• March 6, 1977
• Bubba Sparxxx was the first white country rapper to make an impact - his genre became known as "hick-hop." He grew up on a farm in LaGrange, Georgia, where it was hard to find rap music, but he got a hold of CDs from the likes of Beastie Boys and 2 Live Crew, and taught himself how to rap.
• His debut album, Dark Days, Bright Nights, was released on a small label in 2000 and earned him a deal with the major label Interscope Records. Interscope boss Jimmy Iovine, the same guy who paired Eminem with producer Dr. Dre, teamed Sparxxx with Timbaland, one of the hottest producers in hip-hop. The album was completely reworked with new songs added, including his first single, "Ugly."
  
  With Timbaland at the helm and Interscope promoting him, Sparxxx was certain to get airplay on urban radio and on MTV, which he did. Timbaland's contribution also imbued him with credibility in the hip-hip community in the same way Dr. Dre gave Eminem that opening.
• His real name is Warren Mathis. "Bubba" is a euphemism for a Southern hillbilly type; the radio DJ Todd Clem had been using it for years as "Bubba The Love Sponge."
  
  Like Eminem's Slim Shady alter-ego, Bubba Sparxxx is an exaggerated version of Mathis, heavy on the country swagger.
• At the beginning of his career, he moved to Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia, because his best friend, Steve Herndon, got a scholarship to play football there. Herndon, who played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, appears in the videos for "Ugly" and "Deliverance."
• An addiction to painkillers derailed his career. After his third album, he went to rehab and took a lot of time off. When he was ready to make music again, he connected with fellow country rapper Colt Ford and released music on Ford's label, Backroad Records.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Ice Ice BabyVanilla Ice

The first rapper with a #1 hit was Vanilla Ice with "Ice Ice Baby" in 1990.

I Wanna Be Your DogThe Stooges

Sleigh bells aren't very punk, but they play throughout the Stooges classic "I Wanna Be Your Dog."

Hotline BlingDrake

The fadeout on Drake's "Hotline Bling" lasts 55 seconds - one of the longest outros of any hip-hop hit.

LevonElton John

Elton John's classic "Levon" runs 5:22, and Elton wouldn't let his record company edit it down for the single. His next single was "Tiny Dancer," which is even longer, running 6:12.

Birds Of A FeatherBillie Eilish

Listen carefully and you'll hear the sound of birds in "Birds Of A Feather" by Billie Eilish. Her brother/producer Finneas couldn't resist putting them in, but he kept them real quiet in the mix.

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)Edison Lighthouse

The love is growing in the '70s hit "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" because rosemary is the name of an herb.

Editor's Picks

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."