Culture: Music: Style
Country Rap   (+9, -4)  [vote for, against]
Uniting the hated

Even though country music is the most popular music in america most of the people I know hate it with a bizarre passion. Most people I know also hate rap, with similar ferociousness.

I've been listening to Jhonny Cash, Willie Nelson, Wu Tang Clan and Puff Daddy ... and I think that country music and rap have a lot in common:

- catchyness - sense of humor - sense of underlying pain caused by poverty - mentioning drugs, like pot a lot - often the songs tell a little story

So I want to see the Country Music and rap communities unite to produce a whole new genre. Jhonny Cash could sing the chorus of a ballad while U-God fills in the details! There could be raps of old country ballads like "Ballad of a teenage queen" and a honky-tonk country version of "I can't go sleep" (which sounds like a country song with a bunch of extra swear words anyway ...

The goal would be to unite their listening audiences so midwestern kids like me raised on Zeplin' and Bruce would just have to give in and take a listen (and by the way you should both genres are amazing) man oh man I can't wait!
-- futurebird, Jul 09 2001

Baked...soon. http://www.zeebyrd....enny/kennynews.html
August 3, 2000 -Kenny has joined rapper Coolio for a remake of the 1978 hit "The Gambler". [iuvare, Jul 09 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Baked, now. http://www.cdnow.co...CLEF/ITEMID=1237010
Wyclef Jean's "The Eclectic" features Kenny Rogers singing the chorus to "The Gambler" on track #3: "Kenny Rogers - Pharoahe Monch Plate." [iuvare, Jul 09 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Snoop's Gin & Juice, covered by squealing country outfit The Gourds http://indyweek.com...02-10-09/music.html
[calum, Oct 04 2004]

Weird coincidence, man. Me and some mates are just starting up a band right at this moment and we were discussing our musical direction last night. So far, we got an a gay punk vocalist, a Serbian beatnik guitarist and an American banjo-player (and none of us any good). We were thinking about a 'Prog Country' sound. Maybe a cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire"..... "Love is a burning thing. And it makes a fiery ring."

Anyway, I've always thought that cross-genre music kicks ass. The Dead Kennedy's do an incredible loungecore version of their own 'California Uber Alles', and I can just picture Eminem's cover of 'Stand By Your Man'.... ;>

A croissant from me.
-- Guy Fox, Jul 09 2001


Baked. Jason Downs and Milk.
Well, there's not much swearing, but it's country plus rap anyway.
-- lewisgirl, Jul 09 2001


I'm down with the crunk sound more than your average middle-aged apple-knocker, I believe. At the moment, I'm listening to "Return of the Tres" by Delinquent Habits, a wonderfully punchy Latino-flavored piece rife with Spanish horns and such. I haven't yet heard rap as translated by the Young Country crown in anything other than a mocking way. Any recommendations would be welcomed. Big roll for you
-- The Military, Jul 09 2001


As long as you promise it'll turn out better than the rap/Phil Collins stuff, you can have my croissant.
-- -alx, Jul 09 2001


Ummm.. I'd say this idea is... Becked.
-- globaltourniquet, Jul 09 2001


(That is, the album "Odelay" by Beck is very close to Country Rap. And funk/punk/hip hop/soul/etc. And a fantastic record, I might add. Like all of his records. Talk about genre mixing, Beck is the king....)
-- globaltourniquet, Jul 09 2001


I was listening to a cut from "Teatro" on the way to work this morning and was reminded: Willie Nelson collaborated on a treatment of "On the Road Again" last year with rapper Li'l Black.
-- The Military, Jul 10 2001


MC Nathaniel gets 'down on the farm' and DJ Jazzy Jacob plays jug.
-- benfrost, Jul 10 2001


I'm only a casual listener, but isn't much of Kid Rock's and Uncle Kracker's work like this?
-- mrkillboy, Jul 10 2001


Good observation. Also, the definition of rap doesn't have to be stretched a great deal for one to regard Dylan's fiddle-laced "Talkin' Blues" a portent of the hybrid.
-- The Military, Jul 10 2001


Talking blues as a genre has been around way longer than even Dylan, and rap differs largely by generally being less tuneful, and having aggressively-oriented lyrics and a stolen backing track.
Bobby's 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' is, perhaps, even closer than 'Talkin' Blues'.
-- angel, Jul 10 2001


Baked...as far as a few open minded artists are concerned. Whether the general public chooses to fully bake this idea, only time will tell, 'cause you never know.

