Trap music is a popular subgenre today, but its roots stretch back to the 1990s when it originated in the southern US, specifically Atlanta, Georgia. The lyrical content is typically aggressive, while the sound is propelled forward by Roland TD-808 kick drums.
Other times heavy sub-bass lines are used in combination with time divisions by the hi-hats; layered synthesizers and dramatic strings are also used.
The term ‘trap’ refers to the secret spot where drugs are hidden in a car, spots deals are made, and the difficulty of escaping. Fans started referring to rappers whose lyrical content deals with drugs and drug dealing as ‘trap rappers.’
In the 2000s, David Drake wrote in a complex that trap music wasn’t a genre but a real place. Later the term trap was used to refer to music about that place.
What Is Trap Music
Elements of Trap Music
Let’s look at the main elements of trap music below before we continue to some of the most influential trap artists.
- Trap music’s typifying characteristic is the triplet flow which creates a rolling yet irregular rhythm. Sometimes these triplet flows are referred to as the Migos flow because in Migos’ song Versace, the word ‘Versace’ is repeated in a triplet flow during the chorus. Quite cool to have a characteristic named after you, hey!
- Trap music is influenced and also draws influences from dubstep and club music. Distortion and reverb effects are used to give the music a gritty sound. Synthesized drum beats feature heavily and are provided by Roland TD-808 drum kits which provide the synthesized kick, snare, clap, and hi-hat sounds. A Migos flow allows artists to alternate between fast and slow rap styles. The beat is rapid and can range between 130 and 170 BPM.
- Rolls and risers are used to achieve modulations in volume or pitch when transitioning between musical phrases, meaning the music sometimes has abrupt shifts.
- Trap is mostly known for its dirty and grimy sound and lyrics are usually aggressive and deal with themes such as life on the streets and drugs.
Famous Trap Artists
Trap music is a significant influence in the hip-hop scene today, so let’s dive in and discover some artists and their music below.
- Travis Scott
Formerly stylized as Travi$ Scott is one of the most influential artists in the trap scene and still going strong.
Travis’ song Antidote was released in 2015 and is still as popular today as it was upon its initial release. You can hear the synthesizer and electronic drumbeats underneath the lyrics, and the Migos flows interspersed between the sung lyrics.
When Sicko Mode dropped in 2018, his reputation skyrocketed. This collaboration featuring Drake was released on his third album.
- Waka Flocka Flame
Jauquin James Malphurs, known by his stage name Waka Flocka Flame, was born in 1986 and is originally from Queens but grew up in Riverdale, Georgia, where his exposure to trap music led to his involvement in the scene.
In 2009 he signed with 1017 Brick Squad (Gucci Mane’s crew) and Warner Bros. Records. His songs No Hands and Hard in da Paint helped to cement his reputation when his debut album Flockaveli reached number 6 on the United States Billboard charts in 2010.
- Young Jeezy
Young Jeezy was trap music’s first mainstream breakout star when his 2005 debut album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 went platinum within a month after its release.
- Young Thug
Jeffrey Lamar Williams, born in 1991, took up the stage name Young Thug. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in trap music. His eccentric vocal style deviates from traditional rap music.
Still, it has also been critiqued for being unintelligible. Yet, it also sets him apart from other artists in the industry. His mixtape, 1017 Thug, launched his music career.
- 21 Savage
Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Jospeh was born in London in 1992 and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, when he was seven. His mixtape, The Slaughter Tape, gained him mainstream attention in 2015. His 2016 hit Savage Mode elevated his career further.
His collaboration with Post Malone on the song Rockstar is one of his most famous recordings.
- Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane is regarded as one of the pioneers of trap music in Atlanta. He has worked with artists including Lil Wayne, Mariah Carey, and Drake. His debut album Trap House earned him a number 20 spot on the R&B Billboard charts in 2005.
- Fetty Wap
Fetty Wap is an outlier concerning the trap scene’s southern roots—he was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. He broke the mold by embracing the South’s trap music ethos with his hit song Trap Queen which spent 25 weeks on the Billboard charts in 2015—in the top ten.
Famous Trap Remixers
Remember we told you about the EDM influence on trap music? Well, a few artists also produced some thumping remixes, which we’ll look at below.
- TroyBoi
TroyBoi’s remix of Father, ILoveMakonnen & Key!’s song Look at Wrist to a whole new level with the fresh remix adding a twist on the beat while adding to the ever-evolving nature of trap music.
The song ends with a lyrical countdown while some high synth notes counter the bass. You can check out the original here, performed by Father himself.
- GTA
GTA is somewhat of an underrated remix artist, but that doesn’t mean they lack talent. This remix of Rick Ross’s Still Moving Bass.
- San Holo
San Holo is an EDM with a considerable following. The remix of Dr. Dre’s The Next Episode brings an old-school hip-hop song to a broader audience.
The original features Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg. If it wasn’t catchy already, the remix sure elevates it to the next level.
Conclusion
Trap music is ever-changing, and EDM embracing it helped build its reputation as a subgenre that will be with us for decades. Trap music had humble beginnings on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia but has grown into a genre with fans worldwide.