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Emo rap


Emo rap
Other names

Emo hip hop[1][2]

Stylistic origins * Hip-hop
Cultural origins Mid-2010s, United States
Typical instruments * Vocals
Derivative forms * HexD[3]
Other topics
* Crunkcore


Emo rap (also known as emo hip hop or sad rap) is a subgenre of hip hop influenced by emo.[6] It emerged during the early-2010s through the SoundCloud rap scene,[7] and fuses trap music-style beats with sing-rapping vocals. Originally pioneered by artists such as Black Kray's Goth Money Records, Bones and GothBoiClique members Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Lil Tracy and Lil Peep. The genre was popularized in the mainstream by Lil Peep, Trippie Redd, $uicideboy$, XXXTentacion, and Juice Wrld.[8][9]

Characteristics

Emo rapper Lil Peep in August 2016

Publications have described emo rap as taking influence from hip hop,[10][11] emo,[10][11] trap,[6] pop punk,[12] nu metal,[10] indie rock,[6] post-hardcore,[13] and cloud rap.[11]

Emo rap departs from the traditional tones found in modern mainstream hip hop in favor of more emotional and personal lyrical content,[14][15] described by The Wall Street Journal as "giving their elders the finger."[16] Lyrics tend to focus on topics such as depression,[17] loneliness, anxiety,[18] consumption of drugs and alcohol, nihilism,[19] suicide,[10] heartbreak,[20] and self-medication.[21] The genre is characterized by its combination of musical elements commonly found in conscious hip hop with indie rock instrumentals.[22] Sampling often uses 2000s pop punk and emo songs. Much of the sampling has been influenced by artists who inspired the genre, such as Mineral, Underoath, and the Postal Service.[23][24] Some emo rappers also make use of original instrumentation.[25] Horse Head of the collective GothBoiClique has described the music as "...sort of nostalgic, but it's new too...no one's really done shit like this. It's like emo rap and melodic trap".[26]

Fans of the music are sometimes referred to as "sad boys", in reference to emo rapper Yung Lean's music group by the same name.[27][28][29]

History

Precursors

Prior to emo rap solidifying itself as a genre, the term was applied by critics to rappers such as Joe Budden,[30] Eminem,[31][32][33] Kanye West, and Drake[34][35] due to their emotional styles of lyric writing. American rapper Slug of Atmosphere claimed in 2017 that he invented the name "emo rap" in an IR Magazine article from 1997.[21] The music of German rapper Casper, which was influenced by both hip hop and bands like Give up the Ghost, Modern Life is War, and Grave Digger, was often referred to as "emo rap" early on in his career.[36] Huffington Post writer Kia Makarechi described American group Hollywood Undead as "crass emo-rap" in 2012 article.[37]

Additionally, between the 1990s and early-2010s, there was a number of significant crossovers between the hip hop scene and the emo and pop punk scene. Zebrahead have been playing a style of music that features vocalist Ali Tabatabaee rapping over pop punk instrumentals since the band's formation in 1995.[38] Rapper MC Lars has been making use of samples and references to emo and pop punk songs in his music since his 2004 debut album.[39][40] Pop punk band Good Charlotte, often stated that they took influence from hip hop and in 2007 released the album Greatest Remixes, which consisted of a number of their previously released songs being remixed by both hip hop and pop punk musicians such as Jay E, Patrick Stump, Marshall Goodman, and William Beckett. In 2005, Stump and Pete Wentz founded DCD2 Records, which signed both emo and hip hop artists, who would often collaborate and tour alongside one another. DCD2 signees Cobra Starship and Gym Class Heroes also merged elements of both genres. In 2006, rapper Kanye West remixed emo pop band Fall Out Boy's song "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race". Fearless Records released the album Punk Goes Crunk in 2008, which was made up of emo and pop punk musicians covering popular hip hip songs. Emo band Framing Hanley covered rapper Lil Wayne's song "Lollipop" in 2008 and Lil Wayne went on to collaborate with emo band Weezer in 2009, on the song "Can't Stop Partying" off of the band's album Raditude.[12] In 2012, prominent pop-punk band Blink-182 featured rapper Yelawolf on the track "Pretty Little Girl" from their Dogs Eating Dogs EP.[41]

In 2013, Swedish rapper Yung Lean, released the track "Ginseng Strip 2002", the debut mixtape Unknown Death 2002 and later formed the collective Sad Boys (SBE), which publications such as the Guardian and Recording Arts Canada have, in retrospective, recognized as influential on the then-upcoming emo rap genre.[42][43][44]

