Journal 6: Is Country Music to Blame for Racial Criticism?

Rising country star, Jason Aldean, Courtesy of Carrie Allen Tipton

                In Carrie Allen Tipton’s article, “Country Music Hollers Back at Hip-Hop,” she boldly states that throughout the past few years country music has developed dissociation with the rest of the musical world.  Through the use of three different examples she claims that country music is looking down on urban life and any life different from their own.  Widely popular, “Homeboy” by Eric Church, “Dirt Road Anthem” by Jason Aldean, and “Holler Back” by the Lost Trailers, are said to have deeper messages that should be addressed.  Lines such as, “We do it different around here, but we sure do it right,” and “Here you are runnin’ these dirty old streets, tattoo on your neck, fake gold on your teeth,” are alleged to be destructing urban values.  

However, I tend to disagree.  Regardless of the fact that I am a country music fan, I do not believe that there is anything wrong with being proud of where you came from.  I do not think that country music is out to demoralize anyone who lives a different lifestyle; in fact, I think it is the exact opposite.  While reading this article, I found myself getting fairly defensive.  Just like any other genre of music, they sing about the lifestyle they prefer.  Rap and hip-hop produce music around the life that they have come to know and what it has taught them.  Country music is no different.  I can relate to country music in a lot of ways, but for it to be considered looking down upon urban values is unrealistic. 

Carrie Allen Tipton definitely made her point, but she did it a bit too strongly.  I can see where she is coming from and where one might take it the wrong way, but the majority of her arguments were one sided. For example, Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem,” in which he took it upon himself to actually record with rap singer Ludacris.  Teaming up with a member of a completely different genre shows class and respect for a different type of music from your own.  To me, that is quite the opposite of dissociation.

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/165500-country-music-hollers-back-at-hip-hop/