Shaboozey had been releasing music for a decade when he broke through with his record-breaking hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
He’s one of several singers who contributed to the resurgence of country music taking over pop culture, with that song and his two features on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning album Cowboy Carter.
As someone who’s been working hard for years to get to this place, 29-year-old Shaboozey is using the spotlight to draw attention to how difficult it can be for an emerging artist to handle finances. Yahoo Entertainment spoke with him about his pivotal year and his partnership with Cash App for the launch of its Tortoise Card, a customizable prepaid Visa debit card.
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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
You really are having such a great year — congrats on all of your Grammy nominations and on being featured on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, which won Album of the Year. What was it like being a part of that?
It was awesome! I’ve been creating this body of work and perfecting my sound, which combines western, country, Americana, folk, hip-hop and R&B. The fact that one of the biggest artists of our generation was also experimenting and creating in the same space felt like a beautiful crossover episode where two worlds collide in the best way. I felt like it was such a huge cultural moment. I’m really humbled and honored that Beyoncé would allow me to contribute. It’s unreal, honestly. A dream come true.
Shaboozey performs at the Grammy Awards. (Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for the Recording Academy)
Country music is definitely having a moment, and Beyoncé played a huge role spotlighting Black country artists like Linda Martell. How does it feel to be at the center of the genre’s evolution?
It shows how much music is an ever-evolving thing. When I started on my path, I realized a lot of hip-hop and country artists grew up in the same places. Lainey Wilson is from the same state as Lil Wayne. Teddy Swims, Luke Bryan and Quavo are all from the same area. We all have the same roots. Beyoncé and Linda Martell say in their song “Spaghettii” that genres are a funny little thing. I want to highlight how those genres of music are actually similar. We’re more alike than we are different.
Another big moment that came out of the Grammys was Chappell Roan’s speech in which she called out the music industry, asking labels to be more supportive of their artists. What was your reaction to that?
I think labels and executives do put a lot of pressure on artists. It’s a lot having to create, go into a studio, have all these ideas, be weird, be fresh, take care of your mental health, take care of your physical health and then, on top of that, [you] have to make sure you’re doing the little things like taxes or insurance. Those are regular things that adult humans have to do to survive, but I think labels can ease the process for the artists who are out there day in and day out being front-facing. We need supporters. I remember times where I was under the weather and needed medical support, and I was like, “I’m not even insured even though I’m signed to a big label!” I didn’t even know if we got benefits. I think there needs to be a conversation surrounding artists’ financial health and well-being. A lot of artists are taken advantage of, and it’s really mentally and emotionally draining, no matter what level you’re at.
With “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” you had one of the songs of summer. It also just broke a huge record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the radio songs chart. Why do you think the song resonates so much with people?
I think it’s the spirit of the song. J-Kwon’s “Tipsy” was already such a huge anthem that everyone was singing [when it came out in 2004]. Taking that and flipping it into “A Bar Song” does the same thing. I wanted to bridge the two cultures [of hip-hop and country] because they’re really the same. Everybody wants to go out on Friday night with their friends to their local venue, and what do you do there? You drink, you dance, you make friends, you have a good time. You leave all your worries at the door and just have fun.
Shaboozey’s Cash App campaign. (Courtesy of Cash App)
You’ve been making music for a decade now. How has your journey as an artist changed over time?
There’s been a lot of rediscovery — finding myself, finding my passion and finding my joy. I started getting back to just having fun, which was the same place I was when I was 18, trying things out and creating and being inspired by whatever was on my heart that day. Obviously, things change as you continue to grow, and there’s this financial strain when you start thinking about how you’re going to make money or sustain your livelihood from doing this. Then there’s the question, “How am I going to continue to stay relevant?”
I’m finding the things that make me unique and embracing those things, knowing that no two artists are similar — Sabrina [Carpenter] is different from Chappell [Roan], and Chappell is different from me, and I’m different from Benson [Boone] and Benson is different from Teddy [Swims].
Right! Cash App tapped you for this debit card campaign. What made you want to be a part of it?
I love the creative. They shot it on 35mm film, and I’m a huge film buff, so it was really cool to see a company like Cash App want to step outside the box creatively. Being where I am in my career — I just made the Forbes 30 under 30 — I want to be financially secure. I like that Cash App is pushing for ease with your personal finances so you can have control over your life and no anxiety around your spending. Being a part of that makes so much sense.
