Colt Ford

July 10, 2013

How Wal-Mart Is Helping The Spread Of Hick-Hop

One of the principle purveyors of this underground hick hop is the record label Average Joe’s. What The Wall Street Journal piece explains is how Average Joe’s has been working very intimately with Wal-Mart to market country rap to certain areas seen as favorable to the emerging sub-genre. While physical CD sales are falling overall, Average Joe’s has been able to keep the CD alive with the help of Wal-Mart, and country rap.

Average Joe's, Brantley Gilbert, Bubba Sparxxx, Colt Ford, country rap, hick hop, Jawga Boyz, LoCash Cowboys, Moonshine Bandits, Wal-Mart, Wall Street Journal

June 19, 2013

How Hip-Hop Stole Country Music: The Arrival of the Mono-Genre

Trigger Random Notes 79 Comments

ACM Presents: Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night - Show

All of a sudden hip-hop influences are dominating the top of the country music charts, asserting just as much influence, if not more than indigenous country influences, with a bevy of new country rap tunes from numerous artists ready to be released, and mainstream artists lining up to try and be a part of the trend. How did country music get here?

Aaron Lewis, Accidental Racist, Ashley Monroe, Blake Shelton, Boys 'Round Here, Brad Paisley, Brantley Gilbert, Colt Ford, country rap, Cowboy Troy, Cruise, Darius Rucker, Dirt Road Anthem, Florida Georgia Line, George Jones, Jason Aldean, Jawga Boyz, Joe Diffie, Kid Rock, Lil Wayne, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, LL Cool J, LoCash Cowboys, Ludacris, Luke Bryan, Lynard Skynard, Miranda Lambert, Moonshine Bandits, Nelly, Pistol Annies, remix, Sheryl Crow, Staind, Struggle, T Pain, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Warren Zevon, Waylon Jennings

June 16, 2013

Joe Diffie & Jawga Boyz Country Rap “Girl Ridin’ Shotgun” (A Rant)

Trigger Reviews 71 Comments

Yes ladies and gentlemen, Joe Diffie—the mulleted, cop mustached 90’s semi-star—has released an “answer” song to what many consider the worst song in country music history, Jason Aldean’s country rap “1994.” Diffie’s new song is called “Girl Ridin’ Shotgun,” and it is as embarrassing as puberty. This is a prayer for relevancy guaranteed to go unanswered.

1994, Colt Ford, D. Thrash, Girl Ridin' Shotgun, Jason Aldean, Jawga Boyz, Joe Diffie, Johnny Cash, Moonshine Bandits, Waylon Jennings

November 12, 2012

The Destruction of America’s Distinct Musical Dialects

Trigger Random Notes 58 Comments

When President Obama won re-election last Tuesday, he said in his speech that what makes America strong is not that it has the greatest wealth in the world, or because it has the strongest military, or because its culture is the “envy of the world.” Obama cited America’s diversity, and the bonds that hold that diversity together as the reason the United States remains the most powerful nation on the planet.

Colt Ford, Dirt Road Anthem, Jason Aldean, Ludacris, The Grand Ole Opry

October 17, 2012

Jamey Johnson’s “Living for a Song / Tribute to Hank Cochran”

Trigger Reviews 69 Comments

Jamey Johnson’s Living For a Song is a tribute to his musical hero; a man he met in 2008 when Cochran was already suffering from pancreatic cancer. I’ve always had great respect for Jamey Johnson the man, and his dedication and desire to see this project through elevates him yet another notch. But shoot me that I like my pulse raised when I put on an album.

Bobby Bare, Brantley Gilbert, Colt Ford, Don Williams, Emmylou Harris, Hank Cochran, Jamey Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, Living For A Song A Tribute To Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson

September 19, 2012

7 Signs The Mono-Genre Is Here

Trigger Random Notes 12 Comments

When I first proposed the theory that all popular music was coalescing into one big mono-genre where even the two traditionally polarized genres of country and hip-hop would be living side by side, even I didn’t think the conversion would happen so quickly and be so indisputable. Looking at country music, the top albums, the top songs, and the top artists all have ties to the merging of all popular music.

Colt Ford, Jason Aldean, lionel richie, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw

June 5, 2012

Alan Jackson Keeps It Solid & Steady in “30 Miles West”

Trigger Reviews 44 Comments

If 90% of the stuff they play on country radio these days is crap, then Alan represents the 10%. He’s the one respite when the Mrs. or kiddos flip over to 98.1 you don’t want to reach for a 9mm and point it at either your audio interface or your own pie hole. And unlike George Strait, Alan has the skins on the wall of writing a lot of his own material and other memorable achievements for real country fans.

Alan Jackson, Colt Ford, Garth Brooks, George Jones, George Strait, Review, Thirty Miles West, Zac Brown Band

May 14, 2012

Official Saving Country Music Pop Country Nicknames

Trigger Down with Pop Country 21 Comments

As frequent readers of Saving Country Music will attest, over the years we’ve christened fun little nicknames for some our favorite pals of pop country. If you ever wondered where these names came from and why, here’s the explanation behind some of our favorite terms of antipathy. Tim McGraw – The Perfume Magnate, Kid Rock – The Wet Cigarette . . .

