A couple months back I wrote that Kidd G had the best chance to de-throne Upchurch and the Upchurch fans made sure I knew they disagreed with me. I mean they really made sure I knew how they felt!!! Still…I stuck to my prediction…until this week.
See I saw a young talented kid, but more so, saw a young COUNTRY kid who did real COUNTRY stuff who could easily become a new voice for our genre. And then he went and did something perplexing…
Sometimes our decision making betrays us. Our need to belong and be a part of something we perceive to be bigger can sometimes lead to our demise. And that’s exactly what is happening to Kidd G right now.
Geffen and Big Machine, both connected with Universal (one of the three major labels – Warner and Sony are the others), have ZERO credibility to the country rap community. While they may be cool to uncool “teenies”, they are in no way a voice of our genre. He may as well have signed with NANCY PELOSI RECORDS.
Kidd G you have officially shot yourself in the foot. Unless you plan to sing soft ass love songs for the rest of your career, you may be over before you even get started.
We’ve kind of seen this movie before with SMO. SMO had heat with his pre-major label stuff like “Kickin’ it In Tennessee” but then he signed with Warner Brothers and fell way short of his potential. Yes he posted his bigger numbers with Warner but it was all a facade propped up by his A&E television show. As soon as the show was over his sales dropped like four flat tires and soon after Warner kicked him to the curb as well. He’s never rebounded. Even Average Joes, who have the most credibility with country rap fans, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again. If they can’t, no one can.
I think what everyone is missing is that we love guys like Upchurch and Colt Ford because they are REAL country dudes that live the lifestyle and did it their own way. Yes the music is good but what we really love is they are relatable to country folks like us.
Both Upchurch and Colt Ford flipped Big Machine the middle finger and refused to sign. Both Upchurch and Colt then forged ahead expanding their fan bases by doing it their own way. And both Upchurch and Colt Ford are STILL the top selling artists in the genre. Did no one on Kidd G’s team take a look in the country rap history books? Hell…Colt did a song with Kidd G…did no one take a minute to ask for some advice? Colt’s label would’ve been the much better fit.
NOTICE TO ALL COUNTRY RAPPERS PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE:
COUNTRY RAP FANS FOLLOW REAL COUNTRY FOLKS. YOU CANNOT FAKE US OUT. WE KNOW WHAT’S UP. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!!!
I’m not saying Kidd G is fake, neither is SMO. These are both real dudes. But history has shown us that these mergers of artists in our genre and any of the BIG 3 majors is the kiss of death. Who knows maybe Kidd G can break the mold? Maybe he’s as good as I think he is and folks overlook him being signed to these lame ass labels. But maybe I’m right.
Regardless, good luck Kidd G. We are rooting for you.
Coming from someone who grew up in this genre long before it was a genre it’s funny how both of the men you have mentioned “UpChurch & ColtFord” have both lifted this new artist up reaching out to collaborate with him he’s as country as they come growing up in the South is more than just mud tires and camouflage it’s in your blood or it’s not and maybe just maybe all the nay sayers will be proven wrong but either way where I come from the real south we don’t knock anyone down we lift our fellow brothers up