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Even though there are plenty of hip hop purists that want to separate trap from rap, they will always be connected as trap is a sub-genre of rap. Trap music started to gain traction in the early 90s in Southern America; the signifiers of the trap style became an aggressive sound, and equally as aggressive lyrics which primarily focused on drug dealing and drug use.

Instrumentally, trap separated itself from hip hop with heavier basslines, faster time signatures, prominent 808s, layered synths, and for the more experimental trap artists, cinematic strings. Lyrically, trap artists were even more visceral in their rap bars about the inescapable gang and drug lifestyles (hence, trap) than the original gangster rappers. Atlanta became the capital of trap, while Ghetto Mafia, Goodie Mob, Outkast, Dungeon Family and Cool Breeze became the pioneers.

A decade after the inception of trap, artists such as Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Triple 6 Mafia and Young Jeezy started pushing the genre even further and allowing it to branch out into the diverse scene that it is today. Producers also had a pivotal role in the evolution of trap; the likes of Drumma Boy, Shawty Redd and Mike WiLL contributed to the contemporary trap sound that incorporates a dark atmosphere, street culture and a hard-hitting high-octane sound. At the turn of the century, trap not only dominated the airwaves, but it also became commonplace in strip clubs in the south too.

The first wave of trap broke into the mainstream in 2003 with the release of T.I.’s second studio album; it sold over 2 million copies and T.I. received a sync deal with EA sports. After his success, T.I. explained the motivation behind his career; to help people understand the actions of people that come from a less privileged side of life. A similar ethos is carried by the new generation of trap artists who are often misbranded as brash or crass when really, their music is reflective of their lives. In 2005, Young Jeezy entered the US Billboard Charts at number 2 after selling 172,000 copies of his album, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, in the week after its release. It later became a platinum record.

Fast forward to 2012; the trap scene started to merge with the EDM scene as producers and DJs started to weave trap styles into their dance mixes. Many are under the false impression that this was the beginning for trap, and it came along as some new millennial trend, but this is far from the case. In 2021, there are multiple trap sub-genres, even ones as far-reaching as trap metal. The most promising trappers to watch include the likes of Rico Nasty, Nayana Iz, Lil Uzi Vert and Waka Flaka Flame.

uhforrest became one of the most original names in indie trap with ‘highrise’

‘highrise’ is the latest candidly sweet indie trap drop from the up-and-coming San Francisco based artist, uhforrest, who is setting himself apart from the rest by establishing himself as the Elliott Smith of the new wave trap scene.

Lyrically, highrise packs a pretty bruising punch as uhforrest runs through the cleverly morose wit; instrumentally, the intimate guitars bring the catharsis as they shimmer over the glitchy trip-hop meets trap beats.

To bring yet another addictive element into the prodigal mix, uhforrest is by far one of the most vocally original trap artists to appear on our radar in recent years. When you pair that with the indie tape-saturated warmth of the genre-defying guitars, highrise is as unforgettable as it is original. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Michael Zen shows us where he is mentally right now with the catchy debut track ‘Vibe Along’

Dropping a summer track to warm our hearts up and to see the world through his eyes, Michael Zen rides with this sweet crush who is feeling his style as things start to steam up on ‘Vibe Along‘.

Michael Zen is a USA-based Hip hop artist who is a new face on the scene but shows impressive lyrical chops on a new track that will have you nodding your head in approval.

Opening up our eyes to what the world is like right now as the dust settles from all previous carnage that jeopardised our very existence, Michael Zen introduces us to his sound and he does so with impressive vigour with an impressive debut release.

Vibe Along‘ from the USA-based indie rapper Michael Zen, is a love-filled story all about setting the tone with his mentality which is all about keeping things casual and to the point. With no time to waste as he looks to truly become one of the greats in the game, this is a single which leads you into the new school world. His mind is busy, looking for that special soul to share his life with while also keeping those paper stacks high, as we are thrown into a release that is all business.

Bringing us a style that is definitely in fashion right now, this feels like a smart first step into a music scene that is always looking for the next big thing.

Hear this audio on Spotify and see more via the Twitter music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Boston trap artist Lemedicus wonders if its all real or not with ‘Heal’

Taken off his 4-track EP from 2021 called ‘Medecia‘, Lemedicus guides us into this enlightening single which is all about wondering if everything is as it seems or if you are in fact in the midst of being used like a paper towel with ‘Heal‘.

Lemedicus is a Boston, USA-based indie trap solo artist who makes a fresh brew of ear-pleasing music that shall have new school fans hoppin’ to his likeable style.

I’m new to the music scene, I’m trying to see where the journey takes me.” ~ Lemedicus

Opening up our eyes to a moment where you could be used and quickly thrown away like yesterday’s newspaper, Boston native Lemedicus shows us his growing maturity with a new single that will strike your heart like a hot iron.

Heal‘ from Boston, USA-based indie trap solo artist Lemedicus is an open-the-door-to-your-soul kind of track that urges his own caution. In a world where some people can grab your kindness and greedily use all the sauce for their own evil ways. this is a reminder to be super careful and make make sure everything is legit first. Rapped with an introspective style that has you moving closer to his rhythm, this is a release for all those who have been hurt before.

Sometimes, you need to look around and get the full picture, before you plunge into something that could take you underwater and leave you breathless forever.

Hear this catchy single on Spotify and see more via his IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The UK’s most promising name in trap Ocean Stokes affirmed his viral potential in his bitter-sweet earworm, Reason

Here to put Southampton, UK on the trap map is the up-and-coming trailblazer Ocean Stokes on his collaborative track with LC, Reason.

