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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.

Canadian hip-hop heavyweight YungHarbs is back in the ring with his mixtape, RTL, Vol. 3

After a two-year hiatus, the independent rapper, YungHarbs has shown what the airwaves have been lacking in his absence with the release of his mixtape, RTL, Vol. 3. With bars as sharp, dynamic, and energised as the best of RZA’s work in the opening single, FWM, the mixtape flows from a strong start and never falters through the remaining three singles.

His gritty lo-fi edge encompasses the old-school and the new wave while running through track two, RIGHT AROUND, which throws in Afro Pop and RnB flavour, allowing YungHarbs to stand in a rhythmic league of his own on top of the steady rattle of the 808s.

Track 3, Test Me, brings in the ingenuity of the collaborating artist, T3, the dancehall anthem stands as a testament to the rhythmicality of their bars as the creative chemistry and conviction spill. Before the mixtape ends on WALK, which added a new trajectory to the evolution of gangster hip hop, the viscerally vindictive hit will easily win over any fans of Kanye.

RTL, Vol. 3 is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

New Jersey Trap Icon C.A.P the Rapper’s bars are as sharp as his bite in ‘Dogz’

At 17, the New Jersey trap artist C.A.P the Rapper is already proving to be an elemental force to be reckoned with. His adrenaline-packed latest single, Dogz, makes no bones about highlighting everything problematic in the industry and the broader society.

Many artists claim to put energy into their bars; you could run a power grid off the bars in Dogz that fiercely attack the people that are relentless in their tendency to take liberties. Someone has to hold them accountable, and it’s safe to say that C.A.P the rapper has them in an inescapable stranglehold in Dogz.

Dogz was officially released on January 13th. Hear it on Apple Music & YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MHE is stratospherically ahead of the curve in his rap hit, On Me

Rapper MHE is so stratospherically ahead of the curve it’s barely in his eye line in his LP MHEvsMHE, which dropped toward the end of 2022. The fiery fusionist standout single, which melds old-school with the new, On Me, sets the pace for the future of trappy atmospheric rap tracks.

While the cleverly layered backing vocals galvanise, his fluidly dynamic verses pull to the front of the mix to exhibit his ability with wordplay, which is right on par with his ability to contort his bars into a rhythmically hypnotic canter.

The candidly confessional hit lays it all down on the line while keeping on the luminary artist’s on-brand cheek and swagger that hits with the perfect mix of attitude, intellect and charisma. In short, he’s a triple threat with a bright future ahead of him in the industry if he sticks to tracks in the same vein as On Me.

Check out On Me via Apple Music & YouTube.

Follow MHE on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

2burbo created a hyper pop-trap hit of hope for the masses with “just might save the world”

Aural originator 2burbo poured a potent shot of optimism into his standout single, just might save the world, which rips through every genre known to man to create a hyper hit of hope for the masses.

The 8-bit videogame synthetics around the trap and pop elements allowed the futuristically-inspired experimentalist to pair suitable sonics around his declaration of “hey, I just might save the world”. With the euphoria spilling from the short and colourfully sweet single, if anyone has what it takes to put our disillusioned world back on track, it is the Wisconsin-based artist who started operating under the moniker 2burbo in 2001.

Under the influence of everyone from Crystal Castles to Bowie to Prince to Steel Panther, it is no surprise that 2burbo was able to infuse so much distinction in his vibrant sonic signature.

just might save the world is available to stream on Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Feel the temperature drop with the dystopic chill in Kabinyo’s industrial EDM single, I Am Collins

no more chasing ghosts by kabinyo

Atlanta-based producer and artist Kabinyo drenches his hip hop beats in dark and cinematically caustic atmosphere to a scintillating effect. His latest single, I Am Collins, moves past synthwave to firmly implant itself in the ambient industrial genre.

The mostly instrumental piece carries the futuristic simulated chill of an isolated dystopia, akin to the synthesised textures within the Sucker Punch Remix of Army of Me by Bjork. Despite his experimentalism, Kabinyo has celebrated ample success with his eclectically crafted instrumentals. His most successful single to date, Vogue, was picked up by Manimal Vinyl before being published by Sony. With his upcoming LP, he’s veered further away from hip hop towards rock and EDM; it’s a move that will undoubtedly see him go further in his already accoladed career.

I Am Collins is now available to stream and download on Bandcamp.

Stay tuned for the full release of the album no more chasing ghosts, which will officially release on January 6th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

nasir mf. pushed the boundaries of sonic expression in his emotion-driven EDM hit, fuckin lonely

If the sub-genre emo EDM doesn’t already exist on some dark and despondent corner on the internet, the electronica producer, nasir mf. started it with his trappy trailblazer of a debut single, fuckin lonely.

After a wavy indie trap prelude, the hit blasts off with a high-fire boost of momentum that allows the track to transcend drum n bass before the candid vocals run through pioneeringly bold lyricism to shatter the stigma attached to admissions of loneliness.

To make such an honest track at any point in their career is a brave move; to choose this track to introduce himself to the world, nasir mf. is a total fucking icon. The Brooklyn-based electronica artist made his debut to carry on the legacy of the black artists before him while pushing the boundaries of sound and expression. In the process of succeeding across the board, he became an instant icon in our view.

Nothing compares to the high of hearing an artist speak the unspoken and fuckin lonely let the euphoric floodgates open. We can’t wait to hear what comes next.

fuckin lonely was officially released on December 2nd and is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Grime icon in the making, Jacob Briggs, has released a dizzying drop with ‘Bothered’.

Amalgamating the fiercest elements of trap, grime and drill, the UK icon in the making, Jacob Briggs, created a juggernaut of a hit with his latest single, Bothered, which officially dropped on December 9th.

