Jelly Roll has been active for over a dozen years now, collaborating previously with a Memphis rapper named Lil Wyte, the influential hip-hop collective Three 6 Mafia, and fellow Nashville-based country rapper Struggle Jennings, who is the grandson of Duane Eddy, but plays up his association with Waylon Jennings after Eddy’s former wife Jessi Colter married Waylon, making Struggle Waylon’s step-grandson.Ī Nashville native who grew up in the Antioch neighborhood, Jelly Roll’s real name is Jason DeFord. The first time Jelly Roll came onto my radar is when he appeared in a Vice documentary that yours truly also appeared in delving into the country rap scene. I have even deeper reservations about his prospects in country in the long term. I certainly have my reservations about his music. His name is Jelly Roll, and a pseudo “country” song of his called “Son of a Sinner” has been slowly creeping up the country radio charts, causing the usual suspects who love to pontificate about paradigm shifts in country saying the heavy set and heavily tattooed rapper turned country artist could be the next big thing.
Well now, it appears that Nashville has a new toy.