ROLLING STONE Credits Bellamy Brothers for Emergence of Country Rap

According to a new article fromRolling Stone Country, it may have been David and Howard Bellamywho originally instituted today's popular country rap or "hick-hop." Twenty-seven years ago when the Bellamy Brothers released their single, "Country Rap," they may have inadvertently set a whole chain of events into motion.

Howard Bellamy notes, "I'm not sure if they're giving us the credit or the blame but we did record 'Country Rap' in 1987. I guess we were ahead of our time by 27 years."

In the Rolling Stone Country article, the Bellamys' "Country Rap" (written and performed by David and Howard Bellamy) is listed as the first event on a chronological timeline of the evolution of "hick-hop."

Rolling Stone Country journalist Jewly Hight writes:

David and Howard Bellamy came to country with a proclivity for incorporating far-flung stylistic sensibilities. They dabbled in reggae early in the Eighties, then reached Number 31 on Billboard's Country Singles chart in 1987 with "Country Rap." It was clear from the song's hook that the brothers meant it as rap rap: "We got fatback/That's a fact/If you don't know, that's a country rap." They chanted their agrarian-themed lyrics in a sly, slack cadence over a seamless, funky groove, and even made what sounded like an oblique reference to "Theme From Shaft."

"We were bro-country when bro-country wasn't cool," says David Bellamy. "But now I think we may be eating crow. In our new music video, 'Boobs,' we take a jab at country rappers. Oops."

Read the full article HERE.

About the Bellamy Brothers
Throughout their 39 years in the music business, the multi-platinum selling Bellamy Brothers have charted15 #1 hits on the US country and pop music charts. Hits like "Let Your Love Flow," "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)," "Redneck Girl," and "Old Hippie" are the songs that helped to make the brothers household names. Today, their seamless harmonies remain perfectly intact as they continue to travel the United States and international tour circuits, performing over 150 dates each year. Rolling Stone recently included the Bellamy Brothers classic "Old Hippie" on their list of the 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. "Let Your Love Flow" was named on BMI's list of Top 100 Songs of the Century and "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)" was chosen by The Boot as the #1 Top Pickup Line in Country Music.

For more information on the Bellamy Brothers, visit www.bellamybrothers.com.

Photo courtesy of the Bellamy Brothers.