The unholy union of rap and country, gone awesomely right.

One of 2008's most surprising breakout acts was the "hick-hop" innovator Cowboy Troy, whose rap-meets-country stylings blew away the country world, with a self-proclaimed "combination of intense rap lyrics, shredding guitar licks, and fiddle, banjo, and steel guitar." Well, consider me sold.

Country Troy has the market cornered for Lynyrd Skynrd-meets-Tone Löc jams, and his chorus about 'playing chicken with the train' sounds edgy while still remaining safely in the canon of things that country stars sing about, which include:

- Why the singer is badass
- Being lonely
- Why things are better in America/back in the day/in a small town/at a bar
- Drinking
- Women
- Picking fishing over women*

Troy excels in category one of country lyrics, but could stand to bring more nostalgia into the picture -- where are the lyrics about drinking in a small town? That said, Cowboy Troy still breaks it down pretty raw, and gets across a hip hop edge that makes "I Play Chicken With The Train" both really weird and extremely awesome. I'd wear some Wranglers and drink some Coors to this one.



That said, Cowboy Troy is really not bringing a serious urban edge to country music. That challenge was already fulfilled by Toby Keith himself back in 2001 with "I Wanna Talk About Me." Now THIS is country-rap at its best, complete with really insightful lyrics about relating to women and scenes with Toby taking on the role of the cop AND the streetwise pimp - dude is breaking down gender and class barriers while reaching out to an urban audience saying "hey, country GETS YOU". It's grittier than Cowboy Troy, and definitely more connected to the hip hop audience.



So do your homework, Cowboy Troy, and MAYBE you can reach the heights of hick-hop legends like Mr. Keith.


* Okay, that might just be Brad Paisley's "I'm Gonna Miss Her", but it really deserves it's own category.

ED. NOTE: Some of you might try and debate about Kid Rock's standing in the hick-hop canon. I ask that you read about Mr. Rock blowing it at Stagecoach 2009 here, and see why I ignored him. Is it sad that he'll live his life as the dude who never again hit the heights of 'Bawitdaba'?