On February 6, 2026, Outlier released one of the most immersive collaborations of 2026 so far with Sen Dog of Cypress Hill and Hyro The Hero that blends hip hop and rock in all the right ways. “Superstar” is not only a cover, but it also allowed Joey Arena to live out a nostalgic moment by re-creating a single that shaped him during his youth. Listening to this version of “Superstar” represents that artists are not meant to stick to creating one “genre,” and that adding different influential aspects to your music will cause listeners to understand that it’s okay when their favorite band veers out of their typical sound. Joey Arena is very confident, persistent, and filled with energy during this single, which pushes boundaries while also showing other artists that experimenting with different musical styles will only create a more atmospheric soundscape for fans to enjoy.
“‘Superstar’ was more influential to me than I had realized in my youth. Growing up, there wasn’t a Rap, Rock or Pop station that wasn’t playing this song. A friend of mine would pick me up for school and we would blast this track like it was the only song that had existed for months. I listened to so many genres growing up (still do) and given that my first instrument was guitar, I would play anything from NuMetal, Hardcore and Grunge to Jazz, Classic Rock and Pop Punk but listened to a lot of mid-90’s and 00’s Hip Hop. I never believed a band should have one specific sound and always heard from so many industry reps is that I needed to find my “identity” when my identity was doing whatever the fuck I wanted. An artist is meant to grow, push boundaries and experiment, why would that not manifest in songwriting? ‘Superstar’ was just that for me, it was a staple in the fusion of the genres it portrays. A track that pushed the envelope, took a chance and has the accolades to prove its success.”
Joey Arena continues, “I wanted to cover this song not only cause its nostalgic, but because of the genre blending it represents. I have incorporated some “white boy rap” in previous tracks, but this got to showcase a whole different side and my love for Hip Hop. I wanted to pay respects to the original track, but also somewhat make it my own. This song needed something special though and what could bring a more authentic stamp of approval than getting the iconic, Sen Dog of Cypress Hill on the track. It was such an honor to have him to not only feature on the track but get him to appear in the video. He stuck it out all day with us and hit multiple locations, getting behind the vision and project. Such an awesome and down to earth individual that deserves all the recognition. Lastly, to add a little extra flare to the track, I felt that it was only right to reach out to none other than, my guy, Hyro The Hero. A stud who is no stranger to Rap/Metal, Hyro’s voice brings such a force that it can’t be overheard. His presence in the video speaks for its self and not mention, I’m a genuine fan. It was truly an experience to put this all together and one I will never forget. My hopes to bring about a new wave to it all and open the eyes of so many musicians and artists to step outside of their comfort zones and write for themselves instead of the trends just like this song had done for me. Enjoy!”
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