not the first) ones to coin the term “hick hop” for his music. Also, if we’re just speaking in terms of albums, Cowboy Troy’s first big release was in 2005, while Colt Ford’s was in 2008 (and if we open up the criteria just a bit more, Cowboy Troy self-released his first album in 2002). I’m not really a fan of either of these guys, but I respect them. At least they have the wherewithal and requisite amount of self-awareness to not call it country music. It has country elements all right, but it’s not true blue country as we all know and I appreciate the effort by this community to differentiate the two forms.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:30 pm
Country rap is a type of music. Hick-hop is a culture. Hick-hop is all about muddin’, jacked up trucks, and country rap, also. I would say that the majority of people who are in to hick hop culture have absolutely no idea who Cowboy Troy is. They know who Colt Ford is because he owns Average Joe’s and is immersed in the hick hop culture. I can’t emphasize enough how big this culture is, and how overlooked it has been by the rest of the country. It is like a powder keg of rabid, loyal consumers that is ready to explode.
June 12, 2014 @ 1:04 pm
After pausing Big Smo’s video around 4 seconds, I have to wonder exactly why Hick Hop fans wouldn’t know who Cowboy Troy is.
Then again… the radio station I work at got nasty, racist voicemails when we played “Chicken with the Train” but nothing but requests for “Chicken and Biscuits”.
I don’t want to say it has to do with skin color…. but it does make one wonder.
Didn’t seem so long ago Rock and Roll wasn’t legitimized until a white man brought it to white audiences. I hate to think we’re just reliving history here.
June 12, 2014 @ 2:19 pm
That might actually be why. But it’s also important to note that Cowboy Troy’s music is much more pure rap than anything so far. He doesn’t sing at all, no matter what the song is. When he needs a melody, Big & Rich or some other artist feature. The same could be said of Colt Ford, who famously dragged John Michael Montgomery out of obscurity for about three minutes to sing on his first record, but otherwise, I think he’s closer to country rap than rap country (or whatever a more rap-based version might be called). Most country fans, even indiscerning ones, don’t want pure rap in their country, whether it be pop or not. It’s quite funny to think about; I can’t tell you how many complaints I saw on the remix video for “Cruise” about Nelly’s rap sections and how the original version was “real” country (FGL’s mock gangsta machinations in “This is How We Roll” notwithstanding). I also remember telling a co-worker about Blake Shelton’s foray into country rap with “Boys ‘Round Here” and once he listened to the song, he said he didn’t hear it. Once we had communicated a bit more, he told me that he was expecting “something like Cowboy Troy,” not the mock stylized talking that has permeated into the mainstream so far.
As for the race issue, you might be on to something, unfortunately. Ignorance spreads like a disease but there’s no cure, it seems, even in the face of knowledge. Not to turn this into a racial debate, but it also cuts both ways. I know plenty of urban-minded African Americans that hate Eminem simply because he’s white. Go figure.
June 13, 2014 @ 8:48 am
It’d be a fun little test to grab a focus group comprised of all races and see what they think of certain music without any visual representation.
Either you hate or like a song based on nothing but the music itself… then reveal the artist and see how they react. I’m sure the results wouldn’t be surprising to anyone outside of the experiment.
In an loosely related thought…. Years ago I watched an interview in which comic book artist Todd McFarland wanted to do an issue of Spiderman where the hero saves a white man from a black criminal. The victim spouts off something racist and Spiderman turns to him and says “What color do you think I am under this mask?”
It wasn’t long after that the world was introduced to Spawn.
