“Hick-hop” heroes Moonshine Bandits use rap music to tell tales of backwoods living, American pride, driving trucks, and pursuing women. • Tex and Bird met as teenagers in high school and began writing music together, using karaoke machines to record their songs and performing at local house parties. • In 2003, the Bandits released their debut album, Soggy Crackerz. The album’s “Crooked Swerve” boasted a feature from Bay Area rapper E-40 and offered a surprisingly harmonious blend of G-funk and country music. • After signing to Suburban Noize Records, the Bandits dropped Whiskey and Women in 2011. Around that time, they cleverly announced the release of their own whiskey brand, Outlaw Moonshine. • The Bandits’ 2015 album Blacked Out, went Top 20 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums and Top Country Albums charts. • Proud patriots, the duo created Operation Packing Company, Inc., a non-profit initiative to send care packages to soldiers overseas.