ABOUT HIXTAPE:
The ultimate mixtape of backroads bangers and party-friendly Country anthems, HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 makes room for 33 guests and 14 songs, with each track featuring a unique pairing of two or more singers. HARDY appears on six tracks, with Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Randy Houser, Marty Stuart, Midland, Morgan Wallen, Lee Brice, Jake Owen, Ronnie Dunn, Scotty McCreery, The Cadillac Three, Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett, Rhett Akins, Travis Denning, Sean Stemaly, Larry Fleet, Lainey Wilson, Jon Pardi, Josh Thompson, Justin Moore, Jimmie Allen, Jake Worthington, Granger Smith, ERNEST, David Lee Murphy, Colt Ford, Chris Lane, Ashland Craft, Brantley Gilbert, Ben Burgess, and Chase Rice rounding out the extensive guest list. Produced by Joey Moi, HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 is an album created by a community, for a community, filled with southern storytelling and Country-Rock grit. HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 follows great critical success of Vol. 1 released in 2019 with the likes of Billboard calling the project “infectious” and The New York Times claiming the track “He Went To Jared" as “rapscallion-like, and shaggy at the edges — their singing is lighthearted and unsentimental."
ABOUT HARDY:
Big Loud Records’ booming upstart HARDY broke new ground in 2020 with acclaimed debut, A ROCK, “an album that owes as much to AC/DC as George Jones” and “one of the most self-assured full-length debut albums in years” (Billboard). The LP is a part of his growing catalogue that includes countrified mixtapes HIXTAPE: Vol. 1 (2019) and the now unfolding Vol. 2 (2021) plus career-launching EPs THIS OLE BOY and WHERE TO FIND ME. Current chart-rising, GOLD single “GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL” is a hard-charged tribute to a fallen friend, that made a statement as the most-added single of the week at Country radio upon launch. He is also featured on Dierks Bentley’s latest single, “Beers On Me,” with BRELAND. Nominated for 2021 CMA Awards New Artist of the Year and recognized as one of CRS’ 2021 New Faces of Country Music, a CMA Triple Play award recipient and a Vevo DSCVR artist, the pride of Philadelphia, MS has earned his reputation as "Nashville's most clever new redneck songwriter" (Rolling Stone). The 2020 AIMP Songwriter of the Year has co-penned NINE #1 singles since 2018: FGL’s 2X PLATINUM “Simple,” Chris Lane’s 2X PLATINUM “I Don’t Know About You,” Blake Shelton’s 4X PLATINUM “God’s Country," Morgan Wallen’s 3X PLATINUM “Up Down” and PLATINUM “More Than My Hometown,” Jameson Rodgers’ PLATINUM “Some Girls,” LOCASH's GOLD "One Big Country Song," Cole Swindell’s GOLD “Single Saturday Night” and his own first-ever #1, PLATINUM “ONE BEER.” Serving as direct support on Jason Aldean’s BACK IN THE SADDLE TOUR this summer, HARDY has also shared the stage with FGL, Chris Lane, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and more.
ABOUT BEN BURGESS:
Born and raised in East Dallas, TX, by a guitarist dad and mom who DJed, Ben Burgess was surrounded by all genres of music at a very early age. At 20, he headed to Austin, TX, where he performed and worked the clubs on iconic Sixth Street. After landing his first career cut with the Jonas Brothers’ “Chillin’ In the Summertime,” he decided to pack up and chase down his music dreams in Los Angeles, CA. Often told his “twang was too loud,” he relocated to Nashville, TN, in 2010. Burgess started writing with Warner Chappell Music in 2015, where he began stockpiling major cuts like Morgan Wallen’s multi-week #1, 5X PLATINUM smash “Whiskey Glasses,” Tyler Rich’s GOLD “The Difference,” Pat Green’s Texas radio #1 “Drinkin’ Days,” Lil Wayne’s “Dreams,” Martin Garrix & Troye Sivan’s “There for You,” Dierks Bentley’s “My Religion,” HARDY’s “SIGNED, SOBER YOU,” and many others. His tracks have also racked up major TV placements such as ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and commercial spots for Major League Baseball, Xbox, and Lexus. Breaking out as an artist in his own right, Burgess signed to Big Loud Records in 2020, and in the same year, was featured on Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley’s buzzy CHAPTER 1: SNAKE OIL album with the track “Heartbreak.” He is currently featured HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 ‘s most recent release “Red Dirt Clouds” alongside the legendary David Lee Murphy and fellow Big Loud artist ERNEST. Burgess’ debut project is slated to release in 2022.
ABOUT ERNEST:
A Nashville native with an unpredictable style and personality to match, hitmaker ERNEST is now turning heads on both sides of the singer-songwriter game – and his career is just getting started. Currently one of the most sought-after co-writers on Music Row, he fuses a broad range of influence stretching from Eminem to George Strait, and has now scored four #1 smashes with Morgan Wallen’s “More Than My Hometown,” Florida Georgia Line’s “I Love My Country,” Chris Lane’s “Big, Big Plans,” and Sam Hunt’s “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s.” A MULTI-PLATINUM hit with Diplo and Wallen’s “Heartless” is also part of his growing catalog, and other notable cuts include Lane’s current single, “Fill Them Boots,” FGL’s “Blessings” and songs for Jake Owen, Mason Ramsey and more – including 11 tracks on Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album. As an artist, the eccentric free spirit released his vibrant debut album Locals Only on Big Loud Records in 2019, and followed up with the hand-on-your-heart anthem, “Cheers,” and latest release “American Rust.” His podcast Just Being ERNEST kicked off in the spring of 2020 and has hosted big-name guests including Keith Urban, Diplo, Jason Aldean and more. Now in its third season, a true Nashville maverick is coming into view.
