Shaboozey's "The Outlaw Cherie Lee" Album Reviewed

Shaboozey's latest album, "The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales," is presented as a significant addition to the genre of country concept albums, featuring Hollywood narrators, Pink Floyd-esque interludes, and an accompanying comic book. The review suggests that beneath these elaborate elements lies songwriting that substantiates Shaboozey's breakout success, indicating it was not a mere fluke. His place in music history is already noted as assured, even if he were to release no further music. Shaboozey gained wider recognition as a Black country-leaning artist through a guest appearance on Beyoncé's 2024 album, "Cowboy Carter." Specifically, his contribution to the track "Spaghettii" preceded the remarkable success of his own single, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." This single unexpectedly surpassed Beyoncé's album in popularity, becoming the biggest-selling country single of the year. It has accumulated over 1.75 billion streams on Spotify and, for a period, held the record for the joint longest-running US No. 1 single of all time. Shaboozey has also earned three nominations at the Country Music Awards, an institution historically known for its resistance to artists of color. His previous album, "Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going," is highlighted as the most successful sustained effort to merge hip-hop and country music. These two genres have a history of cautious interaction, occasionally producing novelty hits like Nelly and Tim McGraw's "Over and Over Again," the 2010 remix of Jason Aldean's "Dirt Road" featuring Ludacris, and Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road." The review also references the "bro country" subgenre, characterized by its rap influences, and the deeper underground sub-genre of "hick-hop," associated with MAGA politics, Confederate flags, and festivals held at Georgia mud holes. "Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going" has demonstrated remarkable longevity, remaining on the US chart for 112 weeks following its release. "The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales" aims to build upon this foundation, exploring narrative themes within a Western context, further cementing Shaboozey's artistic vision and his ability to craft compelling, genre-bending music.