It is difficult not to acknowledge the rise of trap music in recent times with some even arguing its precedence over hip-hop and EDM – online searches for the genre seem to have increased since 2012 with less number of people looking up the words ‘hip hop’ than ever before.
Is it a coincidence?! Perhaps not, considering that current mainstream rap is either trap or a variation of it – trap seemed to have become a permanent fixture on the 2009 Billboard charts with music from artists such as Future and Gucci Mane having landed top spots.
Having developed back in the ‘90s, trap music was born in the south of America, away from the usual hip-hop hotspots of New York and LA. While its initial reception was fairly poor, it became a tool for street rappers to voice their increasing frustrations with society in general.
Over time, it has found its way into electronic music festivals with genres such as techno and dub being heavily incorporated into the sound – leading to the present confusion over the actual definition of the term “trap music”.
In a broader sense, the word ‘trap’ refers to an escape from a certain kind of entrapment – whether it’s a situation or a way of life – while presenting a life of excesses marked by extreme material gains.
With every artist putting their own spin on the genre, it’s not surprising to find the current crop of trap artists such as Travis Scott and Migos paving the way for more rappers to become bolder and more experimental with their sound.
Is it a coincidence?! Perhaps not, considering that current mainstream rap is either trap or a variation of it – trap seemed to have become a permanent fixture on the 2009 Billboard charts with music from artists such as Future and Gucci Mane having landed top spots.
Having developed back in the ‘90s, trap music was born in the south of America, away from the usual hip-hop hotspots of New York and LA. While its initial reception was fairly poor, it became a tool for street rappers to voice their increasing frustrations with society in general.
Over time, it has found its way into electronic music festivals with genres such as techno and dub being heavily incorporated into the sound – leading to the present confusion over the actual definition of the term “trap music”.
In a broader sense, the word ‘trap’ refers to an escape from a certain kind of entrapment – whether it’s a situation or a way of life – while presenting a life of excesses marked by extreme material gains.
With every artist putting their own spin on the genre, it’s not surprising to find the current crop of trap artists such as Travis Scott and Migos paving the way for more rappers to become bolder and more experimental with their sound.
Article published: 25th July, 2019