2012–2016: Origins

Emo rap was pioneered by Bones,[45] whose VHS-recorded music videos and dark production and aesthetic were so influential on the hip hop underground of the time that Dazed described him as the "underground rap king."[46] In 2012, members of Thraxxhouse, a subgroup of Raider Klan, formed GothBoiClique (GBC),[47] with the intention of drawing connections between the emo, trap, dark wave, black metal, and indie rock scenes. Bones and other genre pioneers like Black Kray and 90's Bambino also drew heavily upon the influence of witch house.[48][49] GBC's style of emo rap influenced swathes of artists in the underground emo and hip hop scenes on SoundCloud,[49] with Lil Lotus,[50] Lil Peep[51] and Lil Tracy,[47] all citing the group as an influence and the latter-most two even eventually becoming members. During this time, a DIY ethos came to define the genre,[52][53] to the extent that when Shinigami released his debut album Luna on Spotify, he was derided as a sellout, due to the streaming service's ability to monetize.[54]

2017–2019: Popularity and deaths

In 2017, Lil Uzi Vert's song "XO Tour Llif3" became a sleeper hit. The song, characterized as emo hip hop[55] due to its lyrics referring to suicide and emotional breakdowns peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.[56][57] In August 2017, XXXTentacion released his debut album 17 with the lead single "Jocelyn Flores" which addresses the suicide of a friend[58] and Lil Uzi Vert released their debut studio album Luv Is Rage 2. The release of both the projects and their high peak on the Billboard 200 became defining moments for emo rap in the mainstream.[59][60] At the same time, Lil Peep was branded by Pitchfork the "future of emo" in January 2017[61] and in April 2017, The Guardian concluded that his "continuing rise is testament to the timeless appeal of introspection."[62]




File:Sad - XXXTentacion.ogg
A sample of XXXTentacion's song "Sad!", from his 2018 album ?. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is the best selling emo rap song of all-time.

In November 2017, Lil Peep died of a Fentanyl overdose.[63][64] Shortly afterwards, Lil Peep's debut studio album Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1 and the lead single "Awful Things" charted on the Billboard charts.[65] His death brought increased notability to the genre as a whole and particularly to artists such as Trippie Redd and Lil Aaron.[66][67] In June 2018, XXXTentacion was murdered, and like Peep, his albums 17 and ? charted the following week, along with his hit song "SAD!" charting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[68] In September 2018, a posthumous collaboration between the two artists, "Falling Down" was released and became certified platinum in the US.[69] The same year, emo rap was the fastest-growing genre on Spotify in 2018.[70] In December 2019, Juice WRLD died after suffering a seizure, induced by an overdose of oxycodone and codeine.[71] He was known to most people for the songs "All Girls Are the Same" and "Lucid Dreams", the latter which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018 and returned to the chart in 2019 at number eight following his death.[72]

In 2018, Nothing,Nowhere released his second album Reaper, which was described by The New York Times as an "outstanding album that synthesizes the second-wave emo of the early to mid-2000s [sic] with the rattling hip-hop low end of the last few years. It is one of the most promising pop albums of the year; the logical, and perhaps inevitable, endpoint of hip-hop's broad diffusion into every corner of American musical life; and also the most viable current direction for guitar-driven music in the mainstream."[73] Revolver described him as one of the leading stars of the emo rap movement.[74]

2019–2022: Second wave

In the early 2020s, notable emo rappers 24kGoldn,[75] Poorstacy,[76][77] the Kid Laroi,[78] Powfu[79] and Iann Dior[80] were all signed by labels where they released their debut EPs. On February 8, 2020, Powfu released their single "Death Bed (Coffee for Your Head)" with Beabadoobee, which peaked at number one on the U.S. Hot Rock/Alternative Songs chart.[81] On July 24, 2020, Dior and 24kGoldn released the chart-topping song "Mood",[82][83] which is currently certified quadruple platinum.[84] Forbes described 2020 as "The Year Rap Artists Rule the Rock Charts",[81] while Spin writer Al Shipley described the merger of pop punk and rap as 2020's "commercial juggernaut".[85] In March 2022, emo rapper Lil Bo Weep died of a drug overdose after a long struggle with depression and complex post-traumatic stress disorder after the loss of a child.[86]

Influence

The popularity of emo rap led to a number of mainstream musicians incorporating elements of it into their music in the late-2010s and early-2020s. Notable artists to do so include Justin Bieber,[87] Ariana Grande,[88] and Miley Cyrus.[89]

