Trap music

For the EDM trap music genre, see EDM trap music.
Trap
Stylistic origins
Cultural origins1990s, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.[1]
Derivative forms
Subgenres
Fusion genres
Local scenes

Trap is a subgenre of hip hop music pioneered by Atlanta rappers T.I., Jeezy, and Gucci Mane, which originated in the Southern United States, with lyrical references to trap starting in 1991 but the modern sound of trap appearing in 1999.[1][3] The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang term "trap house", a house used exclusively to sell drugs.[4] Trap music is known for its simple, rhythmic, minimalistic productions that uses synthesized drums, and is characterized by complex hi-hat patterns, snare drums, bass drums, some tuned with a long decay to emit a bass frequency (originally from the Roland TR-808 drum machine), and lyrical content that often focuses on drug use and urban violence.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

Pioneers of the genre include producers Kurtis Mantronik, Harry James Barton, Mannie Fresh, Shawty Redd, Fatboi, Zaytoven, DJ Screw, and Toomp, along with rappers T.I., Jeezy, and Gucci Mane. The modern trap sound first appeared in 1999 with East Point's Greatest Hit by Cool Breeze.[1] The style was popularized by producer Lex Luger, who produced the influential Waka Flocka Flame album Flockaveli in 2010, and cofounded the prolific hip-hop production team 808 Mafia.[4]

Since crossing over into the mainstream in the 2010s, trap has become one of the most popular forms of American music, consistently dominating the Billboard Hot 100 throughout the decade, with artists such as Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Playboi Carti, 21 Savage, Migos, Lil Uzi Vert, Post Malone, XXXTentacion, DaBaby, Roddy Ricch, Young Thug, and Travis Scott (among many others) all achieving No. 1s on the chart with songs featuring production inspired by the trap subgenre.[11][12][13][14] It has influenced the music of many pop and R&B artists, such as Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and more.[4][15] Its influence can also be heard in reggaetón and K-pop.[15] In 2018, hip-hop became the most popular form of music for the first time ever (according to Nielsen Data), coinciding with trap's continued rise in popularity.[16] 2019 saw mega trap hits amass high commercial success such as Ariana Grande's "7 Rings" spending eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the country-trap song "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus), which broke the record for spending the most weeks (19) on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as becoming the fastest song to reach a Diamond Certification.[17][18]

  1. ^ a b c Sanfiorenzo, Dimas (November 18, 2017). "T.I. & Gucci Mane Both Claim They Invented 'Trap Music' (They're Both Wrong)". Okayplayer.
  2. ^ Enis, Eli (October 27, 2020). "This Is Hyperpop: A Genre Tag for Genre-less Music". Vice. The PC Music sound is an undeniable influence on hyperpop,but the style also pulls heavily from rap of the cloud, emo and lo-fi trap variety, as well as flamboyant electronic genres like trance, dubstep and chiptune.
  3. ^ "Guide to Trap Music: History and Characteristics of Trap Music". Masterclass.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  4. ^ a b c "Types Of Rap: A guide to the many styles of hip-hop". Redbull. January 24, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "Quit Screwing with Trap Music: An Interview with Houston-Born Producer Lōtic". Vice. June 11, 2012. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  6. ^ "How Trap Music Came to Rule the World". Complex. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  7. ^ Raymer, Miles (20 November 2012). "Who owns trap?". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  8. ^ Patterson, Joseph (January 19, 2013). "Trap Music: The Definitive Guide". Topman. Sabotage Times. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  9. ^ Phili, Stelios (8 October 2012). "Fighting Weight: From the Trap to the Treadmill". GQ. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "The trap phenomenon explained". DJ Mag. February 28, 2013. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  11. ^ "Drake". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  12. ^ "Cardi B becomes first female rapper to score two Billboard No. 1 hits". Entertainment Weekly. July 3, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Ryan, Patrick (January 3, 2018). "Rap overtakes rock as the most popular genre among music fans. Here's why". USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  14. ^ "Travis Scott's 'Franchise' Flies In at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, Becoming His Record Third Chart-Topping Debut Within a Year". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "How Trap Music Took Over | Sound Field". PBS LearningMedia. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  16. ^ Lynch, John (January 4, 2018). "For the first time in history, hip-hop has surpassed rock to become the most popular music genre, according to Nielsen". Business Insider. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  17. ^ Sisario, Ben (July 29, 2019). "Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Breaks Billboard's Singles Record". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  18. ^ Ahlgrim, Callie (July 17, 2023). "Only 44 songs have stayed at No. 1 on the chart for 10 weeks or more — here they all are". Insider. Retrieved 2020-11-15.