Aaron Lewis, Colt Ford, Justin Moore, Kid Rock, lionel richie, Scott Borchetta, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith

February 22, 2012

The Moonshine Bandits “My Kinda Country” (A rant)

Trigger Down with Pop Country 95 Comments

All the stupid name-calling and sarcasm aside, these opinions and fun poking are based on my specific musical tastes, but I always believe artists should be measured against themselves first, and what The Moonshine Bandits do in “My Kinda Country” is sell themselves out by seeking mainstream acceptance in such an overt attempt that flies in the face of their self-constructed image as country rap “Outlawz”.

Colt Ford, For the Outlawz, Hank3, Jason Aldean, My Kinda Country, Shooter Jennings, The Moonshine Bandits

January 7, 2012

Source: Waylon Estate Distances from Tribute Contributors

Trigger News 31 Comments

Now Saving Country Music has learned from a reliable source close to Waylon Jennings’ estate that the estate has “distanced” from the choosing of some of the artists on the tribute, especially on the second disc. The Waylon Estate says the family still supports the release of these volumes, but if it was left to them, a different set of contributors would have been chosen.

Big Machine Records, Chet Flippo, Colt Ford, Jessi Coulter, Jewel, Justin Moore, Montgomery Gentry, Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings

January 6, 2012

Colt Ford, Jewel, & Justin Moore on Waylon Tribute?

Trigger Down with Pop Country 52 Comments

Wow. My little country music heart was sent reeling this morning when I rolled up to the track list and list of contributors for the new Waylon â€“ The Music Inside, Vol. 2 compilation due out January 24th. The thing read like my lampoon of the unfinished Hank Williams songs, but unfortunately it is all too real folks.

Colt Ford, Dierks Bentley, Hank Williams, Jack Ingram, Jessi Coulter, Jewel, Josh Thompson, Justin Moore, Montgomery Gentry, Pat Green, Waylon Jennings

December 24, 2011

The 6 Pop Country Archetypes

Trigger Down with Pop Country 68 Comments

Have you ever wondered who actually listens to those songs they play on pop country radio? Here are the six primary Archetypes, or as Music Row refers to them, “target demographics”, that make up the audience of the pop country world: The “Affliction T-Shirt “New Outlaw” Doucher”, “Bored Suburban Soccer Mom”, “Glitter-Faced Pop Country Girl”…

Aaron Lewis, Blackberry Smoke, Brantley Gilbert, Carrie Underwood, Colt Ford, Gary Levox, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Trace Adkins, Yelawolf

November 22, 2011

Surgeon General: Country Rap a Cause of Obesity

Trigger News 12 Comments

According to the Surgeon General’s office, an extensive study by the Centers for Disease Control has determined that country rap is a Class 1 cause of obesity, especially in adult white males. Apparently the data from the study is so conclusive and alarming, the Surgeon General is considering pursuing heath warnings on country rap albums.

anal leakage, Colt Ford, country rap, fake news, Grimmace, the people of Wal-Mart

November 18, 2011

Everlast & The Chemistry of Country & Hip Hop

Trigger Reviews 31 Comments

Since country is such a traditional art form, as soon as you interject a hip-hop element into the music (rapping, drum loops, samples, whatever) it ceases to be country, and instantly becomes hip-hop. He wouldn’t think once about calling his songs country. In other words, there is no country rap. There’s country, and there’s hip hop.

Colt Ford, country rap, Everlast, House of Pain, Jason Aldean, Songs Of The Ungrateful Living

November 10, 2011

Recap – 2011 CMA Awards

Trigger Reviews 57 Comments

My overall grade of the 2011 CMA Awards would be “not terrible.” Jason Aldean could have swept the awards, and ushered in a new era in country music where a country rap song was the reigning Song of the Year. But Taylor’s Entertainer of the Year victory at least means that at least a little authenticity is still alive in the “country” genre. Or at least for another year.

2011, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Brantley Gilbert, CMA Awards, Colt Ford, Eric Church, Hank Williams, Jason Aldean, Jr., Justin Bieber, Lady Antebellum, Lionel Ritchie, Little Jimmy Dickens, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Scotty McCreery, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry

November 7, 2011

CMA 2011 Preview: The Jason Aldean Effect (& Predictions)

Trigger Random Notes 20 Comments

Just like how Taylor Swift’s big 2009 sweep of the awards caused a dramatic pop-oriented shift in the genre, an Aldean sweep could cause a shift to Aldean’s calling cards of checklist songs and country rap. And a win for the song “Dirt Road Anthem” would all but make the formation of the mono-genre complete.

