Robert Ross Raises a Red Solo Cup and a Salute to the Working Class on “People Like Me”

In an era where the lines between pop-country and roots music continue to blur, Robert Ross arrives with a message rooted in grit and unshakable pride. His new single, “People Like Me,” released May 16 via MTS Records, is more than just a blue-collar drinking song. It’s a mission statement, a character sketch, and a celebration of the American everyman, all wrapped up in a boot-stomping, barroom-ready anthem.

Following the momentum of “Better With Time,” which climbed into the Top 25 of the New Music Weekly AM/FM Country chart, Ross doubles down on what makes his music connect. “People Like Me” is a tribute to the backbone of the country—those who rise early, work hard, speak plain, and don’t care for facades. And while plenty of country artists have built brands on championing this crowd, Ross feels less like a marketer and more like a card-carrying member of the club.

With a raspy baritone that suggests both fatigue and fire, Ross opens the song with an unvarnished truth: “People like you and people like me, we like to drink.” On the surface, it’s a singalong line made for bar patios and tailgates, but the deeper story comes with each passing verse. This isn’t just about beer. It’s about belonging.

Across three minutes, Ross builds out a portrait of a man shaped by sweat, sacrifice, and solidarity. “The proof is in the calluses on my hands,” he sings, nodding to a life measured not in status but in effort. In the second half of the song, Ross takes a step back from the bar and turns his focus toward those who serve—the soldiers, the first responders, the people who carry burdens beyond the clock. “We raise our glasses to the ones that save our ass,” he sings, and while the line walks a fine line between lighthearted and loaded, it lands with surprising gravity.

The production keeps things tight and unfussy. A chugging rhythm section lays the groundwork while guitars slide and twang around Ross’ vocal, giving the track a texture that’s equal parts Southern rock swagger and classic country earnestness. There’s a lived-in looseness to the arrangement that makes it feel more like a jam session than a studio fabrication, a quality that underscores Ross’ appeal as a no-frills storyteller.

Lyrically, “People Like Me” fits comfortably alongside other modern country tributes to the working class, but what sets Ross apart is the sincerity in his delivery. He’s not posing as an outsider looking in—he’s someone who knows these people because he is these people. There’s no filter, no high-gloss polish. Just a voice and a story you believe.

That authenticity is what makes Robert Ross stand out in a landscape that often rewards style over substance. He’s not chasing the pop-country sound that dominates today’s charts. He’s not trying to dress up reality with metaphors. He’s cutting straight to the heart of who he is and who he’s singing for.

“People Like Me” is unlikely to crack the country radio Top 10 or be remixed into a stadium-ready pop banger—and that’s exactly why it works. It stays true to its purpose: to give voice to the overlooked, to toast the tough, and to remind listeners that country music’s soul still lives in the stories of ordinary folks doing extraordinary things every day.

With its mix of grit, gratitude, and grounded songwriting, “People Like Me” confirms Robert Ross as a rising artist with something to say—and the voice to say it well.

This summer, when the sun sets and the beer gets cold, expect to hear “People Like Me” echoing from porches, dive bars, and pickup trucks across America. It’s more than just a soundtrack for the weekend. It’s a reminder of who country music is really for.

–Bobby Oher