Morgan Wallen just dropped a new version of "Miami," his play on the Keith Whitley 1985 hit single, "Miami, My Amy." The new version includes Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, two artists who are decidedly not country.
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When announcing the song, Wallen made it clear he wasn't trying to emulate the Country Music Hall of Fame member.
"I got a song on my record called 'Miami," Wallen said when announcing the tune. "It's a Keith Whitley flip... that's one of his bigger songs, I guess. But we flipped it and turned it into more of a rap style. But it's cool, I like it."
While some might be upset about the new take on a country music classic, Whitley's own son, Jessie Keith Whitley, is all for the new version.
"I don't think this is a bad deal at all, whatsoever," Jesse says (via American Songwriter). "Do I think it's barebones country, Keith Whitley country? Of course not. That's why he said, 'we did a flip on it.' And I wouldn't even consider it a flip, I would just say they grabbed this piece out of the chorus because it works... I think it's great."
Morgan Wallen Chooses Surprising Guest Artists
Not only does Jesse approve of the new version, but he also approves of the two surprising artists he chose to join him on the track.
"It's cool as sh** to me that he's got Lil Wayne and Rick Ross... " he boasts. "He had to tell them, 'Hey, look, this is a song, I got this idea from Keith Whitley, and they probably have discovered Keith Whitley at this point, right? I don't have a problem with it at all. I actually really like the song."
For those who still don't like it, Jesse says that's on them, but he is in full support of the new version.
"I don't understand what the deal is," he adds.
Even when Morgan first dropped "Miami," from his I'm The Problem album, he hinted he wanted to include someone from outside of country music.
"It seemed like it could use a rapper on there," Morgan Wallen hints on This Past Weekend podcast. "I didn't end up using a feature... It's one of those songs where it wouldn't be surprising if we got a remix and did that once it's out."
