Platinum Gangster Rapper &

[@jamesbobo]

He left out a verse in this live version. After "Before he left, he went and named me Sue", the next verse is "Well, he must have thought that it was quite a joke and it got a lot of laughs from a lot of folks, seems I had to fight my whole life through. Some gal would giggle and I'd turn red and some guy would laugh and I'd bust his head. I tell you, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue."

[@AS8643]

Johnny Cash was one of a kind for sure.

[@Uthgardloki]

this song was written by Shel Silverstein, a musician and poet who wrote the book Where the Sidewalk Ends

[@deadheadfor2oh948]

Shel is one of the most underrated song writers. Most people don't even know he wrote songs

[@Uthgardloki]

@deadheadfor2oh948 yeah it's crazy how folks only know his poetry

[@Jacob_Junge]

He also wrote most of Dr. Hook's hits.

[@laurasutherland8928]

​@Jacob_Junge learn something new every day !!! ❤ lovvve me some Dr Hook !!!!!

[@hypnonavy]

Imagine that A Boy Named Sue and THE GIVING TREE came from the same brain.

[@chrisredlich7075]

Johnny was a bad ass story teller, didn't hold back.

[@williamadams6084]

Cash was a 50s rock and roll star, cash was a founding member of rock n roll

[@jameswiglesworth5004]

Although he touched on many genres, surely he was primarily Country, more than rock and roll ?

[@staymuse5904]

the guitarist to Jonny's left is Carl Perkins writer of Blue Suede Shoes and sold the first Million song for Sun Records before Elvis sang Blue Suede Shoes. Carl was part of the "Million Dollar Quartet": Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash all four Beatles were members of Carl Perkins' fan club and became close friends with the rockabilly legend. They recorded more songs by Perkins than any other composer, aside from their own works

[@LeannWebb61]

Another vintage rapper you may enjoy is Jimmie Dean (of Jimmie Dean sausage fame) telling the story of Big Bad John from back in 1961. Before that was Charlie Ryan in 1955 with Hot Rod Lincoln. “Pappa said son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’t stop drivin’ that hot rod Lincoln.”

[@MrNiccholas]

I'm only 30, but you're taking me back to my childhood! I knew Hot Rod Lincoln from Commander Cody and his lost planet airmen. It was one of my FAVORITE songs growing up! I also loved Jimmy Dean! My personal favorite was P.T. 109, but you really need to hear big bad John first! I also loved The Cajun Queen!

[@MrNiccholas]

And yes, most of my friends thought I was crazy (they might be right, but for other reasons!) They all said I had weird taste in music, so I'd crank it UP!!! Lol

[@LeannWebb61]

@@MrNiccholas I’m 63, the same age as Jimmie Dean’s song. Back then we called songs like that “Talking songs” instead of rap. 😁

[@MrNiccholas]

@LeannWebb61 I'm also a big fan of what we call "trucker Songs." We joked that they were the precursor to rap because they didn't really sing. It was spoken poetry set to music! C.W. McCall and Red Sovine are the two that come to mind. I was an over the road driver for a while, and I can honestly say truckers can be the biggest softie tough guys you'll ever meet! I mean that in a good way! I still cry when I listen to some of their songs!

[@andreaelliott728]

Yes, and the follow-up to “Big Bad John” - “Cajun Queen”! “Phantom 409” is another awesome one!

[@kathywilson2650]

He is one of the best country singers back in the day. Love Johnny Cash..

[@PrestonH-q5w]

"...And we crashed through the walls and into the street Kicking and a-gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer" Now that's a lyric.

[@carolynbrubaker1619]

That was our favorite song line all the time when we were seniors in HS. (that's the year it hit #1)

[@erbfierro2810]

AMEN BROTHER!! 🍺🤠🇺🇸💥

[@sbalsamo410]

I loved this conversation. I think there are a lot of artists in folk and country that are storytellers as much as they are singers. That tradition continues but it’s been diluted in time.

[@WendyJoJohnston]

This was a great reaction, guys. I first heard this when I was 9 (1969). My brothers and I knew all of Johnny's songs. Check out Johnny Cash, Man in Black, and then look into the recordings he made with Rick Rubin before he died. One of those is Hurt. I am partial to God's Gonna Cut You Down, both the song and the slide show. Peace and Kindness.

