The recording artist reveals a selection of country (and country-related) tunes that are inspiring him presently.
Daniel Prakopcyk
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Subsequent to being showcased on a few selections from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Shaboozey exploded into recognition last year with his genre-defying country-hip-hop hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” a reflective tune regarding drowning your anxieties in drink disguised as a celebratory anthem. Nevertheless, his path to renown was not swift; prior to that, he’d been crafting music for over a decade already.
Growing up in Woodbridge, Virginia, Shaboozey possessed an inclination toward hip-hop, R&B, and rock during his youth, though he additionally gained exposure to country music via his father. “My father hails from Nigeria. Throughout my upbringing, he would consistently inform me regarding diverse artists he enjoyed, such as Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and Charlie Pride,” he states. His father’s method of merging cultures serves as an inspiration for him even now. “I was just with him in Nashville, and it’s fascinating witnessing how much he essentially embodies Americana while concurrently preserving his [origins].”
“I perpetually felt ALIEN or DISTINCTIVE. It necessitated time for me to ADOPT that. It was THEN I comprehended MUSIC is what I desired to PURSUE.”
Like numerous individuals, Shaboozey was equally captivated by Western fashion as he was by the music. “Upon relocating to L.A. and commencing to treat music earnestly, I donned considerable Western attire—denim, cowboy boots, and related items. I recall entering the studio and remarking, Let’s compose a piece that captures my sartorial choices. Eventually, he and his producer arrived at a “somewhat hybrid, Western, Americana, country hip-hop initiative,” as he phrases it. “Everybody aspires to be a rapper at a specific juncture, correct? I surmise it required observing these varied avenues for me to discern that I could amalgamate [the genres]. And it simply resonates as authentic.” His intention, according to him, involves his music guiding individuals to unearth novel artists—to enable a listener who arrives as a hip-hop devotee to discover outlaw country, as an illustration.
The shared thread uniting Shaboozey’s expansive palate exists in a veneration for storytelling. The curated playlist he assembled for Bazaar’s November publication overflows with compositions from performers such as Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash, and Townes Van Zandt, all of whom have impacted his personal tactic toward narrative. “Upon initially experiencing country music, it resonated with me deeply,” he conveys. “The lyrics were profoundly authentic and heartfelt. It wasn’t contingent on vocal prowess, but on the caliber of the story being conveyed.”
Also present: the Brudi Brothers’ widely circulated sensation “Me More Cowboy Than You,” which satirizes those aspiring to embrace the cowboy cultural phenomenon. “For myself and my acquaintances, that constituted the quintessential summer anthem,” Shaboozey articulates.
Listen to Shaboozey’s selection of songs exclusively through Apple Music.
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