Emo rap, along with styles like cloud rap, trap, dubstep, trance, chiptune and pop music were influential on the development of the hyperpop genre.[90] The genre gained mainstream attention in the late-2010s and early-2020s through artists such as 100 gecs, Charli XCX, and Dorian Electra.[91]

The genre also brought about a revived interest in pop punk in the mainstream.[92][93] This interest led to the 2020s pop punk revival.[94] In particular, Machine Gun Kelly's album Tickets to My Downfall was described by the Evening Standard as "bridg[ing] the gap" between the contemporary pop punk and emo rap scenes.[95] During this time, a number of emo rappers such as Trippie Redd,[96] Lil Tracy,[97] Cold Hart,[98] Lil Aaron,[99] and 24kGoldn[100] also began releasing pop punk albums and songs.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Remembering Lil Peep and the legacy he left behind. December 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018
  2. ↑ Rap Pop Punk Emo Rock n' Trap. Retrieved March 30, 2018
  3. ↑ Waves of Mutilation | “Catacombs 2007” by Drixxo Lords. Impact 89FM | WDBM-FM. Retrieved 5 April 2026
  4. ↑ This is Hyperpop: A Genre Tag for Genre-less Music. Vice Media. October 27, 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021
  5. ↑ Playboi Carti Gets Lost in the Music. Vulture. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2026
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Emo Fan's Guide to Emo Rap. Riot Fest. September 27, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017
  7. ↑ Emo Rap's Ascent to a Legitimate Musical Movement. April 11, 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021
  8. ↑ Hobbs, Thomas(13 December 2019)Juice WRLD, Lil Peep, and XXXTentacion are symbols of a scene that trades off tragedy. i-D. London. ISSN 0894-5373. Retrieved 7 August 2022
  9. ↑ From Trippie Redd to Lil Uzi Vert: 9 best emo rappers. Yahoo. April 4, 2024
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Zoladz, LindsayXXXTentacion, Lil Peep, and the Future of Emo. The Ringer. 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2023-01-18
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Ed LedshamI write raps not tragedies: Finally! The emo-goth-rap hybrid you didn't realise you were waiting for is here. April 10, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 From Lil Peep To Paramore, Emo And Rap Have Been Related For Years. Kerrang. September 5, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2018
  13. ↑ Lil Peep: The YouTube rapper who's taking back emo. TheGuardian.com. April 21, 2017
  14. ↑ DeascentTo Be Young, Emo, & Black. July 2, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017
  15. ↑ To Be Young, Angsty, and Black: On Rap's Emo Moment | Pitchfork. Pitchfork.com. April 5, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  16. ↑ Shah, NeilHip-Hop's Generation Gap: 'Emo' vs. 'Dad' Rap. January 16, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  17. ↑ The sad new guard of emo rap. Retrieved April 27, 2018
  18. ↑ Sex, drugs, violence and face tattoos: mumble rap explained. Retrieved April 27, 2018
  19. ↑ Battan, Carrie(January 1, 2018)Lil Xan and the Year in Sad Rap. The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  20. ↑ Genius (September 19, 2017) "How Lil Peep, Lil Uzi Vert, and Trippie Redd Are Bringing Back Emo | Genius News". Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKhMq4VE79Y
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 HipHopDX (September 16, 2017) "Emo Rap Over Everything?". Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEjj21-dHgc
  22. ↑ MursThe Breakdown: Emo Rap Over Everything?. September 16, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017
  23. ↑ Emo Veterans Mineral Accuse Lil Peep of Ripping Them off. May 5, 2017
  24. ↑ Angus HarrisonLil Peep: the YouTube rapper who's taking back emo. April 21, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017
  25. ↑ gothboiclique rapper cold hart goes pop punk. i-D. July 12, 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2021
  26. ↑ Lee ShanerUNDERGROUND RAP MEETS EMO REVIVALISM. Retrieved October 9, 2017
  27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named guardian
  28. ↑ XXXTentacion, Lil Peep, and the Future of Emo. Retrieved March 26, 2018
  29. ↑ SadBoys of Soundcloud – an introduction to the world of emo rap. Skiddle.com. Retrieved 2019-07-22
  30. ↑ TEARS OF A THUG: 'SAD RAP' IS A REAL THING. July 24, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2017
  31. ↑ "emo rap: up from the underground". Spin.com. February 12, 2004. Retrieved October 14, 2023
  32. ↑ Cage, 'I Never Knew You'. Washington Post. 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2023-10-14
  33. ↑ Swerzenski, J. D.Eminem: 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2'. San Antonio Current. November 5, 2013. Retrieved 2023-10-14