[@elceenomoun8115]

If you're talking about spoken word, the 1st was German composer Englebert Humperdink's stage play musical in the late 1880s. Now that's a rapper name! 😂

[@Uthgardloki]

Norse Flyghting from the 1300s and prior was battle rap full of boasts and insults. the Loksenna is the saga where Loki Flyghts on the rest of the Aesir

[@tahliasgoddaddy]

Englebert Humperdink is also the name of a singer in the 70s. He had a few hits. "Am I That Easy To Forget," being my favorite.

[@ahwhite2022]

Yeah, the problem (like is often the case) goes to definitions and refining those definitions to het an agreed-upon understanding of what we mean by a word. "Rap" tends to be associated with a certain type of flow developed in hip hop, but even that has evolved a lot over the years. Heck, Snoop and them in the '90s sounded nothing like the first bug rappers in the '80s. I think a lot of music traditions have had spoken word, recitation traditions, with various types of melodic "flow." Then you also get into the debate of rap versus hip hop, and does the former really exist outside of the context of the other.

[@ahwhite2022]

Oh, and Humper "DANK" would be a great rapper name.

[@gk5891]

"Talkin' Blues" is what this form of music is called. Christopher Allen Bouchillon, "The Talking Comedian of the South" recorded "Talking Blues", Columbia Records in Atlanta in 1926. Lead Belly (Black) and Woodrow Guthrie (White) were famous performers of this genre.

[@suzanking5625]

Finest performance inside Folsom State Prison ! You really should review Cocaine Blues . Same gig. 4 felonies in the first 20 seconds because Johnny was LEGEND .

[@caligo7918]

To the roots of rapping: In the late 1800s in Germany, a style called "Sprechgesang" became popular, where rythmically spoken texts were accompanied by matching music. But musically accompanied storytelling is probably as old as the instruments able to do so.

[@JMitch67]

lol I laughed at the logic that you were trying to make of this dilemma. Lol he could have just changed his name. That was hilarious. 90% of the people that listen to that song don’t even think about that. Great observation. lol 😂 😂😂

[@SickGirlRocks]

RIP to legends Shel Silverstein and Johnny Cash Shel Silverstein did children’s poems as an author, but he was also an adult so he did things like The Great Smoke Off, which was for adults

[@ThomsenArts]

Loved Shel. And the musical rendition of his poem, The Unicorn, by The Irish Rovers.

[@love68]

Johnny is a national treasure. He loved all types of music and musicians. 💯🤠

[@seanjohnson6186]

Many years ago I had a supervisor who we called Lee but one day a woman called and wanted to talk to Sandra. I told her there wasn’t a Sandra who worked there but another employee heard the conversation and said “She wants to talk to Lee”. The caller was Lee’s mother and his legal first name was Sandra.

[@spiritwalkerperformer1689]

Did you know that Merle Haggard (a later country music star) was a prisoner at San Quentin when Johnny did this performance? The two didn't meet at that time, but it influenced Merle's career in music. Also, because of your guest's name, you should check out Neil Diamond performing his song "Soolaimon".

[@Kevin-i6t5i]

Yes, Merle was sent to San Quentin after attempting to escape from Bakersfield jail.

[@captainhook2764]

Sounds about right, 😂 but apparently I’m a distant relative of haggard. The harps are all related. He has a song grandma harp.

[@coreyrogers8700]

Johnny Cash is an amazing story teller

[@vanlawprime6694]

This was right after he got clean till the day he died. Johnny Cash sounds like a stage name but that was his birth name.

[@joshjackson8432]

I'll say he was laying the foundation of rapping. He put a stone or two down but more of a voice of the people. Rapper esk of putting a story on the beat in his way so you know what he means and are entertained. Really told our story as a people. Ira haze not the spelling but great story

[@oldscool65]

Johnny Cash: The Man in Black!

[@AS8643]

Johnny Cash was one of a kind for sure.

[@jasonyoung7705]

There are 2 songs, when we start to fight, and when we stop. 'A boy named Sue', and 'Coward of the county'

[@bevalexander5897]

Love this performance! Johnny Cash is the real deal. I recommend listening to the country “super group”: The Highway Men. You got the best and baddest country superstars in one place, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. But for early “rappers” check out the live version of Charlie Daniels in The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

[@galerios1]

You gotta check out One Piece At A Time. Another of Johnny's funny classics.

