Country music’s boundaries are dissolving, with a Chicago duo infusing honky-tonk rhythms into trap-influenced beats. Their viral hit Steel Wheels and Concrete Hearts—featuring a yodel solo sampled from 1950s radio broadcasts—has been streamed over 500 million times, sparking debates about “authentic” country identity.

The duo’s DIY music video, filmed guerrilla-style in abandoned subway tunnels, juxtaposes neon graffiti with fiddle melodies. Their upcoming documentary Rooted in Rebellion traces how Appalachian folk traditions survived urban gentrification, featuring archival footage of 1960s civil rights era protest songs.

Lead vocalist Maya Torres rejects labels: “We’re not ‘country’ or ‘hip-hop.’ We’re telling stories that belong to everyone left behind by both industries.” The duo’s merchandise line includes solar-powered guitars and zines explaining bluegrass history through a queer lens, cementing their role as cultural polymaths.