When you first hear the name Struggle Jennings, your mind probably goes straight to that deep, gravelly voice and the heavy outlaw country influence that drips from every track. But for a long time, there’s been a recurring question floating around the internet and backstage at festivals: is Struggle Jennings white?
People ask because, honestly, his story is a lot more complex than just a guy from Nashville picking up a guitar. He grew up in the streets of West Nashville, lived a life that most "country" singers only pretend to know about, and carved out a space in the "Slumerican" movement alongside guys like Yelawolf. His music is a gritty, unapologetic blend of hip-hop and country—a sound that often blurs the lines of genre and expectation.
To understand his identity, you have to look at the bloodline. It’s a wild one.
The Jennings Name and His True Heritage
Let’s set the record straight: Struggle Jennings is white, of European descent. His real name is William Curtis Harness Jr., and while the "Jennings" name is what everyone knows him by, it’s actually a stage name he adopted to honor the man who helped raise him.
He’s the grandson of country music royalty. Specifically, he is the grandson of Jessi Colter and legendary guitar player Duane Eddy. If you’re a music nerd, you know that Duane Eddy was the king of that "twangy" guitar sound. Jessi Colter, of course, was the queen of outlaw country.
But where does the "Jennings" come in?
After Jessi and Duane divorced, Jessi married the icon himself, Waylon Jennings. Waylon wasn’t just a stepfather to Struggle’s mother, Jenni Eddy; he became a father figure to her and a grandfather figure to Struggle. Growing up, Struggle spent summers on tour with Waylon. He was part of the crew. He saw the "Outlaw" lifestyle from the inside before it was a marketing term.
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So, while he isn't a biological Jennings, he’s a Jennings by choice and by spirit. He shares the same white, Southern heritage that defined the outlaw movement of the 1970s, but he grew up in a very different environment than his famous grandparents.
Growing Up as the "Black Sheep"
It’s easy to assume that being the grandson of Waylon Jennings means you grew up in a mansion with a silver spoon. That couldn't be further from the truth for Will Harness.
While his grandparents were icons, Struggle and his single mother lived in low-income housing in West Nashville. He was living in the "trenches" while his family's name was up in lights. This disconnect is a huge part of why his music sounds the way it does. He didn't feel like a country star's grandson; he felt like a kid from the streets.
His father, William Harness Sr., was murdered when Struggle was only 10 years old. That kind of trauma changes a kid. It pushed him toward the streets and eventually toward the drug trade—something he’s been incredibly open about in his music and interviews.
"I fought the 'Jennings' part for a long time because I didn't want to ride on that. I wanted to be my own artist," he once mentioned in a conversation about his stage name.
Ironically, it was the media that started calling him Struggle Jennings when he got into legal trouble. He eventually embraced it, realizing that the "Struggle" was the most honest part of his identity, and the "Jennings" was the legacy he was meant to carry forward, even if he did it in a way Waylon never imagined.
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The Intersection of Race and Hip-Hop Culture
The reason the question is Struggle Jennings white comes up so often usually has more to do with his cultural footprint than his actual skin color.
Struggle came up in the Nashville rap scene. In the early 2000s, he was selling mixtapes out of his trunk. He was part of a subculture where race, class, and struggle were constantly intersecting. He wasn't trying to "act" like anything; he was a product of his environment.
When he teamed up with Jelly Roll—another Nashville native with a similar background—they created the Waylon & Willie series. It was a brilliant nod to their idols, but it was also a statement. They were white kids from the South who loved hip-hop and lived the outlaw life for real.
Breaking the Mold
- The Sound: He doesn't just "rap over country beats." He samples his grandmother Jessi Colter and his grandfather Waylon. He blends the "boom-bap" of 90s hip-hop with the soulful, mournful sounds of classic country.
- The Prison Years: Struggle served a five-year sentence on drug-related charges. He actually released his debut album, I Am Struggle, while he was still behind bars. That’s about as "outlaw" as it gets.
- Family First: Today, he’s a father of seven. He’s worked tirelessly to get his kids back and keep them out of the cycle of addiction and violence that claimed so many people in his life.
Is He "White Enough" for Country or "Rap Enough" for Hip-Hop?
This is the gatekeeping that happens in music. Some country purists see the tattoos and hear the rap verses and think he’s making a mockery of the genre. Some hip-hop fans see a white guy with a country legend’s last name and assume it’s a gimmick.
But if you actually listen to the lyrics, the "is he white" or "is he a rapper" debate disappears. He talks about the same things Johnny Cash talked about—pain, redemption, God, and the law. He just does it with a different flow.
His ethnicity is white, but his culture is "Outlaw." It's a specific blend of Southern grit that doesn't care about the boxes the music industry tries to put people in.
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The Legacy of the "Jennings" Name Today
Struggle has managed to do something very few "celebrity kids" (or grandkids) do: he made the name relevant to a whole new generation.
He founded his own label, Angels & Outlaws. He’s mentored his daughter, Brianna Harness, who is an incredible singer in her own right. He’s collaborated with everyone from Bubba Sparxxx to Joshua Hedley.
He’s not just "Waylon’s grandson." He’s a guy who survived the federal prison system, beat addiction, and built an independent empire.
Why This Matters for Fans
Understanding that Struggle Jennings is a white man from a specific Southern lineage helps you appreciate the "bridge" he’s building. He is proof that the "Outlaw" spirit isn't about a specific genre of music. It’s about a way of life. It’s about being the "black sheep" and finding your way back to the fold on your own terms.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into his story, here are a few things you should actually do:
- Listen to "Black Curtains": It features Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. It’s the perfect example of how he merges his biological and musical heritage.
- Watch the Interviews: Look for his appearances on podcasts like the Shawn Ryan Show or The Ed Clay Show. He goes into incredible detail about his father's murder and his time in prison.
- Follow the Family: His mother, Jenni Eddy Jennings, and daughter, Brianna, are both active musicians. Seeing them perform together gives you a real sense of the "Jennings" family dynamic today.
Struggle Jennings didn't just inherit a name; he earned the right to use it. Whether he’s rapping or singing, he’s carrying a torch that was lit long before he was born, and he’s doing it with a transparency that most artists are too afraid to show.
Next Steps for New Fans: Start by listening to the Waylon & Willie trilogy he did with Jelly Roll. It’s the best entry point for understanding the "Country-Rap" or "Outlaw Hip-Hop" movement. After that, check out his solo album Troubadour of Troubled Souls to hear how he’s evolved since his release from prison.