Kid Rock, 'Born Free' -- New Song

Kid Rock continues his remarkable growth from hip-hop hell raiser to country-leaning classic rock revivalist on 'Born Free,' the title track from his upcoming Rick Rubin-produced eighth studio album.

Reportedly, Rubin pushed Rock, to take the next step in his development as an artist, by recording 'Born Free' with an all-star group of musicians instead of his usual touring band. The resulting 'Born Free' certainly sounds newly assertive, with a more serious mood replacing the "all in good fun" vibe of many previous Kid Rock records.

Rock's vocals are particularly impressive on this track, as he reaches for higher notes and deeper than expected thoughts: "Chasing dreams and racing father time / Deep like the grandest canyon / Wild like an untamed stallion / If you can't see my heart you must be blind / You can knock me down and watch me bleed / But you can't keep no chains on me / I was born free."

'Born Free,' the album, is expected to be released Nov. 16. You can decide for yourself if musical maturity suits Kid Rock as well as we think it does over on, appropriately, AOL Radio's Adult Rock station.