I’m sure we’ve all met the type.  “Oh, I listen to everything except rap and country.”  First of all—you don’t.  No one really does, but I suspect that you probably do even less.  Sorry, but Top 40 doesn’t amount to “everything”.  Secondly, if you truly believe that rap, country and their respective sub genres are worth writing off as a whole, put down that I-Pod, put its stale playlist on the backburner for a bit and open your mind to the following.

Let’s begin by acknowledging that yes, both genres have their share of shit.  They also both have their share of chauvinism and general “off the wall” mentalities within their realm.  There’s no arguing that.  But, when was the last time you didn’t go 30 minutes without a vomit inducing “rock ride” on a sickening mainstream rock station?  If I have to hear how Tyler Connolly from Theory of a Deadman wrestles with infidelity or how Chad Kroeger likes to see felatio performed on lollipops one more time, I just might say screw rock n’ roll altogether.  Well, maybe.

Again, I’m positive there’s worse subject matter in the aforementioned genres, but the hypocrisy within the Nickelsack, Buckcherry (guilty as charged, but what a back catalogue) and Deadman lovers towards them is ignorant.  Sometimes it’s about entertainment as much as it is what they’re trying to convey.  I’ve personally considered rap to be battling for a title, similar, yet cooler than professional wrestling.  I might not be a cowboy or rancher but I’ve had my share of drinks, hardships and romance, alike.  Can you relate to being a hippy, an anarchist or a Courvoisier pouring, bling-sporting prick?  Maybe not, so, whether you can relate to it or not’s not always the point.

I will showcase selections from each genre that do and do not fit into the mainstream ideal of what they represent.  Classic or alt-country, for example.  Slam poetry or conscious hip-hop, for another.  I will, too, share the best of the worst (club banging, commercial rap and pop country at their finest).

Note: MP3’s are provided, unauthorized, courtesy of myself and my web server, not Steamroller. Click PLAY to listen or right-click to SAVE-AS.

Tasty Country

Dwight Yoakam – “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose”

A pioneer of modern country, while resurrecting rockabilly authenticity.  He toured early on with the alternative and punk rock likes of The Violent Femmes, Los Lobos, The Blasters and X, to name a few.  Known for writing many songs of his own, his cover of Johnny Horton’s “Honky Tonk Man” was the first country music video ever played on MTV.  He’s also the sole reason the late Buck Owens started performing again, out of retirement.

Eldorado – “Denial”

Local, indie/alt country act displays the power behind a sad, country duet from 2008’s Suitcase.

Alan Jackson – “Livin’ On Love”

Almost as close to modern-day pop-country as I like to get, I can rarely get enough of him.  Known for his song writing for himself, as well as other successful artists.  The Georgia Music Hall of Famer sticks mostly to a traditional country sound and has criticized the state of the mainstream.

Linda Ronstadt – “Blue Bayou”

Soothing verses and crooning choruses drive this twangy, Tahiti treat.  An honorary doctorate of music, arts advocate and political activist, she’s charted thirty-six albums, ten Top ten albums and three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 Pop Album charts.

Tricia Yearwood – “She’s In Love With The Boy”

A guilty pleasure type of love story that many a hypocrite could relate to.  Known for ballads about vulnerable women, she also works with Habitat for Humanity, the Make A Wish Foundaton and has a home cookin’ cookbook, to boot.

Corb Lund – “Game In Town Like This”

Punk rock prairie boy rose from the ashes of The Smalls to receive a multitude of awards with his band The Hurtin’ Albertans, including a Canadian Country Music Award and Juno award, each.  Blending traditional country, rock and some Latin influence, his farmland tales stick out poignantly in today’s country scene.

Hip-Hopped Up On Rap

NWA – “Gangsta Gangsta”

Another seminal, though less publicized track from their groundbreaking debut Straight Outta Compton. Funky, funny, danceable and in your face thanks to the lyric majesty of Ice Cube.

Immortal Technique – “Freedom of Speech”

Incessantly independent, he lashes out at major labels, their laughable studio gangsta artists, as well as any conspiracy theory-worthy right wing politician.  This powerful Peruvian’s claimed to have sold nearly 200,000 records total, on his own.  His other treats include prose such as “I treat labels like the projects, cause I’m a hater.  Go to the Sony building and piss in the elevator.”

Eminem, G-Unit and Obie Trice – “We All Die Someday”

First of two lethal weapon “diss tracks” from our modern-day West Coast clan. A heavy, dirty bass backed track, care of Cypress Hill/Soul Assasin’s DJ Muggs.  Eminem can and does shine, here with my favorite verse of his… period.  Even the otherwise irritating 50 Cent makes a notable appearance.

Saul Williams and Zack De La Rocha – “Act III Scene II (Shakespeare)”

I realized today that every day that I haven’t listened to this song was simply a mistake.  A noisy, furious attack on the political senses by slam-poet and Rage Against The Machine front-man.  “For you share the guilt of blood spilt in accordance with the Dow Jones / Dow drops fresh crop skull and bones / A machete in the heady, Hutu, Tutsi, Leone / An Afghani in a shanty, doodle dandy yank on / An Iraqi in Gap khaki, Coca Coma come on”

Obie Trice, Dr. Dre and Eminem – “Body Guard”

A diss directed towards the cheap, Tupac rip-off and wannabee, Ja Rule.  Dre’s unforgettable as he puts him in his place.  It’s interesting how Ja and his duet heavy career disappeared almost immediately afterward.

Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre – “California Love”

A typical, yet hard to chose track, killing two birds with one stone.  A danceable, “this is us and fuck you, too” track from the kings of the Wild West.

Jay-Z – Death To Autotune

High-profile, mainstream rapper does good by addressing by far the worst trend and epidemic in music of the past decade.  (See: T-Pain and a hoard of other pathetic, unoriginal pop artists)  Let’s hope he’s set a precedent for the next one with this drum heavy, lead guitar driven and horn-happy cut.

There you have it: a baker’s dozen treats for your indulgence.  Stream, download and share.  Let’s hope the Napster hating Dr. Dre doesn’t come down on me for this.  I’m your boy, Doc.  Remember that.

This is Steve Roland signing off of Steamroller Music Blog for the foreseeable future.  Some of the funnest, funniest, most insightful and leading opportunities I’ve had as a blogger / journalist were produced here.  It’s a liberal and entertaining place to be.  For now, studies and (hopefully) equally redeeming projects lay ahead.  As always, you can catch me rock reviewing and interviewing at WestCoastWeasel.com.

- Steve Roland