Mumble rap

For the Belly mixtape, see Mumble Rap (mixtape).

Mumble rap
Other namesSoundCloud rap
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsEarly 2010s,[3] Southern United States, especially Atlanta
Typical instruments
Derivative formsRage rap
Regional scenes
Southern United States
Local scenes
Other topics

Mumble rap (also known as SoundCloud rap) is a loosely defined[3] microgenre[5] of hip hop music that largely spread via the online audio distribution platform SoundCloud in the 2010s.[6] The term implies mumbling, or unclear vocal delivery, used by artists, and it has been used to describe rappers who do not share the rap genre's traditional emphasis on meaningful lyricism,[7] choosing instead to emphasize other aspects of delivery like melody, mood and tone.[citation needed]

While the term mumble rap has been taken as derogatory,[8][9] some have reappropriated the label,[10] and various critics and artists have defended the style as a new phase in the evolution of the rap genre.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ Washington, Brad (April 20, 2018). "J. Cole Puts Mumble Rappers In Their Place On His New Album 'KOD' outro, '1985'". The Source. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  2. ^ Trischitta, Brett Clarkson, Tonya Alanez, Linda (June 19, 2018). "Slain rapper XXXTentacion might have been targeted in 'random robbery,' his lawyer says". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved January 29, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Johnson, Emily (May 7, 2018). "5 Ways How Mumble Rap has Influenced Urban Pop Culture". Bong Mines Entertainment. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  5. ^ "The real 'Slim Shady' strikes again with latest album release | Arts & Entertainment". Theeastcarolinian.com. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  6. ^ "An Aging Hip-Hop Fan and WW's Resident Hypebeast Debate the New Sound of Rap". Willamette Week. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  7. ^ "The Rise of 'Mumble Rap': Did Lyricism Take a Hit in 2016?". Billboard.com. December 21, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  8. ^ Coker, Hillary (December 5, 2017). "The Who's Who Of SoundCloud Rap". Genius. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  9. ^ Zisook, Brian "Z" (February 12, 2018). ""It's Corny": Desiigner Calls Out "Old People Talkin' That Mumble Rap"". DJBooth.net. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference ringer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "What is Mumble Rap? | Features | MN2S". Mn2s.com. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference VibeReally was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Waugh, Michael (August 20, 2020). "'Every time I dress myself, it go motherfuckin' viral': Post-verbal flows and memetic hype in Young Thug's mumble rap". Popular Music. 39 (2): 208–232. doi:10.1017/S026114302000015X. ISSN 0261-1430. S2CID 225894040.