Country Rap??? Really?? Apparently So.

I've "discovered" some off-the-wall music in my time as a blogger (and general music enthusiast). But "country rap" takes the cake, hands down. I didn't even know this sub-genre existed until recently, and I certainly had never heard it either on the radio or anywhere else. But apparently, country rap – or "hick-hop" as it's affectionately nicknamed – is gaining some degree of popularity, so I felt compelled to check it out. Here's a small collection of songs by some of the more well-known country rappers, with a brief commentary from me on each one. Enjoy? ~  JH

1)  Kid Rock  ~  "Cowboy"  (A "classic" rock/hip-hop/country hybrid, and likely the song that started the whole country-rap "phenomenon")

2)  Bubba Sparxxx ft. Timbaland  ~  "Deliverance"  (Sounds more hip-hop than country to me, but the underlying influence – at least topically – is definitely there)

3)  Cowboy Troy ft. Sarah Buxton  ~  "If You Don't Wanna Love Me"  (Now, this I like! Nice and easy flow, with a beautifully sung chorus)

4)  Colt Ford ft. Jake Owen  ~  "Back"  (Nice song – this guy's got talent, even if he doesn't have the smoothest flow)

5)  The Lacs  ~  "Keep It Redneck"  (This one's got a Dirty South hip-hop sound, with a distinctly redneck flavor)

6)  Big Smo ft. Alexander King  ~  "Lick Life"  (Apparently this song is a musical companion to the Lizard Lick Towing TV show – this "hardcore" dude's a country gangsta! LOL!)

7)  Charlie Farley ft. Daniel Lee  ~  "Backwood Boys"  (Dude's got a sick flow and the featured singer is good, too – I don't personally embrace the whole "lifestyle" that's described here, but that doesn't mean it's not an entertaining song)

8)  Moccasin Creek  ~  "Being Country"  (If Lynyrd Skynyrd had a rapper in the band, I bet they'd sound a little something like this)

9)  Twang & Round  ~  "Bury Me"  (Twang is right, and the other guy's definitely round – that being said, a nice hybrid of country and hip-hop; WARNING: A few mild expletives are interspersed throughout the lyrics – I'd rate it a PG at worst)

10)  Bottleneck  ~  "Ride On"  (Simple, easy flow with a good country tune backing it – good stuff!)

Songs By Ladies Named Sara And Sarah

Here's something random to start off your Tuesday. Why Sara's and Sarah's? For one thing, there are plenty of good Sara/Sarah singers out there to choose from. Many well-known lady singers are represented here, as well as a few lesser-known Sara's/Sarah's who deserve a little more recognition. Enjoy!  ~  JH

1)  Sara Bareilles  ~  "Love Song"

2)  Sara Evans  ~  "A Little Bit Stronger"

3)  Tegan And Sara  ~  "I Was A Fool"

4)  Sarah McLachlan  ~  "Possession"

5)  Sarah Buxton  ~  "Outside My Window"

6)  Sara Groves  ~  "Less Like Scars"

7)  Sara Watkins  ~  "Where Will You Be?"

8)  Sarah Harmer  ~  "Basement Apartment"

9)  Sarah Darling  ~  "Home To Me"

10)  Sara Niemietz  ~  "Rooftops"

11)  Sarah Blasko  ~  "We Won't Run"

12)  Sarah Brightman  ~  "Deliver Me"

13)  Sarah Masen  ~  "All Fall Down"

14)  Sarah Vaughan  ~  "Tenderly"

15)  Sarah Jarosz  ~  "Tell Me True"

16)  Sarah Kelly  ~  "Living Hallelujah"

17)  Sarah Burgess  ~  "Thank You (Very Much For Absolutely Nothing)"

18)  Sara Syms  ~  "Dance On My Grave"

19)  Sarah Blackwood  ~  "Drowning"

20)  Sarah Slean  ~  "The Rose"