[@galerios1]

Thank you! It is my favorite! I can't believe I got a like that fast. Johnny Cash is one of my favorite singers ever. Back when my dad could still play guitar he used to play them for my sister and I. Boy Named Sue was one of his faves. He also liked to play One Piece At A Time, By Johnny, And Wreck Of The Ol' 97. You should check that out too. Good song.

[@GaiaOne]

That's a GREAT song!!

[@galerios1]

@@GaiaOne One of my favorites. And one that my dad used to play on the guitar and sing to us when we were kids. Back when his fingers worked well enough to play. Another one he loved to play was Wreck of the Ole' 97. Check that one out. My dad had a hell of a singing voice. Natural bass. Between Arthritis and COPD he can't sing or play anymore.

[@lefty3141591]

Your conversation made me think of "Colorado Kool Aid" by Johnny Paycheck. It is another song that involves an ear being cut off. I recommend it as a reaction.

[@warrenhughes911]

Great reaction.. BOB DYLAN ..first rapper... Subterranean Homesick Blues.. Early 60:s

[@taun856]

That song and "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleedin'") from the same period.

[@mikeh8416]

It started LONG BEFORE THAT.... Look up "Beatniks". Poetry to music has been around for a VERY long time, even BEFORE the Beatnik era.

[@Oldhogleg]

He's also the original MIB

[@UncleCharlie111x2]

The second verse was left out in the video seems Verse 2: “Well, he musta thought that it was quite a joke / An’ it got a lot of laughs from lots a folks / Seems I had to fight my whole life through / Some gal would giggle and I’d get red / And some guy’d laugh and I’d bust his head / I tell ya, life ain’t easy for a boy named Sue.”

[@teresacartwright5406]

I still get a laugh out of this song! Another that I think you'd enjoy is Tennessee Ernie Ford singing "Children Go where I send Thee" on live (B&W) TV with a bunch of kids. No matter how often I watch it I still laugh 'til I cry!

[@LoisChisholm]

Prior to "Boy named Sue" there was a type of folk music called Talking Blues. I just found an old Recording on KZbin from 1926! That might actually be the original pre-cursor to Rap. Maybe.

[@slucas60]

Great reaction!! Have you heard his "Cocaine Blues" yet? It will surprise you!

[@kevinlytle6215]

Thanks for this. You should listen to the songs he recorded in his studio later in his life. Not for an album just ones he wanted preserved I guess. They were the songs that he loved growing up or that made him who he was as an artist. Some are just crazy good. Just him and a guitar.

[@sandyleewhite]

😎😎😎 *Outlaw Country at it's best!* 😎😎😎

[@timforrest8666]

I met Johnny many years ago and I became very good friends with Carl Perkins, the man on guitar, and his drummer, WS Holland. The amazing thing about this video is that they had never played it before. Johnny had the lyrics that Shel Silverstein had given him the day before. The rest of the band had never heard the lyrics. There was actually no music written. Johnny just told the band, play a standard country chord progression. He was reading the lyrics. You can tell if you watch him. He improv’d and it became one of his biggest hits. Just thought I’d share.

[@jillking5876]

I like your take on Johnny Cash. He rocks. (so to speak)

[@lexxxlucifer6665]

Some good old folk story telling... something that's definitely got a good kin to Hip-hop IMO

[@johndugger1028]

My dad was a big Johnny Cash fan, dad was a self-taught guitar player (country and gospel) until I was 14 I had only heard a couple rock n roll songs cause we didnt listen to the devil music, grew on on Johnny

[@AnthonyE-fi3ux]

SWEET YOU GUYS DID IT THANK YOU!

[@carolespinoza8469]

When my son was born I named him Kelly. People said he would bully him,he grew to 6" 2. He weighed. 12 lbs. 4oz. He didn't get bullied. 👍😍😍

[@mikeh8416]

Short little sucker at 6 inches!! I guess that explains his weighing only 12 lbs.. 🙂

[@donnasmith5942]

Love this song.

[@Ogsonofgroo]

Watch his last great work covering 'Hurt', he was not afraid to lay things on the line, a good though tortured man imho.

[@neverexstinguished]

Bob Dylan... Subterranean homesick blues, and ..Its all right ma (im only bleeding) have been named as 60s rap. have you heard Johnny Cash man in black ?

[@flyingardilla143]

'You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.'

[@neverexstinguished]

@@flyingardilla143 yes, and money doesn't talk it swears, is one of my favourites

[@emerje0]

Listen to Johnny Cash - "Get Rhythm" That's him rapping!

[@mattgargus]

It all kinda depends on where you draw the line between rap, recitation, and "talking blues." It was a few of these older dudes that actually did it with some rhythm to it and could really pass for rap and Johnny is definitely one. Charlie Daniels was good at that too. There are people that think anyone can do rap and to that, all I have to say is listen to Mark O'Connor's "The Devil Comes Back To Georgia" and hear the difference between Johnny Cash and Marty Stuart doing spoken lyrics 😂 no disrespect to Marty, great singer and musician, but he's proof that the "rapping" delivery is a talent not everyone has

[@peterbailey4222]

There was a duo that wrote musical theatre back in the mid 1800 called Gilbert and Sullivan. They wrote a piece called "modern major general" for their "pirates of penzance" comic opera. You could argue that was a precursor to rap.

[@howardwhite5131]

Dig into the "Talking Blues." It started in the 1920's.

[@frankperry2874]

Song written by Shel Silverstein ! Loved his books as a kid!

[@Uthgardloki]

you hear pt2 sung byr Shel? from the dads pov

[@agirlnamedmichael1670]

I love it when reactors don't pause the videos! It ruins the flow =) On a side note, as a 54 year old woman named Michael, I SO relate to this song! lol

[@hockemeyer1]

Try Red Sovine who is an old country story teller. 3 of his most famous stories: "Teddy Bear", "Roses for Mama" and "Phantom 309"

[@williamjones6031]

My dad was old school country, and he would drive me to school. This song would come on sometimes and he would look at me and aren't you glad your name is Bill? I knew you would like this.🤣

[@timekeeper2117]

OK my man. You want to hear jonny rap.... listen to 1 peice at a time. You'll love it .

[@paulbarden1895]

Cash played in the 50s😮😊

[@cathybannister6743]

John "Johnny " Cash is his birth name.

[@Bill-jx2jf]

MAN IN BLACK ONE AMERICAN BADASS!

[@sdw3355]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve practiced this song. Love this song!

[@erikaronska1096]

Great reaction! "He could have just changed his name"

[@laurenblainebamartistmgt]

Krizz! Rap in the 60’s that you GOT to see! Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick Blues”! Positively rap. Make sure to see the video, not just audio.

[@LeannWebb61]

After you check out Subterranean Homesick Blues (with video) check out Weird Al Yankovic’s parody “Bob” with video. You’ll crack up!

[@robertprice6830]

YUP

[@snydercatherine8211]

Best country storytelling rapper Jerry reed she got the goldmine I got the shaft. You will love it

[@patrickreilly7256]

Goes way back to the 30's. They called it "TALKIN' BLUES'. Bob Dylan was great at it. "Johnny's in the basement, mixing up the medicine".

[@mikethompson2650]

God I had forgotten about that song. I had first heard that song way back in the 60s, I think.

[@Proudtman]

I don't think names make people tough! It's how people react to certain situations that make them tough

[@camerontopinka4361]

Chuck Berry

[@VIDSTORAGE]

A couple more of the older cool country type of rap reciting songs recommended are 16 Tons / Ernie Ford Big John / Jimmy Dean ,, they get the views

[@timcarr6401]

In the 60s Bing Crosby did "There's Nothing That I Haven't sung About." About a minute and a half he raps in most pleasant way. Check out Elvis in 1967 doing "U.S. Male" and take a lesson.

[@snakeinthegrass7443]

Great reaction, fellas!!! More please.

[@robberrie677]

Johnny cash best rap song.... ive been everywhere...

[@t.r.1708]

Thx Kris! Dylan in 1961 was “spitting!”

[@mikemiller3069]

I have seen what could be called rap in a Marx Brothers' movie dating back to the 40s. In fact, going back to classical opera music, spoken parts were called "recitative".

[@rockybailey3125]

Suli was awesome, great reaction guys.

[@horrorjunkiehayne]

I would love to see you react to Tom Waits. He is a brilliant storyteller and his wit is completely next level. Songs to check out would be Chocolat Jesus, God's Away on Business, The Piano Has Been Drinking, Hell Broke Luce (which has a hell of a back story you should read up on beforehand)... really anything from his catalog is brilliant and unbelievably unique. Some people get thrown off by his voice at first, but it has its own charm. The man is also a fantastic actor.