With the exception of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right", early attempts at the rap/rock thing were met with blank stares (remember "Bring tha Noize--Public Enemy/Anthrax, or the Judgement Night soundtrack?). Times changed, however, and in the mid-90s the public was ready for bands such as KORN and Limp Bizkit. Now it seems every new rock band has a DJ in its lineup.

So it seems anything's possible, it just depends on the climate of the market.
-- iuvare, Jul 10 2001


honky tonk hip hop .... yippiekaiyay yo yo...
-- don cornelius, Jul 11 2001


Dude, I just don't know what's wrong with rap today. Don't get me wrong, I like it and all, it's just...See, Tupac was alright. Tupac was true. He was actually raised in the streets. His mom was a whore, his dad a drug dealer. But rappers today are like "Yeah, I'm a straight up homie G. That's why I have a huge mansion and a multi-million dollar entertainment system and I have chicks in my music videos that are 99.999% white (y'ever seen those chicks? They're like, freakin yellow!) There probably aren't any gangs left today becuase no one likes them anymore, but I bet if they were they'd shoot up all these rap music labels and stuff. I mean, just look at Puff Daddy (P. Diddy, Putz Duddy, whatever) He freakin went to school in a freakin boarding school. He banged Jennifer Lopez. Ever heard of any straight up homie G's who banged Jennifer Lopez? Didn't think so. And he got arrested for, what, tax evasion? He shows up in court wearing a very not straight up homie G-like suit and he pretty much buys off the jury. Boy, if I was black I'd be pissed. Of course, then again if I was black I'd have a ten-inch cock...
-- HighSchoolMan, Sep 13 2001


>>There probably aren't any gangs left today becuase no one likes them anymore

Where the hell are you from?
-- AfroAssault, Sep 15 2001


Thank you for sharing your secret shame with us HSM.
The myth of black men having larger dongs by default is exactly that - a myth.
Otherwise, there would be different boxes labeled "Blacks" or "whites" for items such as athletic supporters, cups, condoms. You could also confirm this with a few of those hookers you're interested in.
I look forward to hearing of your sexual exploits if and/or when they occur.

*sigh*

what was the topic again?
-- thumbwax, Sep 15 2001


Oh yeah? Not from the interracial pix I've seen. The cocks in those are bigger than I am. Why do chicks like big dicks anyway? The bigger they are the more it'll hurt when he puts it in. Boy, that really pisses me off. Why the emphasis on size? Why...*falls into a stupor from not taking enough Risperdal*
-- HighSchoolMan, Sep 15 2001


Everybody knows that girls don't want a guy for his money, looks, or dick. They want a nice, sensitive, genuine guy.

I'll post again in a few weeks when I stop laughing.
-- AfroAssault, Sep 16 2001


HSM: Yeah, we all know that the people in pr0n are all selected based on how average they are, and nobody unusual is ever used...
-- StarChaser, Sep 16 2001


just ignore him
-- po, Sep 16 2001


I think country and rap could work
-- po, Sep 16 2001


Heres something for you all to read about dicks. http://www.adam-carr.net/033.html This is based on actual studies, not what we think. Hence, it would appear most blacks have a larger dick because they hold more of there full length than whites when limp. They also claim this will make black mens dicks go limp faster than whites. And last but not least, the average length for all americans black and white would be around 6".
-- skunx710, Jun 17 2002


Why are people voting for this? It's totally baked!

I can only think of a handful of tracks but that still counts doesn't it?
-- sild, Jun 18 2002


It seems that Eminem has taken Guy Fox's anno to heart. The new album, the Eminem Show, features 'Square Dance'.
-- DrBob, Jun 18 2002


Maybe I'm the only one in here that watched the American Academy of Country Music Awards? (I can't help it....the music is so singable) Anyway, KidRock (ok, his 'rapperness' as opposed to 'rockerness' could be disputed) teamed up with Hank Williams, Jr to do a number at the awards, and HW, Jr appears in a rappy kinda song on his latest album.
-- dana_renay, Jun 18 2002


