Gangstagrass

Gangstagrass is a United States group based in New York City that combines bluegrass and hip hop with rap and country influences. It is founded and led by Brooklyn producer and mashup artist Rench. The group’s members are Dolio the Sleuth, R-SON the Voice of Reason, Rench, Dan Whitener and Adriel Williams.

Background

Gangstagrass forms in 2006 and develops a style built around pairing bluegrass instrumentation with rap vocals. Its music is described as a new genre that blends authentic bluegrass and rap, with country rap and country elements also associated with the project.

Notable work

The group reaches a wider audience when “Long Hard Times to Come” is chosen as the opening theme for the US television series Justified on FX. The track is said to be inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Things Goin’ On”.

Style and references

Gangstagrass presents itself as a form of “New American music” rooted in bluegrass and hip hop, with influences linked to artists including Gram Parsons, Otis Redding, KRS-ONE, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott and Johnny Cash.