Trap

Originally, trap is a hip hop subgenre which later had an EDM-influenced offspring, EDM trap. It originated in Atlanta, Georgia in the Southern United States in the 1990s and is named after an Atlanta slang word for a place where illegal drugs are sold. Trap tracks have a a dark, menacing or aggressive atmosphere and lyrics revolve around topics like drug dealing, street/thug life, violence or acquiring wealth and expensive cars.

Trap is characterized by »sluggish«, laid-back beats – preferably programmed on a Roland TR-808 drum computer – featuring deep, low-tuned bass drums with a long decay as well as rather complex, fast/»rolling« hi-hat patterns in double or triple time. Tempos range from 50 to 90 bpm but are typically around 70 bpm (often programmed in double-time for finer hi-hat subdivision). The snare drum is also important as the arrangements are typically sparse, often featuring monophonic drones and ominous synth sounds. Dramatic accents are added by powerful, symphonic stabs by (synthesized) orchestral sounds like brass, strings and woodwinds. Another characteristic is the so-called »screwing and chopping«, a remix technique which was developed in the South of the United States in the 1990s by DJ Screw and includes slowing down the tempo of the track and other techniques which make the track sound »chopped-up«.

The origins of trap can be found in the so-called »gangsta rap« as well as in Southern hip hop of the 1990s. Influential producers include Lil Jon from Atlanta, Georgia, Mannie Fresh from New Orleans, Louisiana and DJ Paul from Memphis, Tennessee. Tracks like »Cocaine In The Back of the Ride« and »Pocket Full of Stones« (both 1992) by Texas duo UGK or Master P's »Mr. Ice Cream Man« (1996) had notable success, and rappers whose main lyrical topic was drug dealing were soon referred to as »trap rappers«. The genre term was coined by trap pioneer T.I. in his 2001 track »Dope Boyz« and especially with his commercially successful second album »Trap Muzik« (2003). Other artists who increased the genre’s popularity include Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, (Young) Jeezy and Gucci Mane. While key elements of trap beats can be traced back to dj/producer Kurtis Mantronik and his track »Bass Machine« from 1986 it was especially Shawty Redd, producer of Gucci Mane's debut album »Trap House« and (Young) Jeezy's major label debut »Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101« (both 2005), who shaped the classic/traditional dark and ominous trap sound. The modern trap sound featuring bombastic orchestral instruments can be credited to producer Lex Luger who had his breakthrough with Waka Flocka Flame’s track »Hard in da Paint« which already became an underground hit before being commercially released on Waka Flocka Flame’s debut album »Flockaveli« in 2010.

By 2010, trap had found its way into mainstream and in the following years became one of the most popular American music genres. Trap tracks achieved top positions in the US Billboard charts, like Fetty Wap with »Trap Queen« (No. 2, 2015),

Desiigner with »Panda« (No. 1, 2016), »Bodak Yellow« by Cardi B (No. 1, 2017) or Childish Gambino's »This Is America« (No.1, 2018). In 2019, the remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus of Lil Nas X's trap/country crossover »Old Town Road« broke the record as longest-running No. 1 hip hop single as well as the overall longest No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Therefore, trap also had an influence on other genres and rnb and pop artists began to incorporate trap elements into their songs, like Beyoncé with »Drunk in Love« (No. 2 US charts) and »7/11« (both 2013), Lady Gaga with »Jewels 'N' Drugs« (2013), Katy Perry with »Dark Horse« (2013, No. 1 US charts in 2014) or Ariana Grande with »7 Rings« (2019, No. 1 US charts).

The early 2010s also saw the birth of its offspring EDM trap, mixing EDM elements (build-ups, drops, breakdowns), big room house, electro house and dubstep/brostep with trap, creating an EDM style with aggressive, dirty and dark beats and sounds. Early examples are Flosstradamus' 2012 remix of Major Lazer's »Original Don« (2011) and »Harlem Shake« (2012) by Baauer which became the first EDM trap song that reached No. 1 on the US Billboard charts. Artists like Scottish/ Canadian duo TNGHT (consisting of Hudson Mohawke and Lunice) and dj/producer RL Grime further nurtured the genre's popularity and collaborations with trap artists followed, like DJ Snake's »Turn Down for What (feat Lil Jon)« (2013). Further notable artists producing EDM trap tracks include Marshmello, Skrillex and Diplo.