June 12, 2014 @ 2:08 pm
If most hick hop fans truly have no idea who Cowboy Troy is, it’s likely due to his lack of presence in the industry. Back in 2005, he was riding Big & Rich’s coattails after having featured on their debut album. As such, this no doubt led to him getting his own mainstream record deal, as at the time everyone was wanting a piece of B&R or an act like them. However, their fifteen minutes of leading the mainstream was soon finished and Cowboy Troy didn’t have much success with any singles from his first album. Likewise, he drifted into obscurity and despite an album here or there for the last few years, he’s back to riding Big & Rich’s coattails (they seem to have him on every tour). Colt Ford, on the other hand, has proven himself more of a savvy businessman when it comes to marketing and producing hick hop and hick hop acts. That said, I still wouldn’t necessarily call him the “Godfather.” In spirit maybe, but he’s more the focal point. He didn’t “invent” the idea, he just legitimized it. Similar to how AC/DC didn’t invent riff rock or the duck walk; that was Chuck Barry’s schtick. Or how Nirvana didn’t “invent” grunge; that was mainly the Melvins. To me there’s a big difference between an innovator and a capitalizer or one who otherwise gains all of the attention.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:15 pm
I was in Nashville last weekend visiting a friend. For CMA Fest the Whiskey Bent Saloon on Broadway was renamed as “Big Smo’s Whiskey Bent Saloon”. He is a A LOT of backing behind this show. He was far from the biggest star in town but you wouldn’t know it… I saw his face everywhere.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:34 pm
Yes, the launching of the TV show and the album also coincided with CMA Fan Fest, of which he was all over.
I’ll put it like this: I haven’t seen this much promotion put behind an emerging artist ever. Clearly A&E and Warner Nashville are swinging for the fences here. Whether they hit a home run or not remains to be seen. But they have every intention of making Big Smo a megastar.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:16 pm
I’m hoping that Cracker Chic runs its course soon.
I watched a few minutes of that awful CMT white trash on parade show, the name of which (mercifully) escapes me.
It made me embarassed to have watched it for that long – I felt voyeurists, almost like going to a freak show in a carnival.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:26 pm
Hick hop will do to country music what panties did to finger fucking….is what Waylon would say. Remember when Garth Brooks was the worst thing in country? If only….
June 12, 2014 @ 10:10 pm
Waylon said pantyhose; not panties. I’d explain the rhyme and reason to that but….I think ya get the picture.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
God help us ! I am physically ill at the thought of it.I wil now crank up some Johnny Bush and cleanse my soul. Unfortunately, the scourge of Rap and Hip Hop has come to the country and it makes me sad, very sad. Big smo, Colt Ford and the rest of you go away so the rural kids have a shot at discovering good music. I man can dream can’t he ?
June 12, 2014 @ 12:49 pm
Yeah it’s sad Jim. But I’ve been saying it for years: Country music died because the culture that produced it is all but dead.
June 12, 2014 @ 12:55 pm
The people who actually have a birthright to sing Country music, would rather sing ghetto crap.
Imagine how silly it would be, if a group of gangbangers from inner-city Detroit, formed a hardcore, Texas Troubadoursesque, Country band.
June 12, 2014 @ 1:10 pm
The reason hick-hop has taken such a hold in America’s rural areas is because their indigenous agrarian culture has been so lampooned for decades by the the rest of the American culture that they’re embarrased by it, and what was left was stolen from them and then regurgitated in the form of Wal-Mart marketing since it is the only retailer most rural-living people have easy access to. Hick-hop fans want something to feel like they belong to; something that makes them feel special since they have no connection to their indigenous roots. Hick-hop is a form of cultural front-running.
June 12, 2014 @ 1:17 pm
Whitey Morgan is from Flint, Mich and he plays hardcore honky tonk. Not a ‘birthright’ place for country music.
June 13, 2014 @ 6:49 am
Trig, well put. I am afraid you are right.It still makes me seriously disgusted.
June 12, 2014 @ 1:26 pm
“The reason hick-hop has taken such a hold in America”™s rural areas is because their indigenous agrarian culture has been so lampooned for decades by the the rest of the American culture that they”™re embarrased by it”
Being from probably the most mocked state in America, I’m well aware of this.
But I believe you’re overthinking it. Everyone I grew up around was proud, defiantly so, but never embarrassed. I think it’s just the simple fact that almost everyone in this Country under the age of 30, has heard more Rap than they have traditional Country Music, including rural and small town kids. I think it’s just a sign of the times.
June 14, 2014 @ 1:44 pm
Bingo, Im in the same boat and 100% agree. We dont live in sterotypes. Yes people in the country hear rap as much as other people. This is what has brought on this craze.
June 12, 2014 @ 1:45 pm
I’m not sure what the rest of the world thinks, but when I think of Country Music the first thing that comes to mind are fiddles, steel guitars, shuffles, honest vocals, etc… With todays rap, edm, auto tune, huge rock star blown out of proportion image and sounding Country genre it has become all a painted on image. It reflects todays Pop-Culture of shallow air head individuals that are just chasing the next flavour of the week.
Example; Lets compare My Kind of Night to the classic Wine me Up,
Hard to believe these are even remotely reffered to in the same category of music.
June 12, 2014 @ 3:51 pm
Totally agree! I might even listen to a dumb truck song if it had fiddle and steel guitar on it.
June 13, 2014 @ 6:41 am
Well let’s not get carried away now.LMFAO
In all honesty I could probably stomach it alot better if it was and actual country song,
June 12, 2014 @ 2:54 pm
I’s a thinkin’ Big Smo don’t spell so good! I’m sure the stage name he was really after was “Big Schmuck”!
I don’t know which is more disheartening, that this type of music even exists or that there is a big demographic subculture associated with this tripe. Truly pathetic…
June 12, 2014 @ 3:12 pm
I would love to see a show where a group of guys/girls are chasing the dream by playing traditional country music. Showing them getting turned down by record labels or watching them turn bro-country because they sold out. Maybe throw in a veteran like Ken Mellons or Daryl Singletary and show how they have continued with their careers without any airplay in years.
June 12, 2014 @ 3:24 pm
Marc I couldn’t agree with you more, on top of that both Mellons and Singletary are two very underated artists, and damn good Country singers that could put any new top 40 Country singer in their place any day.
June 12, 2014 @ 5:13 pm
I don’t know jack shit about Big Smo but just looking at him and I hate him. Colt Ford, on the other hand, while most miss, when he hits it’s a great fucking song. Waste Some Time with Nappy Roots and Nic Cowan is absolutely fantastic, as is She Likes to Ride in Trucks with Craig Morgan, and Ride Through the Country with John Michael Montgomery.
That said, he’s mostly awful, and his awful is what would attract radio. I hope this doesn’t happen.
FTR, Nappy Roots are twice as country as any of these Hick Hop artists. There’s actually a lot of respect paid to rural life in some of Nappy Roots’ music.
June 12, 2014 @ 6:14 pm
I thought Kid Rock was the first and greatest “hickhop” artist, kind of the Elvis of “hickhop.” But, I’ll tell you one thing, if they’re grading by mass, this fat fuck is the best of all time.
June 12, 2014 @ 7:07 pm
Country + rap = crap.
June 12, 2014 @ 7:08 pm
Those who control Country Music have been pushing for a merger of Country and Hiphop. Looks they will finally get their wish.
June 12, 2014 @ 8:06 pm
I dont see how anyone can take hick hop seriously. Just the lyrics make me bust out in laughter.
Boss of the sticks boss boss of the sticks
June 12, 2014 @ 9:03 pm
Sad thing is there is a bunch of kids aged 16-24ish that have subs in their pick up trucks that are sadly gonna love this. On a better note is word through the grapevine is Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers are planning to record a live album of their acoustic show for a release. Been to this show a couple times and driven a long distance to see it. Well worth every mile traveled and dime spent. Hell of a show. Should be a damn fine album.
June 12, 2014 @ 10:16 pm
So this hick hop thing kinda sounds like the whole juggalos sub culture that sprung up around Insane Clown Posse and like minded rappers. As much as I dislike the juggalos, I’ve learned they’re a pretty accepting group for kids who don’t fit in. My question is: does the hick hop sub culture provide a similar outlet for the country kids that don’t fit in? If the answer is yes then I got no problem with it. I’ve listened to some of the music and I did not care for it at all but if it gives the kids a sense of community then it’s not so bad.
