Alpha Media EVP of Content Phil Becker recently welcomed Bootleg Kev, host of the Premiere Networks-syndicated Hip-Hop program “The Bootleg Kev Show,” to his “Phil-Osophy with Phil Becker” podcast for a conversation about the rise of Country music. The opinionated duo attempted to answer the question: “Is Country music the new Hip-Hop?”

Becker and Bootleg Kev discussed collaborations like Morgan Wallen with Lil Durk, and how Country artists are ditching traditional aesthetics for something that resonates with today’s audience. They also explore what’s diluting Hip-Hop’s appeal and why the genre might be losing some of its edge; how TikTok and streaming have blurred genre lines; and the similar raw and rebellious nature of Country and Hip-Hop.

Bootleg Kev also shares personal stories from his work with artists who are redefining what music can be, like the genre-bending Jelly Roll, who credits Kev with his move to Country music.

Below is a highlight from the conversation, which can be heard here.

Becker: “Is it (Country) in fact becoming the new Hip-Hop, or do you think this is just a 6-12 month run?”

Bootleg Kev: “I think that Country and Hip Hop have always had interesting parallels. If you listen to Waylon Jennings – he’s got a song called ‘Outlaws.’ That’s really some gangster rap from the 70s. A lot of the subject content of Country music is very kind of Hip-Hop in spirit. … I don’t think it’s gonna be a six to 12-month thing. What I do think is the Internet has made fans less genre driven… with like Tik Tok and with just the access to the entire world at a given second, you might go to a Kendrick Lamar concert AND you might go see Morgan Wallen.”

Listen to the special episode of the “Phil-Osophy with Phil Becker” podcast on iHeartRadio here.