Separated at birth...

Country and hip-hop lifestyles are almost indistinguishable. I wouldn’t state that they are identical twins, but fraternal ones most definitely. With fraternal twins you have the same parents, but do not favor as much as with identical twins. With looks aside, you may notice numerous traits that are the same, with just a few differences.

In comparing the hip-hop lifestyle to that of the country lifestyle, the appearance of each is shockingly the same. Yes, the wardrobe couldn’t get more opposite as each lifestyle has a very distinctive way of dressing. A typical die-hard country music listener would most likely wear tight jeans and a western shirt, with a pair of cowboy boots on the side. In hip-hop the stereotypical male rap listener would wear baggy jeans and an oversized t-shirt, and perfectly cleaned sneakers. It is interesting that these are the only two musical crowds that have an obvious style that tags on the music. You can not say the same for those that only listen to oldies or top 40.

Another comparison proving that country and hip-hop life is close to the same is the feeling of the music. For example, typical country music sound is a “woe is me” such as, “my wife left me and my dog died” type of lyrics. Interestingly enough, the blues has the same concept. Also, for the sake of instrumentation, country music almost always has an autistic guitar or harmonica playing in the background as does blues music. In fact, with blues you may only hear a harmonica or a guitar. Since blues music has evolved in the hip-hop music to a faster beat called rap. Most rap music is that of where the artist has been wronged in some way, and he/she is angry about the situation.

Comparing two cultures of supposedly completely opposite ways of life and thinking, I find it relieving that people still have much in common. On a lighter note, country and rap music both speak of “bitches” in their songs, even though in country he is probably voicing more of “dog dying” problem verses problems with his girlfriend issues.

Music has such a way of opening doors of expression for all people. Depending upon their makeup, people find ways of relating the problems they encounter through different genre. Music has been and always be something that connects us to each one another. Through music, we find ways of vocalizing in acceptable ways to be completely understood. Music can be the language of reconciliation. Long live the different flavors we encounter; they articulate to us about the person telling the story!