June 12, 2014 @ 10:27 pm
I would say yes, there is a Juggalo-style element to hick-hop where it permeates people’s entire identity. I’m not sure if I would say it is accepting of anyone, but I would say it has given an identity to a demographic that very much has been forgotten by the rest of culture. It gives them something to identify with and be a part of. Otherwise they would just be fat hicks as far as popular culture is concerned. They took this criticism and decided to make it be something they’re proud of.
June 12, 2014 @ 10:55 pm
What is a juggalo?
June 13, 2014 @ 2:48 pm
I think you’re right on right there. Southerner’s get lampoon’d all over the place and it’s one of the last bastions of acceptable ‘bullying’. They’re literally saying, ‘we dont give a crap what you think’ instead of blowing away the sterotype. The one silver lining is, inevitably, there will a fraction of fans from this music that will mature into listener’s that appreciate a higher quality song and seek out quality country sounds from the past and present. The rest will probably accidentally shoot themselves in a deer stand while drunk.
June 13, 2014 @ 10:14 am
That’s bullshit. Other than living in your parent’s basement in a burned out factory town outside of Detroit and being a complete loser, one of the central themes of the juggalo creed was hatred of “rednecks” and “white trash.” I had a friend whose younger brother was into that nonsense, and he used to ramble on incoherently about how much he hated “rednecks” and “white trash.” There are videos that were put out by Insane Clown Posse to the their model glue-addled twerp fans, showing them burning “rednecks” and “white trash” in effigy and stomping on their faces. As ridiculous as those fights at the Kenny Chesney show in Pittsburgh were, I would love to have seen a few 90 pound juggalo waggers thrown in the middle just for sport. F them.
June 13, 2014 @ 6:51 am
Holy shit this stuff is terrible. Objectively terrible in every way. Unfortunately, I think this could become pretty popular. I can’t say I know anyone who listens to pure hick-hop, but I know a lot of folks who would be ALL OVER this genre if they were exposed to it. Enter Big Smo….
It’s pretty common where I live to see the jacked up trucks with Dixie flag and John Deere stickers rolling down the street blaring Lil Wayne/popular hip hop. I’ve never understood it, but it certainly appeals to a lot of people. Not to get all “Wendell Berry” on you, but I agree with Trigger that the destruction of the agrarian culture in the South is a primary contributing factor. The agrarian lifestyle is almost completely absent in most areas, so kids have been exposed and have turned to urban culture, which is dominated by hip hop culture.
June 13, 2014 @ 7:01 am
But those kids with John Deere stickers don’t farm and have probably never been on a John Deere tractor.
Hick-hop seems to have taken country laundry list and all the negative aspects of hip hop (arrogance, a focus on “respect” and “disrespect”, materialism, objectification of women, etc.) and mixed them together in a steaming shit pile while completely disregarding the authentic features of both genres.
June 13, 2014 @ 1:57 pm
Hick-hop seems to have taken country laundry list and all the negative aspects of hip hop (arrogance, a focus on “respect” and “disrespect”, materialism, objectification of women, etc.) and mixed them together in a steaming shit pile while completely disregarding the authentic features of both genres.
This is the best description of this “hick-hop” BS (and “bro country” as well) that I have seen yet. Well done.
As to the topic at hand…ugh. It just makes me sick to my stomach.
June 15, 2014 @ 3:54 pm
How could you write that? It is not true. How could you make a statement like that when you clearly have not been listening to his stuff. His latest rap song is about how hard he is willing to work to take care of his wife and children (or has that now been added to the laundry list). He puts mainstream to shame. I think the real problem here is that SMO does not belong in a discussion on Saving Country Music. He is not a country music singer. This here is not his genre of music. He is a rapper. His genre is Snoop Dog, Emenem and who ever is hot now. He doesn’t need to be accepted by the country music world, he needs to be accepted by the rap world. Rappers rap about the life around them. He can’t very much rap about his niggers and life in the hood, can he? No he’s gonna rap about life in Tennessee. He’s got the full package as far as rapping goes. His voice is powerful, his lyrics are strong, fun and interesting. Of course, the average person on a site like this will not like him, no more than they like Snoop dog.
