Big Smo

John Smith (born February 14, 1976), known by his stage name Big Smo, is an American country rap musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and film director. After several independent and minor label releases, Smo's major label debut studio album, Kuntry Livin', was released in 2014 and charted on three Billboard charts. He was the subject of an eponymous reality television series on A&E that began in 2014.

Early life John Lee Smith was born in San Diego, California, to mother Mary Jane Smith and father Carl Avery Smith. His father, who was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, died in 2007. His mother is his business manager.

Music career Smith started his musical endeavors in 1999, but did not release an album for three years. He released Kuntry Kitchen with Yayoda Records in 2002. He released two EPs with Warner Bros. Records that were 2012's Grass Roots and 2013's Backwoods Whiskey. AllMusic's Steve Legget commented that Big Smo "combines country themes and attitudes with rap and hip-hop in a style that prompted one reviewer to note 'If Kid Rock and Run–D.M.C. had a love child, he would be named Big Smo,' although combining Hank Williams Jr. with Nappy Roots might strike a bit closer." The music on Kuntry Livin''' was described as spinning "rap rhymes about working-class values over hard-rock riffs."

Other media Smith was the principal subject of an eponymously titled television series, Big Smo. The program, about his life and music by A&E, debuted in June 2014. He appeared in one episode, "Empty Bottles Full Cans", of the Spike TV series Bar Rescue.

His life is featured in episode one, "Kuntry Livin", of CarbonTV's original series Heartlandia'', showing him shooting guns, cooking, and making music.

Personal life Smith lives on his family farm compound known as, the "Kuntry Ranch", located in Unionville, Tennessee, a part of the Shelbyville, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area. In 2024, after losing 225 pounds, he announced plans to open a plant-based food truck in Shelbyville.

Discography

Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positionsUS USCountry USRap Kuntry Kitchen Released: 2002

Format: CD — — —The True South Released: 2007

Format: CD — — —American Made Released: 2010

Formats: CD, digital download — — —Kuntry Livin' Released:

Formats: CD, digital download 31 6 3We the People Released:

Formats: CD, digital download — — —Special Reserve Released: February 23, 2018 Label: Edge Music Nashville Formats: CD, digital download — — —This One's for You Released: August 23, 2019 Label: Average Joe's Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays + List of EPs, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positionsUS USRap 2014 "My Place" 49 ''Kuntry Livin'''

Music videos Year Video Director 2014 "My Place" (with Darius Rucker) Richard Murray