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There are a number of qualities that have ensured Kenny Chesney has remained a country music staple for more than three decades, following his debut in the mid-90's.
He's a fantastic songwriter and performer, and has built a sun-soaked, joy-filled brand that resonates with millions across the planet. But undoubtedly one key element to his success has been his ability to stay true to the music he wanted to make, rather than attempting to follow the trends that have emerged over the years.
This has meant that, while country artists were experimenting by joining forces with rappers and R&B artists in the 2010s - as Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line did, for instance - Chesney largely steered clear of this genre-blurring. He teamed up with pop phenom, P!nk, for the electric ‘Setting the World On Fire’, in 2016, but aside from this, never ventured too far from his signature sound.
During a new discussion with Bill Maher for his Real Time podcast, the host quizzes Chesney on his thoughts on country music's compatibility with other genres, before asking the ‘Take Her Home’ hitmaker if he'd ever commit to a rap collaboration.
Chesney pauses, before suggesting he'd be up for it - on one condition, “It would depend on the song. It would depend on the song. Maybe. I'm open to just about anything”.
The Knoxville native goes on to highlight how, although he's never ventured into the rap world, he has explored other genres such as reggae, on his playful link-up with The Wailers, ’Spread the Love’, from his island-inspired 2013 gem, Life on a Rock.
“Well, I made a lot of music with Aston Family Man Barrett, who was the bass player for The Wailers...with Bob [Marley]”, Chesney recalls, “And I got to know those guys. And I actually was sitting on the north shore of Jamaica one night, after they shot a music video with me... And I just sat there and I talked to Family Man...about his life growing up in Jamaica and his early years with Bob Marley. And the similarities were unbelievable. And he goes, you know, reggae and country music tell it like it is - they tell it uncut”, before affirming, “And I agree with that”.
Elsewhere during the interview, the five-time CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year credits the vibrant, eclectic array of musical influences that defined his upbringing as helping to give his current sound a sheen of uniqueness, “I think when you grew up where I did - of course, we had country music. I heard that at my mom's house and my grandmother's house. But I also loved Van Halen, and I also loved Sammy Hagar, and I loved Tom Petty, and I loved all these great rock bands. I loved AC - I loved ACDC. So, I'm a firm believer, especially now, that when you become an adult and you start making music for a living, the music that comes out of you is a direct reflection of the music that you soaked up as a child”.
Will we ever get a Kenny Chesney rap crossover in the style of ‘Over and Over’ by Tim McGraw and Nelly? We love a healthy dose of genre-blending, and BigXthaPlug, Shaboozey and various others have demonstrated time and again that country and rap can sound spellbinding when fused in a considered and artistically curated way.
Having said this, though, we wouldn't hold our breath. The country legend understands his loyal fanbase on a deeper level than most, and it's hard to envision a rap or trap collaboration that would really make sense and align with his laid-back, beachside spirit. But hey, never say never. BigXthaPlug, we hope you're reading...
Listen to the full conversation below:
For more on Kenny Chesney, see below:
