“A Song For The Underdogs”: Benjamin Tod Seemingly Responds to Gavin Adcock with Fiery New Song, ‘Hell I Have’

After a long-running back and forth between Benjamin Tod and Gavin Adcock last week, which saw both artists sending shots at one another via social media, Tod has seemingly responded to Adcock with his brand new single, ‘Hell I Have’.

On the new track, the Tennessee singer-songwriter calls out the commercial side of Nashville and brands Music City as being “for sale”, as well as criticising artists that have never known struggle, singing, “But at least you got a roof overhead / And you say you're broke buddy that's a joke / Cause you could always call your dad”.

It comes after Tod and Adcock had a heated exchange on Instagram, which all started when Adcock waded into the comments of a TikTok clip that showed Tod talking about the twists and turns his musical adventure have taken so far. Adcock dismissively replied, “If you've played for $75 for years and years you need a new job”.

This incited Tod to make a video addressing Adcock, blasting his comment as “completely emblematic of why people like Gavin Adcock cannot represent country music”.

He went on, “95% of our industry, you just insulted, because it shows this clear divide where you have no f***ing concept of the relationship between talent and success, and the inequalities that exist throughout this industry that lend to someone like you getting power easily. Second, it shows that you are an entitled little brat”.

Tod angrily concluded, “You are a lazy, stupid, shiftless motherf***er...That cross on your hand ain't gonna save you from selling your soul to the Devil to get where you are. You don't represent Christians and you do not represent country music”.

Since then, Adcock and Tod continued their online spat in the comments section of various country music outlets, trading vicious responses as the feud escalated further.

Now, the timing of Tod's new track, ‘Hell I Have’, feels pointed. Explaining the inspiration behind the song, the ‘Wyoming’ crooner explains, “‘Hell I Have’ is a song for the underdogs. People that have more scars than trophies or awards. Folks who have the determination and perseverance that only comes from crawling out of hell. We all have the pretenders and the privileged to compete with but it’s important to remember that it’s the experience of hardship that built the character inside of us. It’s the breaking of our own hearts that allows us to empathize with a stranger's struggle. I am thankful for the windy broken road I was given”.

The ‘A Heart Of Gold is Hard to Find’ singer-songwriter goes on, “It’s also for all the real artists, songwriters and traditional country players who have to deal with the exploitation and erasure brought on by the ‘country’ music gold rush of the moment. We will remain, and I thank you all for your dedication in these trying times”.

If recent months are anything to go by, with Adock getting involved in quarrels with artists such as Zach Bryan, we suspect Adcock will likely respond to ‘Hell I Have’ before long...

For the full lyrics to Benjamin Tod's ‘Hell I Have’, see below:

“The summers in the south
Keep you drooling from the mouth
But at least you got a roof overhead
And you say you're broke buddy that's a joke
Cause you could always call your dad
-
Lord you don't know how to lose buddy
Oh you never been taught no honey
Losing really shouldn't be so bad
You never seen the kind of hell I have
-
I can make do with a train and a tune
Cause at least I ain't in jail
But you were raised for finer things
And Nashville's now for sale
-
Lord you don't know how to lose buddy
Oh you never been taught no honey
Losing really shouldn't be so bad
You never seen the kind of hell I have
-
Lord you don't know how to lose buddy
Oh you never been taught no honey
Losing really shouldn't be so bad
You never seen the kind of hell I have
Losing really shouldn't be so bad
You never seen the kind of hell I have”

For more on Benjamin Tod, see below: