Citizen Cope

Citizen Cope -- born Clarence Greenwood -- ardently and soulfully explores the sounds of blues, hip-hop, rock and country. Richly textured violins play a lonely melody in the midst of acoustic guitar and classic organ, while Greenwood spins lazy yarns as blue as hip-hop lyrics can be. The country bumpkin earnest soul of groups like Outkast and the Goodie Mob is present, as is the slowly rocking blues and hip-hop combination favored by Beck and post-House of Pain Everlast. Everything is harmoniously orchestrated to tell a tragic tale of desperation and greed appropriate for passing time in a boxcar.