It's been done - check out the song (or video) for "5, 6, 7, 8" by the group "Steps". It's more of a disco-country-rap than just country-rap, though. I personally find it disturbing...for two reasons; one, listeningto /watching it is just disturbing unto itself, and worse is the second - the damn song got stuck in my head.
-- cameron, Feb 01 2003


De La Soul played around with this on their first album. That was, what, about fifteen years ago? [marked–for–deletion] widely know to exist.
-- snarfyguy, Feb 02 2003


De La Soul "widely known to exist" ?! B***s***!
-- DrCurry, Feb 02 2003


Rage Against The Machine combined rap with rock/metal and also had a large healthy dose of political comment in there too. Now that they have unfortunately passed by the wayside, the RATM musicians have combined their style with the lead singer from Soundgarden (Chris Cornell) to make the band Audioslave.

SO, now you have the rap/rock/metal of RATM with the whining rock/country influence of Chris Cornell. And they have lost all of the social commentary and political messaging that made RATM famous. Altogether, you could call Audioslave a rap/rock/metal/country/sell-out band.
-- reap, Feb 02 2003


Soundgarden was a country band?!
-- waugsqueke, Feb 02 2003


on country rap..im an North Carolina backwoods MC who grew up in Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Naughty by Nature not to mention Johnny Cash and George Jones and trust me country hip hop WILL happen. People who oppose to show the closed-mindeness that holds it back. Just think if Detroit and Chicago Beatmakers(which is a genre in its on right) had not decided to try an apply free thought poetry to these beats..guess what would have happened people? No Hip-Hop. Music evolves by crossing genres. It is a plain an simple fact. People who say that we from the country cant do hip hop are just as prejudice as the sterotypes that we recieve. The cat that said hip hop and country are a lot alike couldnt have said a more true statement. Just listen to the words..but then again if people paid that much detailed attention to REAL music this wouldnt even be a topic of discussion it would be a topic of reality and what would already be existing. AND AUDIOSLAVE ISNT A SALEOUT BAND..I GUESS THAT THAT GUY NEVER LEFT A BAND AND JOINED UP WITH ANOTHER DAMN DUDE SAME BAND ALL THESE YEARS WOW!!! NEVER EVOLVE KEEP PREACHING THAT SHIT..YOU IDIOT!
-- mcjayded, Feb 13 2004


UGK claims to already be making "country rap tunes."
-- tchaikovsky, Feb 13 2004


Square dance calling?
-- DonBirnam, Feb 13 2004


The best country/rap song I've ever heard is The Unholy Trio's cover of "Bring The Noise". You can listen to a snippet, along with an unofficial music video for the song here: http://www.sxsw.com/film/screenings/quicktime/movie_window.php?id=380&qtformat=download&speed=hi
-- magnetbox, May 19 2004


My escalade done gone and broke down, and somebody shot my best old dawg, ya'll.
-- Laughs Last, May 20 2004


Country Rap= Johnny Cash Regis Philbin

Reynolds Wrap= Michael Jackson, keeps Michael in, keeps children out.

Amen to the square dance calling similarity. See also, livestock auctions. Compare and contrast, READY? GIZZOOH! I have a feeling this concept has been ridden already through the dusty, western ghizetto, and into the dope sunset! YEE HIzzall EEHAW!
-- Insanedrum, Jun 14 2004


//I've been listening to Jhonny Cash, Willie Nelson, Wu Tang Clan and Puff Daddy//

and

//produce a whole new genre. Jhonny Cash could sing the//

Jhonny Cash?

Is he related to Johnny Cash?

Maybe they could sing together?
-- DesertFox, Jun 14 2004


Just to add to the general bakedeness... I heard Kenny Rogers and that bloke from The Fugees (Wyclef Jean?) duet on a cover of The Gambler. With rap. Which really ruined a great song.
-- spacemoggy, Jun 14 2004


I'd like to see something similar - I'd call it "country funk" or "funky country" - there are certain songs that I think would translate very well to country idioms. For example, "Little Red Corvette" by Prince, or "Thank U Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin" by Sly & the Family Stone. I could see folks line dancing to these tunes - as a matter of fact, now that I think about it,the choreography for "Little Red Corvette" is very similar to line dancing, isn't it?
-- smendler, Feb 07 2009



random, halfbakery