June 16, 2014 @ 8:43 am
He puts himself as does Colt Ford and others into the “country” world by the subject matter of his songs and video’s. It disgusts me to see a truly American art form basterdized by these no talent idiots. In my fantasy perfect world “hick Hop” nor rap nor hip hop would exist. Are culture in this country would be better off if that were the case.
June 13, 2014 @ 9:23 am
Although I do hate hick hop and country rap, I will say one thing: Colt Ford is nowhere near as bad as some of these artists. Even though he is not Merle Haggard by any means, I have at least heard some fiddle and steel guitar in a few of his songs, even if they do have rap influences. And he doesn’t act like a douche either, such as Big Smo or Luke Bryan or some of these other guys. I know plenty of people who have gotten to know him somewhat, whether working through arenas at shows or via social networking. He seems to be a good, down-to-earth, southern guy, unlike some of the pompous guys who have tried to pull off country rap (cough Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw).
Like I said, he is definitely not the best thing ever. Country and rap are just an odd combination. But his music is about 10x more tolerable, for me at least, than say Big Smo, the Lacs, Blake Shelton or Luke Bryan. He is enough though as far as country rap goes. After him, there isn’t any more of it I can handle.
June 14, 2014 @ 10:02 am
I’m not a huge Big Smo fan, but some of his songs are decent. This one (from 2010) at least has a Hank Sr vibe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT_uJrCeg3w
June 16, 2014 @ 7:18 am
No. No it doesn’t!
June 14, 2014 @ 11:18 am
Smo is not Jason Aldean who sounds stupid. All them other want to be rapper country singers sounds stupid.
Smo is a rapper not a country music singer. He doesn’t need to be accepted in the country music scene, he needs to be accepted in the rap world. He is a bonified rapper and he is really really good. His voice is strong and powerful and hid lyrics are, how do they say it, “tight”. For decades now, people in the Midwest and the south have been financially supporting these big city rappers, even though they could not relate to their lyrics. Now they have a rapper that can go up against any big city rapper and who is rapping about the stuff that they can relate to. No wonder he is so successful. I don’t see why someone like Big Smo should be here, (SCM).
June 15, 2014 @ 2:52 pm
A friend of mine shared a video on Facebook of him at a spot in downtown Nashville where Smo was performing. Every single set of eyes in the place screamed “deer in the headlights.”
I have a feeling it isn’t because they were in awe, either.
June 16, 2014 @ 9:30 am
TX Music Jim June 16, 2014 at 8:43 am
He puts himself as does Colt Ford and others into the “country” world by the subject matter of his songs and video”™s. It disgusts me to see a truly American art form basterdized by these no talent idiots. In my fantasy perfect world “hick Hop” nor rap nor hip hop would exist. Are culture in this country would be better off if that were the case.
The subject matter of his songs and videos is a reflection of his life in the south. He is a rapper, you idiot!!!!!! What the hell should he rap about, Life in the Albany Projects in Brooklyn, Life on the streets of Harlem, HIS NIGGERS? What is wrong with you? He is a rapper who was born and raised in the backwoods of Tennessee. Like it or not, that is what he is gonna rap about. Why can you not get your mind around that? What, he’s putting things that are dear and important to you into rap and what, somehow that is sacrilege. What, you’re the only person who was born and raised in the country? Every genre of music who sing about life in the south and west should make sure it is sung in a traditional country song? What the hell? How could you be so narrow minded? I get it that you do not like rap. However, why not just leave it at that? We are barely making a dent in taking on mainstream country music, now you want to eliminate an entire genre of music? Personally, thanks to SMO, I am actually listening to rap again. Now, if he can catch the attention of someone like me. I am guessing he’s about to blow up.
