While researching Country Music I have been very interested in finding aspects of the genre that I haven’t heard of before. Hick Hop is a cross between counrty music and rap. Hick Hop can be described as country music with hip hop beats and DJ scratching. This seems like an unusual combination but after listening to a song by Cowboy Troy it actually doesn’t sound that bad. It is different, it has a bit of a twang along with the normal black man rapping. Have a listen you might actually like it! Other artists known as rappers with noted country influences include Bubba Sparxxx, Nappy Roots and Kid Rock. Country singer Tim Mcgraw worked with rapper Nelly on a song called ‘over and over’. I had actually heard of this song, it was on the top 40 hits for a while, but never made the country music charts. I had never thought of this song as ‘hick hop’ before. Although Cowboy Troy didn’t invent hick hop he has certaintly taken it on and tried to introduce it to society. Troy came to the country music scene in 2004 with his blend or country music and rap. At the country music awards he was one of the two black people who performed. You should go to a band called ‘Bourlands’ Myspace page and have a look at what they are doing to combine rap and country music.
Hick Hop is a relatively new sub genre that I think has potential to introduce country music to a younger, mainstream audience.
Rachelle Fenning
Country music seems to be intertwined with so many different genres (two that have already been mentioned pop country and hick hop). It is very interesting how country music seems to work its way into so many different genres and I really don’t see that happening in others (or at least I am not aware of it). I wonder if the artists do this as a way to publicize country music or if the artists just like trying new things and experimenting with other genres. I feel that it might be a little bit of both. I think country music artists are just so comfortable with knowing their ‘background’ of music that they can go out and explore other genres without ever losing site of the true country artist they are. However, I could also see them using it as a way to draw some more attention to the country genre of music. Either way, I still think it is very interesting to learn about all the different aspects of this genre and the intertwining it does with other genres.
Hey hey, thanks for the plug. I’ve been in the Alt Country pack for years. Played Cowpunk in the early 90’s with The Texas Philistines. Hillbilly Hick Hop was a natural progression for me being a big fan of Beck, The Blues Explosion, The Beasty Boys and of course good ol’ country like Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and the like.
I wanted to do Hick Hop in 94′ but The Texas Philistines wanted a direction and we parted ways. It wasn’t until 2000 when my friend introduced me to DJ Buffalo Phil that I finally got my way. Adding Buster Gutbucket on the washtub bass gave me the full hillbilly hick hop sound. Since then I’ve been fortunate to have Sick join the band on fiddle and Mojo add some harmodelica.
Bourland’s top three picks for Alt Country in Austin, Texas:
1. Sick’s Pack – thrash folk is what Sick calls it; I call it great!
2. Scott H. Biram – hillbilly blues country punk one man band!
3. Lonesome Heroes – think Beck without the gadgets
1. http://www.myspace.com/wreckcreationmusic
2. http://www.myspace.com/scotthbiram
3. http://www.myspace.com/lonesomeheroes
Cheers,
Bourland