AUSTIN, TEXAS: On the episode of 'The Joe Rogan Experience' (JRE) podcast that aired on Wednesday, July 26, Joe Rogan invited author Gad Saad and the two discussed Country singer Jason Aldean's song 'Try That In A Small Town' and its "racial aspects."
Since 2005, Aldean has released 10 albums, including the quadruple-platinum albums 'My Kinda Party' and 'Night Train'. In 2023, he released the single, 'Try That In A Small Town', which has been receiving a lot of backlash since.
'There's nothing racial about the lyrics'
Rogan slammed Aldean's detractors, claiming that there were hundreds of rap songs that were far worse. Rogan said, "The level of outrage, now I'm not saying that that's the greatest song in the world's ever known, you know. But the level of outrage coming from people that are upset about that song is so strange when there are hundreds of rap songs out there that are infinitely worse and also enjoyable."
With almost 19 million views on YouTube, the song, which was released in May, has grabbed the Number 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been slammed for its lyrics and for using clips of BLM protests in the music video. Rogan said, "And we're not even talking about old stuff. There's new stuff too. There's hip hop, there's wild rock songs. There's a lot of wild s**t. And to be focusing on that one, and it's the racial aspect of it."
Rogan then focused on the "racist aspect" of the song that has been criticized. The podcaster said, "It was crazy because like the real ANTIFA problems that were happening during the BLM, I think it was a lot of White people doing that, right? Wasn't it?"
Rogan added, "It was a lot of like, lost liberal Whites who were very angry, who decided to take up this movement and smash things. So like, the racial aspect of it, there's nothing racial about the lyrics." Saad said, "Misogynistic — violence. The whole thing." Hearing this, Rogan said, "No complaints at all."
How did Jason Aldean react?
Since the music video's debut, Aldean has been receiving a lot of flak. The video has been modified since it was posted earlier in July, and it is now six seconds shorter than the original, according to The Washington Post.
The song's lyrics have drawn criticism, especially the verse, "Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you're tough / Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road. Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they're gonna round up / Well, that s**t might fly in the city, good luck."
Speaking at a gig earlier in July in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aldean addressed people regarding the controversy surrounding the video. He said, "I've seen a lot of stuff suggesting I am this, suggesting I am that. Here's the thing, I feel like everybody is entitled to their opinion you can think something all you want to, it doesn't mean it is true. What I am, is a proud American. I love our country; I want to see it restored to what it once was before all this bulls**t started happening to us. I love my country, I love my family and I will do anything I can to protect that."