As for you not liking HIP HOP. Well, there lies the problem. .
June 16, 2014 @ 9:48 am
Uh.. was this intended to be a response to me? Because it addresses a whole lot of things I didn’t touch upon in an anecdote about a video clip I saw, haha. Color me confused.
June 16, 2014 @ 10:22 am
It was addressed to TX Music Jim. There was no reply under his comments.
June 16, 2014 @ 9:51 am
Oh I see now. TX Jim was the original person this was intended for, whoops/my bad.
June 16, 2014 @ 10:46 am
I detest Rap and Hip Hop with a passion. Why ? Because I beleive it has been a destructive force in American society. As a result, I detest Big Smo and his taking rural kids away from the good country music that, is out there and dragging them into the filthy cespool of Rap and Hip Hop. Nothing I can do about it but state my feelings on the matter and I stand by them 100 percent.
June 16, 2014 @ 4:15 pm
I’m not gonna fault anyone for liking this. I have no room to judge. But the grassroots following of this type of music is impressive.
June 16, 2014 @ 4:17 pm
I’m not gonna tell anyone what to like. I’ve no room to talk. The grassroots movement of this type of music is impressive.
June 17, 2014 @ 11:19 am
How is it possible that you and CheepSeats said the same thing? How is that even possible?
June 17, 2014 @ 5:18 pm
It’s not, unless one of them is a… G-G-G-G-G-GHOST?!!
Jeepers!
June 17, 2014 @ 6:09 pm
No one is at fault for liking this. It’s not my place to judge. But there is an impressive grassroots following for this type of music.
June 16, 2014 @ 7:38 pm
Remember when A&E was high art TV and stuff and you learned things on TLC?
June 21, 2014 @ 2:09 pm
This Big Smo is A Big Flop and I Like A&E But This is Just Crap and Crappy Viewing Too !!!
June 22, 2014 @ 7:54 pm
Just watching Big Smo for the first time…wasn’t sure what to expect, but I think I just saw him wipe his forehead with OUR American Flag. Please tell me I’m wrong! And if I’m not…take his unappreciative ass off of American TV.
June 22, 2014 @ 11:05 pm
I am absolutely sick of people tying to integrate hip hop into country. There is a reason why country and urban are so separate. What is even more shameful is the stupidly exhibited by these mainstream artists by soiling the purity of a genre that should not have been infected by the urban taste. Rural should not be combined with urban. There is a reason why the two a separate. I don’t’ get why so many rednecks like the sound of modern country mixed with rap. I’m sure all the hip hop folks are laughing at how ridiculous the county music genre has become. Stay true to your roots.
June 29, 2014 @ 12:33 pm
Does anybody know the song is playing on the opening credits where it’s saying encore and living louder?
July 4, 2014 @ 1:03 pm
I noticed some of you mentioning Cowboy Troy as starting it….you might want to go back a little farther…to Bubba Sparxx..in 2001…..
April 19, 2016 @ 5:30 am
I’m a black man in tje inner city and I love BIG Smo he have real skills mist people kust listen to the beat but THE real story is in the works so for all u HATERS BIG Smo is here to stay so get ready and if a when he come to DC ill be there in the front row he has earned his HOOD PASS
November 27, 2016 @ 9:03 am
Just wanted to say im big fan. My love is too. Hoping Big Smos family member is loving the hat she got from me last year at Ladson fair when you played. I am the girl who gave your manger the hat for her cause i didnt kniw was your neice or i would of gave her one befote your manager came back and asked and she was crying cause she didnt win. Love seeing winners but most of all i know her crying stopped cause she got one. My love plays guitar and sings too. Maybe once he makes it big yall can play something together
November 27, 2016 @ 9:09 am
Awesome artist remember when u played a fair i was working your manager i believe it was came back after your neice lost asked for one of my animal hats that was a prze. Super happy to give her one, love seeing children smile not crying. My love plays guitar and sings country doing gigs a lot here in decatur al. Hoping make it big one day too.keep up your talent