In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Joe & Toby discuss the rise of a Hip-Hop Cowboy, Lil Nas X, the 20-year-old rapper and internet savant behind the hip-hop-country crossover “Old Town Road.” In yet another rags to riches/started from the bottom tale of stardom, Lil Nas X was a college dropout living on his sister’s couch in Atlanta with a negative balance in his bank account. Now, he’s crushed Drake’s single-week streaming record and had the Number One song in the country for five weeks straight and there are no signs of stopping. Get ready for a genre-bending ride through this amazing episode of Riffs on Riffs with hints of country, rap, hip-hop and metal!
What we geek out over in this episode: Susie Stop Playin’, Trent Reznor, Nothing Records, More Cowbell, Netflix’s Bird Box, Iggy Pop’s Nightclubbing (1977), Johnny Cash’s cover of Hurt (2002), Country-Rap a.k.a. Hick-Hop, Ryan Upchurch track called Country Cut Celebrity (2018), Old Town Remix with Billy Ray Cyrus, and Bubba Sparxxx Country Folks (2013).
Bonus Material: Joe Watson’s Mashup of Nothing Breaks Like a Heart (2019) featuring Miley Cyrus, and her dad’s breakout hit, Billy Ray Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Heart (1992). ENJOY!
Owl City "Fireflies"
Pharrell Williams "Happy"
Naughty By Nature "O.P.P."
Beyoncé "TEXAS HOLD 'EM"
Taylor Swift "Cruel Summer"
Episode 4: Where Do We Go From Here?
Episode 3: It All Falls Apart
Episode 2: Living the Dream?
Episode 1: The Origins of 24-Carat Black
Riffs on Riffs Season 3 Trailer
Chainsmoking and the Nickelback Effect
Am I Wrong for Loving K Pop?
Songs That Are Just Plain Wrong
Lane Changes
I Need You to Break My Heart Tonight
Songs You Didn't Know Were Covers
Rock-a-Bye Humpty Hump
Can't Stop the La Di Da Di
Music 2 Protest 2
Mama Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories
Recruiting Future with Matt Alder
Conflicted: A History Podcast
This American President
Professional Book Nerds