The hooky effect of Reason, especially on the smoothly distorted trap and harmonised vocals, was no happy production accident. Stokes knew how to get the hooks razor-sharp in his charismatically confessional hit that proves that romance isn’t dead; it’s just taken a brand-new walls-up form in 2022.

At 19 years old, Ocean Stokes is already proving that he’s got viral potential with his guitar loops, intricate piano melodies, trappy 808s and vulnerably unfuckwithable high-vibe vocal style.

The official video for Reason premiered on February 25th; you can check it out by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ace Da King featuring Xavier Thomas – Bentley Truck; prepare your summer trap playlists.

For his latest fiery yet smooth single and music video, Bentley Truck, the hip hop trailblazer, Ace Da King collaborated with the featuring artist Xavier Thomas. If you like hip hop that speaks as much to the soul and your rhythmic pulses as it speaks about late-stage capitalist gains, the vibey and downtempo new wave trap track has all the makings of a playlist staple.

Ace Da King defiantly stamped down his mellow sonic signature in the track that allows you to lose yourself in the shimmering reverb and the light and bright texture of the keys that amplify the high vibes under Ace Da King’s envelope-pushing lyrical wit.

Since the official music video premiered on March 24th, it has already racked up in excess of 24k streams. You can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dinje x Mason Dane bring in the tropic heat with their confessionally candid indie-pop hip hop track, Wish I Knew

For his latest single, Dinje handed the Sydney hip hop pop veteran Mason Dane the production reigns and created the ultimate urban earworm from the remix of Wish I Knew.

For anyone sick of the insinuation that summer vibes always help us fall head over heels in an idyllic relationship, the raw honesty against the exotic indie hip hop instrumentals will be more refreshing than your preferred summer poison. The Spanish guitars around the cleverly glitchy distortions in the mix that reflect the visceral nature of our innate frustration in the absence of clarity is infectious from the first hit. On the basis of Wish I Knew, both of their futures in the industry are set to be luminary. We can’t wait to hear what else is in the pipeline.

Wish I Knew will officially release on March 25th; you can check it out for yourselves on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shayla Hamady – LMWYC V2 featuring KnovaT27: horror trap pop has never been hotter

With a music video that could rival American Horror Story and the way that Shayla Hamady entwines horror with moody trap melody, her latest release, LMWYC V2, featuring KnovaT27, is a work of scintillating multi-media art.

The sultry timbre of her dark pop vocals brings a transfixing edge to the track that gets even sharper when KnovaT27 brings his cutting rap bars to break up the accordance that lingers after Shayla Hamady’s ultra-vivid lyricism, which plays with dark themes and romanticism. We didn’t need the Detroit born and raised artist’s bio to tell us that she’s inspired by Eilish. Yet, Hamady still came into her authentic own in LMWYC which stands as a testament to her commitment to expressive art.

The official music video for LMWYC is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kotaisyn waxes lyrical in his candidly bitter-sweet debut single, roses in the rain

For his debut single, kotaisyn proved how dynamic London-based rap artists have the potential to be when their influences span beyond the city’s postcodes. roses in the rain is a melodic, lo-fi trappy hit that sees kotaisyn lay down his smooth spoken-word bars, harmonic vocal timbre and candid lyrics that make no bones about waxing lyrical on romantic lament and self-worth.

The clever vocal arrangements run in synergy with the atmospheric, almost ethereal minor-key melodies, making the hammering blows of his honesty feel like a bitter-sweet sensation that you will want to experience time and time again. We can’t wait to hear what he has in the pipeline for his sophomore release.

roses in the rain is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

VENTRI knows that the end could be near on ‘Dread and Terror’ (prod. Pvrple Clxvd)

With an intended chaotic and dark energy that might have you feeling a bit uneasy and extra thoughtful about the world right now, VENTRI sends us a warning about the gloomy times that are approaching humankind right now with ‘Dread and Terror(prod. Pvrple Clxvd).

VENTRI is a Boston, USA-based indie psychedelic trap solo artist who propels his art to a stage that might not be ready but will be compelled to witness such a striking creation.

Soaking our mood with a single so end-of-world-like and filled with haunting vocals that might scare many, VENTRI drops one of the more intriguing releases you will probably hear in 2022 due to its content that is honest and filled with meaning.

Dread and Terror‘ (prod. Pvrple Clxvd) from Boston, USA-based indie psychedelic trap solo artist VENTRI, is a gloomy track that will undoubtedly have you feeling rather down with the state of the world right now. With so many issues plaguing us – as we look for a way out of this madness – this is the heart-piercing type of single that will have you feeling so overwhelmed and wondering why we can’t just all live in peace without greed and bad intentions.

The good must conquer evil, otherwise, we are all in trouble.

Check out this new doomsday single on Soundcloud and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

We already have a contender for trap earworm of the year with Moth Trap’s latest alt-hip hop stormer, whenweparty

If your trap playlists need mixing up with some pounding bass, pioneering flair and almost obscene genre-bending, consider Moth Trap’s stormer of a track, whenweparty, which was produced by Erlax. It almost puts Andrew WK’s Party Hard to shame in its viscerally futuristic urban fashion.

Moth Trap proves just how far we have come from the days when Eiffel 65 was the epitome of rock-steady electronica. The glitchy electro beats mashed with the blazing hot guitar lines and the distortedly hook-filled vocals all prove that the Downpatrick, Ireland-hailing artist is more than worthy of the viral status he gained with his single, To the Moon and Back. Very few artist’s allow their talent to resonate as obsession-worthy. With Moth Trap, it comes naturally.

You can check out whenweparty for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast