In his track the Tennessee "hick-hop" pioneer Big Smo (John Lee Smith) pays homage to the legendary 1961 country ballad "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean. Smo’s version serves as a modern anthem of strength and blue-collar resilience, reimagining the iconic miner's story for his "Kinfoke" audience. The Legend of Big John

: John uses his immense strength to hold up the sagging timber alone. He stays behind to ensure every one of his coworkers escapes the collapsing shaft.

Watch Big Smo's modern take on the legendary 'Big John' story below: Big Smo - Big John TheShadowrocker YouTube• Jan 7, 2017

: During a routine shift, a support timber cracks, threatening to bury twenty men alive. As the other miners panic, John steps forward to face the impossible.

For Big Smo, the name "Big John" is more than just a song title; it reflects his own life story of transformation and endurance.

: Born in California but raised in the sticks of Unionville, Tennessee, Smo spent 14 years grinding in the independent music scene before finding mainstream success.

: John is a man of few words who keeps to himself, working the deepest reaches of the mine.