Hick-hop: Rowdy country rapper performs at The Signal

Ryan Upchurch

There's country, then there is Ryan Upchurch - aka hick-hop comedian and rapper Upchurch the Redneck.

Upchurch brings his rowdy country rapping to The Signal on Sunday night, March 4.

Upchurch is from Cheatham County, Tenn., just outside of Nashville. He created his humorous alter ego, Upchurch the Redneck, for the amusement of his friends to poke some good-natured fun at stereotypes of young men in the Deep South.

In 2014, Upchurch began making videos with his friends in which he portrayed Upchurch the Redneck, as well as demonstrating his skills as a rapper. After posting the videos online, word began to spread about him and he grew a fan base known as the Redneck Nation for his hick-hop music.

The following year he released an EP, which rose to No. 29 on on the country albums chart, and Upchurch the Redneck's recording career was off and running.

Last year, he began showing a more serious side, performing "Where It All Went Down," a modern country song he sang rather than rhymed, although his web presence remains dominated by his hick-hop and comedy videos. The song later appeared on a six-song EP, "Summer Love," released in May.

His latest single, new this year, is "Shoulda Named It After Me" with Colt Ford.

Riley Green from Jacksonville, Ala., will kick off the country-music weekend at The Signal on Friday, March 2. Channing Wilson will open.

Fans may recognize Green from his outdoor show, "In the Hunt with Riley Green," which airs on The Pursuit Channel. When he isn't strumming his six-string, he's either deep-sea fishing in Orange Beach, Al., for deer hunting.

His EP, "Outlaws Like Us", reached No. 2 on the iTunes Country chart.

Both shows start at 8:30 p.m., doors open at 7 each night.

For more information: 423-498-4700.