Hick-hop: smash or pass? Hick-hop is a music genre. I just found it out on a road trip to SoCal with my niece and grandniece. That makes two in the last few months. Yacht Rock being the other. However, I knew the songs that make up the genre of Yacht Rock. I just didn’t know it was a unique genre until I heard it mentioned on the series BOASH: LEGACY. I like it.
Yacht rock makes me feel good. It brings back to mind when I was at the top of my game. When my son was born (1983).
Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers are two bands, of many, characterized by a “polished soft rock” mix of strings, horns, and electric pianos. The sound found its place in Southern California in the late 70’s and early 80’s. In fact, it’s some of my favorite music.
Hick-hop (Hichop), however, I had no idea even existed! Furthermore, I didn’t know of any artist or band! Until … Giddy-up Girl and Mud turned me onto it on the wild ride west. Oh my. Now, I know I am a Dinosaur. As Hank Williams Jr. sang in 1980. Which is classic Outlaw Country. Another favorite music genre of mine.
Hick-hop
is Country Rap music.
When it came on the Pathfinder’s player, I was shocked. I thought: This is back country white boys talking trash, and a backlash against the black ghetto rap that took over the music scene. I don’t think I’m wrong. FAFO is its ethos.
Only recently I found out what FAFO meant. The Hick-hop sound began in the 90’s. It’s been around for thirty-five some years, and I’d never heard it.
Check out Chillin’ in the backwoods, by the Jawga Boyz. That song explains it pretty well.
But, it can get much more down and dirty. In fact, dirt is a big theme. Riding high is another bellwether.
I don’t know. Mud, (my new name for her) is my grandniece, and down with it big time. She was disgusted with all the pickup trucks in LA. She called them “pavement princess” trucks. Because they were so clean. All for show. Not real trucks. She’s got a point.
In Conclusion
I think I’ll pass. What about you? Have you heard it? Hick-hop, smash or pass?
It’s just that it feels like/seems like, to me, the musical version of a “pavement princess”.
Additionally, when we were there, all of us were blown away by the Waymo cars. They were everywhere! Now, they’ve become weapons of war?
My word – I am a dinosaur.
Cheers. That’s what the whiskey’s for. Even Psych-girl agrees 🙂
I’m an equal opportunity music fan and love country, but hip hop/hick hop/modern rap is definitely not my cup of tea. Absolutely hate it.
My two cents….I think you and I have similar taste, based on the bands mentioned.
It blew my mind. I asked Mud if it had a geographic origin. The Rust Belt and South.
I seriously don’t know what to think …
I learnt about Hick Hop in my country music class, not a fan lol. Not for me.
That’s right! I had forgotten you’d taken a class. I’d love to hear/read more about that. Sometime.
I don’t know if I’m the right person for that since we only mentioned some surface level info about Hick Hop in class but maybe after some more research.
Oliver Anthony just dropped a new song and album. The song is: ‘Scornful Woman’. It’s autobiographical. And also timeless with the biblical reference of Adam and Eve in The Garden. Anthony is what I’d call Classic Country, with ‘Scornful Woman’ being Country Rock.
Music is just stories put to music. For me, that makes it more emotive. Country music does it well. and it’s very much American; but with timeless human stories. The American part is our country–The South and The West–the wide open spaces and woods. The isolation and loneliness of that. But and, the freedom that that evokes. Toss in women and whiskey and you’ve got it.
On the other hand, Yacht Rock seems to be about fantasy, or utopia. America is another band of that time and place. ‘Ventura Highway’ comes to mind. It’s just not real; but damn, it sure feels good. Maybe it was dope inspired, rather than whiskey, beer, and moonshine?
So. P.J., I’d love to hear your thoughts and if the course addressed any of that?
I read too quickly and thought you said hip hop. This is my first time reading about hick hop!
Hi Wryter, If you’ve a streaming music service- check it out. Just type in hick-hop. It’s wild. More evidence that the world, as we know it, is ending.
I looked it up and listened. I think it will take a while to grow on me. It’s too unfamiliar.