An entirely new wave of ‘depressed’ rappers seems to have taken over the hip-hop industry today – sparking a whole new dialogue on mental health issues and culminating in the rise of what is now popularly known as “SoundCloud Rap”.
So, what is SoundCloud rap?
Named after the massive online music distribution platform which has largely contributed to the prominence of the genre, the origins of SoundCloud rap are deeply rooted in the fact that the conversation around mental health has become bigger than ever before.
This is clearly reflected in the findings of a study that analyzed lyrics from America’s Billboard 100 Charts – right from 1958 to 2017 – noting that hip-hop, as of today, remains unabashedly somber.
With rappers addressing their own battles with depression and anxiety publicly – case in point, Kanye West recently divulging details of his bipolar disorder, or Jay Z revealing his need for therapy – angst-ridden teens are now increasingly taking solace in SoundCloud rap.
While controversial as ever, it has certainly managed to create a rift in the hip-hop community with one of rap’s biggest MVPs Eminem famously calling out the new breed of artists on his album Kamikaze.
But not all rappers have been so unforgiving – Kanye West’s team up with Lil Pump on “I Love It” shows that the commercial success of the subgenre is also being noticed and slowly embraced by more mainstream artists.
It’s no secret that hip-hop has always pushed for the glorification of some of the more darker issues plaguing society. So, is it really surprising that it has now birthed a movement that revolves around struggling with mental illnesses?!
SoundCloud rap seems like an inevitable byproduct of a time when hip-hop is playing an even more significant role in letting the youth speak for themselves...the rest is all white noise, anyway.
So, what is SoundCloud rap?
Named after the massive online music distribution platform which has largely contributed to the prominence of the genre, the origins of SoundCloud rap are deeply rooted in the fact that the conversation around mental health has become bigger than ever before.
This is clearly reflected in the findings of a study that analyzed lyrics from America’s Billboard 100 Charts – right from 1958 to 2017 – noting that hip-hop, as of today, remains unabashedly somber.
With rappers addressing their own battles with depression and anxiety publicly – case in point, Kanye West recently divulging details of his bipolar disorder, or Jay Z revealing his need for therapy – angst-ridden teens are now increasingly taking solace in SoundCloud rap.
While controversial as ever, it has certainly managed to create a rift in the hip-hop community with one of rap’s biggest MVPs Eminem famously calling out the new breed of artists on his album Kamikaze.
But not all rappers have been so unforgiving – Kanye West’s team up with Lil Pump on “I Love It” shows that the commercial success of the subgenre is also being noticed and slowly embraced by more mainstream artists.
It’s no secret that hip-hop has always pushed for the glorification of some of the more darker issues plaguing society. So, is it really surprising that it has now birthed a movement that revolves around struggling with mental illnesses?!
SoundCloud rap seems like an inevitable byproduct of a time when hip-hop is playing an even more significant role in letting the youth speak for themselves...the rest is all white noise, anyway.
Article published: 27th June, 2019