[@laurasutherland8928]

Enjoyed this review w you 2 ! ❤❤

[@lisamayreed6399]

Love your reactions...keep them coming!

[@KrizzKalikoOfficial]

Thank you! Will do!

[@luthermoore2969]

Johnny Cash had to bury his own brother, like dug the grave by hand as a kid to bury his own brother.

[@lindalou6105]

Really?

[@jamanjeval]

A lesson to songwriters is how that song doesn’t give you a moment where you would pause it, the story keeps moving and makes you want to hear what comes next.

[@OVDOVG01]

I'm Loving that Jersey, my friend

[@jodyparkercraven]

This was the first time he played this song with the band

[@revaflowers3115]

This an abridged version of the song. I suggest you listen to the album or singles version.

[@theoddityshoppe]

***ONE PIECE AT A TIME*** a more fun side of Johnny! This one is for the Gangstas! DO NOT MISS THIS :)

[@WintersLady]

First rapper… you might be thinking of Cab Calloway. He was the progenitor of Scat… which became rap of a sort.

[@donegalrediscovered3309]

The first official mainstream Rap song was done by the Blondie .. A British band .. The song was actually called “Rapture” .. Love your reaction… Johnny Cash here was more of a folk story teller similar to Neil Young .. 😀

[@luthermoore2969]

Yall listening on Elvis and Johnny, yall got, GOT TO, check out Jerry lee lewis, live performance is recommended to get the full experience.

[@katnapper1]

I wasn't sure how far back on your reaction videos you review the comments. I just saw you and your son's reaction to Hurt. Great song, video depiction of a glimpse into the wonderful and sometimes tragic life of a great musician. You should check out Five for Fighting's "100 Years." It's guaranteed to make you reflect upon your life and appreciate every moment in the mere flash in the pan you have on this beautiful planet.

[@itsakittyting]

Talking over music is not rapping, it's an ancient storytelling artform that goes back thousand years here in Europe

[@kimatkins7653]

You got to check out Johnny's song,"The Man Who Couldn't Cry" and Roger Miller's song,"King of the Road"

[@lilamuzik3385]

Krizz, you would also love Jim Croce who is a great story teller. Try him out. Beautiful songs...

[@Raven5150]

Gatlinburg has changed a little since when this was wrote but they didnt even get a street light until the late 80s

[@VenusDeMilitant]

For really early rapping check out Cab Calloway scatting.

[@JohnHazelwood58]

JC ... he was one of the greatest Gangsta Rappers out there! :) You should check out some BLUES, too ... like "The Elektrid Mud Cats - Mannish Boy" < Chuck D, Common, Rahzel and Kyle Jason with the Rotary Connection performing a Muddy Waters song!

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

0:23 No. That was Count Matchuki. Like DJ Kool Herc he is from Jamaica but 30 years older than Herc.

[@susanworkman529]

Krizz, you need to introduce Suli to a true early rapper country rapper...........Charlie Daniels, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Charlie was " spittin' some bars"!! 😄

[@nnyjim]

johnny cash was considered in his younger years a rebel. many of his songs cross of several genre. he also was a huge supporter of native American's plight back when it was very unpopular. if you get time you should listen to the ballad of ira hayes and as long as the grass shall grow.

[@TheDivayenta]

Bob Dylan was the first rapper in 1965- Subterranean Homesick Blues- watch the video! He was 24. And pull up the lyrics. 😊

[@ryankuykendall2010]

I never thought about that he could have just said a different name!😂

[@C-BASTIAN]

Saludos desde Colombia parcero 👊🏻🔥

[@williamstreet4304]

Is Johnny Cash his rapper name? He is also known as 'The Man In Black'. Which one is more rapper. I'm an old white dude. So, I have no idea.

[@ThursdayNext67]

Johnny Cash's wife, June Carter was a distant cousin of Jimmy Carter

[@peensteen]

She was also an opportunistic homewrecker who actively ruined his marriage to his first wife to jump on the fame train with a vulnerable drug addict.

[@JeffreyRiggs-mr2ic]

Bob Dylan, Subterranean homesick Blues, first rap song.😊

[@ricksurratt9034]

I have said that Johnny Cash is a rapper and people say oh no that’s not. Oh yes, it is.