Blake Shelton, Brantley Gilbert, CMA, CMA Awards, Colt Ford, Dirt Road Anthem, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, The Civil Wars

October 18, 2011

Yelawolf Has No Place In Country and Roots Music

Trigger Reviews 90 Comments

Here at Saving Country Music, we have put ourselves squarely on the front lines of opposing the infiltration of hip hop into the country genre, or possibly, the takeover of country by hip-hop, that seems to be pervading the current mainstream country music landscape. Unlike many others that flee from this fight, I am willing to take the charges of racism and closed-mindedness…

Colt Ford, Eminem, Eric Church, The Moonshine Bandits, Yelawolf

September 23, 2011

Hip Hop Infiltrates Nashville Through Soundland 2011

Trigger Random Notes 29 Comments

Country and folk music have a long history of joining forces to create infrastructure to help support music, principally in festival gatherings. And as the corporate music world continues to crumble and is able to support fewer artists, while capital and infrastructure to develop upcoming acts continues to contract, hip-hop and indie rock bands have been flocking to traditional roots festivals for support.

Big K.R.I.T., Brantley Gilbert, Chet Atkins, Coldplay, Colt Ford, Dirt Road Anthem, Jason Aldea, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Justin Townes Earle, Kanye West, Lydia Loveless, Those Darlins, Yelawolf

September 12, 2011

Pointer and I Visit Downtown Nashville

Trigger Down with Pop Country 29 Comments

Last week as I was traveling through Tennessee, I took some time to visit downtown Nashville, where I hadn’t been in a few years, and I brought along one of my best friends named Pointer. Pointer goes wherever I go. Funny thing is, we don’t always like the same things. I thought it might be fun and informative to share Pointer and my pictures of our downtown Nashville trip for those who’ve never been there.

BR549, Brentley Gilbert, Colt Ford, Country Music Hall of Fame, Curb Records, Ernest Tubb, Hatch Show Print, Jason Aldean, Joe Buck, Kid Rock, Kris Kristofferson, Layla's Bluegrass Inn, Mike Curb, Music Row, Nashville, Rascal Flatts, Robert's Western World, Ryman Auditorium, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Willie Nelson

August 7, 2011

Country Checklist Songs Causing an Erosion of Values

Trigger Down with Pop Country 39 Comments

First country sold its taste, then its heritage to keep the dinosaur corporations that run country music afloat. Now it has sold it’s greatest the asset that has always given country music a distinction from the rest of popular music. It has sold its values, and is creating a generation of knuckle-chucking assholes in Affliction T-Shirts, and the girls who love them.

Austin Lucas, Brantley Gilbert, Colt Ford, Hank3, Jason Aldea, Johnny Cash, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson

July 29, 2011

Effects of Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” Hitting #1

Trigger Down with Pop Country 33 Comments

The last week of July 2011 will go down in history for when Jason Aldean’s country rap “Dirt Road Anthem” crested the #1 spot on the charts for all of country music. Pop songs and just plain bad songs swap out the #1 spot in country all the time, but here’s six reasons “Dirt Road Anthem” hitting #1 is significant.

Colt Ford, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift

June 21, 2011

Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” (Review & Roast)

Trigger Down with Pop Country 109 Comments

Jason Aldean’s country-rap breakthrough hit “Dirt Road Anthem” is climbing the charts, and after the recent release of the video and his performance with Ludacris at the CMT Awards, I suspect it will remain in the Top 10, if not take one of the top tier spots very soon. So I thought it might be fun to peel the skin back and see what this puppy is made of.

Colt Ford, Dirt Road Anthem, Jason Aldean, Ludacris, Taylor Swift

June 9, 2011

Country Taking Submissive Role To Rap in Mono-Genre

Trigger Random Notes 86 Comments

With Kid Rock hosting the CMT Awards, with country rapper Colt Ford performing, and with Jason Aldean and Ludacris closing the show out with a rap song, you can make the case that 15%-20% of the 2011 CMT Awards was either rap or rap inspired. I expect those percentages to increase until the number gets to 50%. Then the mono-genre will be fully realized, and the death of contrast will be complete.

Colt Ford, Dirt Road Anthem, Jason Aldean, Jennifer Nettles, Justin Bieber, Kid Rock, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Mumford and Sons, The Avett Brothers

April 21, 2011

The Colt Ford Collaboration Country Music Blacklist

Trigger Down with Pop Country 119 Comments

If you want to listen to a true, creative meld of hip hop and country, go listen to some Beck or some Paul’s Boutique-era Beastie Boys. But this Colt Ford stuff is garbage, despite a few catchy lines, and as far as I’m concerned, lending your name to a Colt Ford project lands you a card carrying membership to the “Colt Ford Collaboration Blacklist”. Here’s the names I’ve amassed so far…

Beastie Boys, Beck, Charlie Daniels, Colt Ford, Eric Church, Gretchen Wilson, Hank Jr., James Otto, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean, Josh Thompson, Kevin Fowler, Luke Bryan, Montgomery Gentry, Randy Houser, Rhett Akins, Tim McGraw

1 2 3