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Music genre

Trap music

Trap music is a music genre in the 1990s. It is usually classed as a form of hip-hop and US bass music. Explore its 6 subgenres, key artists and related styles.

Listen: Trap music examples

Audial - Arabian Riches
4:06

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

About Trap music

Trap music is a music genre in the 1990s. It is usually classed as a form of hip-hop and US bass music.

Artists closely associated with the genre include IShowSpeed, Drake, XXXTentacion, Iggy Azalea, Travis Scott and Jaden Smith.

Trap music has given rise to 6 subgenres on this site, such as Rage, Plugg music, Latin trap and Afro trap.

From Wikipedia

Trap music, also known simply as trap, is a subgenre of hip-hop music that originated in the Southern United States. Lyrical references to trap began appearing in 1991, while the modern sound of trap emerged in 1999. The genre takes its name from the Atlanta term "trap house", a drug house. Trap music features simple, rhythmic, and minimalistic production that uses synthesized drums. It is characterized by drum beats with complex hi-hats, snare drums, and bass drums, some of which are tuned with a long decay to emit a bass frequency, originally from the Roland TR-808 drum machine.

Pioneers of the genre include producers DJ Spanish Fly, DJ Paul & Juicy J, Kurtis Mantronik, Mannie Fresh, Shawty Redd, Fatboi, Zaytoven, DJ Screw, and DJ Toomp, along with rappers T.I., 2 Chainz, Jeezy, and Gucci Mane. The style was popularized by producer Lex Luger, who produced the influential Waka Flocka Flame album Flockaveli in 2010 and co-founded the prolific hip-hop production team 808 Mafia.

Genre family tree

Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Trap music.

Key artists

  • IShowSpeed
  • Drake
  • XXXTentacion
  • Iggy Azalea
  • Travis Scott
  • Jaden Smith
  • Megan Thee Stallion
  • Lil Nas X
  • 6ix9ine
  • T.I.

Related genres

Questions people ask

Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.

Frequently asked questions

What is Trap music?

Trap music is a music genre in the 1990s. It is usually classed as a form of hip-hop and US bass music.

Where and when did Trap music originate?

Trap music originated in the 1990s.

Who are famous Trap music artists?

IShowSpeed, Drake, XXXTentacion, Iggy Azalea, Travis Scott and Jaden Smith.

Sources & credits