Proving that grime hasn’t lost its flavour since Wiley gave us a taste in the early 00s, Bothered exhibits Briggs’ dizzying flow, which doesn’t sacrifice the lyrical content which puts to shame the archetypes built in the industry since it dawned.

The electronic music producer and creative artist started his sonic journey inspired by RnB and hip hop acts before creating his own rhythm-riding sonic signature that packs enough fervour to make your head spin. Watch this space before Briggs tears through it with the force of a lyrical tornado.

Feel the heat simmer from Bothered by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

International Trap-Pop Queen Chantae Vetrice Reigned Supreme in her A&R Factory Interview

With melodies as infectious as her autonomy-embracing attitude, we caught up with the Trap-Pop queen, Chantae Vetrice following the release of her piercing and polished hit, Wave Check, which affirms that she’s so far ahead of the curve it is scarcely in her rear-view mirror.

Chantae Vetrice, we’re stoked you took time out from your hectic international TrapPop lifestyle to dissect your distinctive sound. Can you tell us about your latest single, Wave Check?

Wave Check is all about riding your own wave! Doing what you do in the way that only you can do it! And sometimes we have other people that may try to ride that wave because it’s just too damn good! It’s all about feeling confident in yourself.

Coming up with a unique sound in an oversaturated industry is a massive achievement. How would you define your sound, and how did you form such an authentic signature sound?

This has been years and years of self-discovery within the music and just experimenting with different approaches that have come naturally to me over time. I would describe my sound as a bit gritty, with a lot of sex appeal and attitude. I’ve loved rock music all my life so, I try to incorporate that into my music as well. Whether it be by using a guitar in the beat production or with how I deliver my lyrics.

As the adage goes, image is everything, and you’ve got your striking look down to a T. Have you always been so aesthetically confident?

Looking back on my life, I have! I’ve always been confident enough to wear what I want even if it’s not trending, and when it comes to my hair, I’ve always pushed the envelope! Honestly, I get bored very easily, so I love being versatile…I hate looking like everyone else.

You have worked with some impressive names since making your debut; which figure has had the biggest impact on your career?

Thank you. I haven’t worked with this person, but they have been a total inspiration for me…Madonna. I’ve always admired how she can easily transform and evolve herself so genuinely. To me, she is the epitome of a pop icon.

Based on your streaming stats, plenty of people are resonating with your music. What do you hope people get from your music?

Life live, and have fun! This journey is short, and we are here to make an impact! Do what you love and be yourself…don’t be afraid to stand out.

Do you write your songs with a particular audience in mind?

I make music, especially for women…I’m a girl’s girl! So, to all my ladies out in the world…stay strong, be bold, and let them know you’re here to stay!

What is it like living between NYC and Montreal as an artist?

I feel like I have the best of both worlds right now because I can live in another country and get inspired by the locals. Montreal has such a dope creative scene, and I’m slowly navigating my way through it. It’s exciting. As a New Yorker, I love a good adventure and can live pretty much anywhere lol.

What are your next moves going to be in the industry?

Outside of consistently dropping heat, performing, and growing my fanbase…I am getting focused on my debut EP for 2023. It’s something that I think the people are ready for, and I’m up for the challenge of creating a story people can resonate with.

Listen to Chantae Vetrice’s latest single, Wave Check, on Spotify.

Follow her on Instagram and check out her website.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Brooklyn beats meet southern trap grit in Superstar Freddy & Low Patcho’s alchemically dynamic collaborative single, Move

Alone, Brooklyn’s Superstar Freddy and Southern Trap artist, Low Patcho, are forces to be reckoned with. With their contrasting sounds sparking urban sonic voodoo while they pay homage to their Haitian roots in their joint LP, The Curse, they are inexplicably hot.

The standout single, The Move, carries all the motivation of an archetypal hustler hip hop anthem and none of the cliches that usually revolve around motivational tropes. The high-octane hit permits the instrumentals to conjure urban devilry about the blazingly dynamic bars that will leave you galvanized before the first verse has stormed through.

Fans of Travis Scott, Pop Smoke, and Pierre Borne won’t want to miss the colossal track that came to life in Anchour Studios in Maine.

“The Curse album is a collaboration of Superstar Freddy’s upbeat hip hop style with Low Patcho’s Southern trap music. The mixtape was inspired by our Haitian heritage. Voodoo and magic are always associated with people from Haiti.

I wrote the song Move after a trip back from my hometown, Brooklyn, NY. The song illustrates my desire for continual success and elevation. It shows you can’t fall off, no matter what. You’ve got to love what you do and flaunt it when necessary but never sell out. I love the cash sound when my phone dings and I know it’s coming in all day. If you ain’t moving toward your idea, then someone else will manifest it so get going today.”

Stream The Curse on Spotify, and follow Superstar Freddy on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook to stay up to date on his future releases that are set to mark a shift in his sonic style from this ground-breaking LP.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Numb up with Poppa King Oats’s trap hit, Painkiller

Driven by the inspiration of Jay Z and LL Cool J, the Massachusetts-born and raised trap artist Poppa King Oats started rapping at 15. By the time his latest single, Painkiller, arrived, he was primed to unveil a killer of an atmospheric rap track that encompasses the human proclivity to numb the pain.

The minimalistic yet efficaciously melodic beats create a solid platform for his rap bars that carry an old-school sense of conviction. Nothing about Painkiller feels inhibited. Not the lyrics that get to the crux of the issue. Not the energy of the rap style. And certainly not the authenticity demonstrated that will see the up-and-coming artist go far in the trap scene.

Painkiller is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast