◇ image via WikipediaOld Town Road
Old Town Road is a Country and Trap act. Their sound grew out of Young Thug, Lil Tracy, Lil Uzi Vert and Nine Inch Nails. Those roots explain a lot about how Old Town Road arrange songs and choose their tones. They run in the same orbit as Boy with Luv and Con Calma, sharing audiences, venues and reference points rather than a straight line of influence. Their influence carried into Herman's Hermits, Billy Ray Cyrus, Shaboozey, Mariah Carey and Drake, where the same ideas turn up rearranged for a later generation. Altogether the chart holds 18 connections around Old Town Road, reaching back through Young Thug and forward to Herman's Hermits. Follow any of those threads to keep travelling the influence between bands and genres on Starverb.
Background
"Old Town Road" is the debut mainstream single by the American rapper and singer Lil Nas X, first released independently in December 2018. After gaining popularity, the single was re-released by Columbia Records in March 2019. He also recorded a remix with American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, which was released on April 5, 2019. Both were included on Lil Nas X's second studio extended play (EP), 7 (2019). The song was recorded on December 2, 2018, at CinCoYo, based in Atlanta, Georgia. The song has been widely viewed as "country rap", a somewhat rare musical style not often heard in the mainstream prior to this song's release. Dutch record producer YoungKio composed the instrumental and made it available for purchase online in 2018. It features a sample of "34 Ghosts IV" by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. The sample was placed behind trap-style Roland TR-808 drums and bass. Lil Nas X purchased the instrumental for US$30 and recorded "Old Town Road" in one day. At the time, he had been living with his sister after dropping out of college; his real-world struggles were an influence on some of the lyrics.
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Old Town Road connections
Old Town Road grew out of Young Thug, Lil Tracy, Lil Uzi Vert and Nine Inch Nails, shares an orbit with Boy with Luv and Con Calma, went on to shape Herman's Hermits, Billy Ray Cyrus, Shaboozey and Mariah Carey. 18 connections mapped across roots, kindred and legacy.
Who influenced Old Town Road
Sounds and acts that shaped Old Town Road.
Artists similar to Old Town Road
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