Veteran hip-hop artist Clever is carving out a unique space within the country music scene, blending his roots in rap with Nashville-ready country stylings. His rise in the country mainstream highlights the growing trend of independent artists merging hip-hop influences with country traditions, a fusion that is reshaping the boundaries of both genres.
Hailing from Gadsden, Alabama, Clever, whose real name is Joshua Huie, has seen his career skyrocket over the past decade, earning endorsements from major artists like Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, and Post Malone. But his journey began much earlier, with a young Huie battling on Black Entertainment Television’s 106th and Park as an aspiring emcee.
Now approaching 40, Clever’s artistic evolution has led him to explore radio-friendly country music, a genre he connects with through its rebellious, outlaw spirit—a trait shared with rap’s aggressive edge. This blending of rock, rap, and country has paved the way for artists like Jelly Roll, who has topped the Mainstream Rock charts, and for others like Zach Bryan, HARDY, and Kacey Musgraves to gain crossover success.
In this new era, Clever is part of a wave of musicians redefining genre boundaries, tapping into the shared cultural ground between country and hip-hop, and proving that country music’s long-standing traditions are more adaptable than ever.
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