Big Smo was born February 14, 1976 as John Lee Smith in San Diego, CA. He is an American country rap musician, songwriter, 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, Big Smo on A&E that began in 2014. Smo also guest starred in an episode of Bar Rescue and in an episode of Heartlandia.