  34. ↑ Randall RobertsReview Mortality, fame hang heavy on Drake's 'If You're Reading This'. Los Angeles Times. February 15, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2017
  35. ↑ Zach BaronDrake's Thank Me Later Leaks. June 2, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2017
  36. ↑ JoeyCasper – Interview mit dem 'Emo-Rapper' – BurnYourEars Webzine
  37. ↑ Kia MakarechiAron 'Deuce' Erlichman Beaten Up: Police Say Hollywood Undead Singer Attacked By Former Bandmates. March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2017
  38. ↑ Zebrahead Waste of Mind (1998). November 17, 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  39. ↑ MC Lars Sends Up Emo on New Single, Which Stars Fake Band Hearts That Hate. MTV. Retrieved January 18, 2018
  40. ↑ Interview: The Mount Nerdcore Tour. Retrieved 23 February 2021
  41. ↑ BLINK-182 – DOGS EATING DOGS EP. AltPress. December 13, 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2021
  42. ↑ Emo Rap's Family Tree. Studybreaks. April 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2022
  43. ↑ Evolution of Emo Rap. Recordingarts. February 20, 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2022
  44. ↑ 'I'm genuine – and a bit strange': emo rapper Yung Lean bares his soul. theguardian. May 12, 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2022
  45. ↑ The History of "Emo Rap". Retrieved 20 February 2021
  46. ↑ DazedBONES on record labels, being beaten up & living meme kids. September 7, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Lil Tracy Will Not Be Erased. Pitchfork. November 27, 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  48. ↑ The Best Emo/Goth/Trap You'll Hear All Fall. thestranger.com. 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-03
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 WICCA PHASE SPRINGS ETERNAL: OCCULT GENRE-SMASHER BRED IN PUNK, BACKED BY CODE ORANGE. Revolver. August 6, 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  50. ↑ LIL LOTUS GOES 'IN THE DMS' W/ MASKED GORILLA. Retrieved 17 February 2021
  51. ↑ (March 8, 2019)He could have been his generation's Kurt Cobain, but he died of an overdose just after his 21st birthday. Inside his life, music and chaotic final days. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  52. ↑ How Emo Rap Has Redefined Rock Music. Kerrang!. June 25, 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  53. ↑ From underground to mainstream: Emo rap explodes into streaming music scene. NBC. December 9, 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  54. ↑ Template:Cite podcast
  55. ↑ We Asked Emo Bands to Review Lil Uzi Vert's "XO Tour Llif3". May 3, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  56. ↑ Lil Uzi Vert Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  57. ↑ Coscarelli, JoeHave You Heard This Lil Uzi Vert Lyric?. August 13, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  58. ↑ XXXTentacion's New Song "Jocelyn Flores" Addresses His Friend's Suicide. Genius.com. August 21, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  59. ↑ Lil Uzi Vert Defines Emo Hip-Hop with "Luv is Rage 2" | The Bottom Line. September 6, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  60. ↑ Xxxtentacion's Most Emotional "17" Lyrics. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  61. ↑ Tears of a Dirtbag: Rapper Lil Peep Is the Future of Emo | Pitchfork. Pitchfork.com. January 9, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  62. ↑ Harrison, AngusLil Peep: the YouTube rapper who's taking back emo. The Guardian. April 21, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  63. ↑ Kornhaber, SpencerRemembering Lil Peep. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  64. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, BenRapper Lil Peep dies aged 21 of suspected overdose. The Guardian. November 16, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  65. ↑ Lil Peep Charts on Billboard Hot 100 for First Time With 'Awful Things'. Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  66. ↑ The 'Emolution' Of Mainstream Hip-Hop – Oxygen.ie. November 22, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018
  67. ↑
  68. ↑
  69. ↑ LIL PEEP & XXXTENTACION earned RIAA 1× Platinum Award for FALLING DOWN. Recording Industry Association of America
  70. ↑ Spotify lists emo rap as 2018's fastest-growing genre. Alternative Press. December 4, 2018
  71. ↑ Juice WRLD Dead at 21 After Seizure in Chicago, Final Moments Captured. Retrieved December 9, 2019
  72. ↑ Maroon 5 & Cardi B's 'Girls Like You' Holds Atop Hot 100, Juice WRLD's 'Lucid Dreams' Lifts to No. 2. Billboard. Retrieved 2019-12-19
  73. ↑ nothing,nowhere. Blends Hip-Hop and Emo to Make Tomorrow's Pop. The New York Times. October 20, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2022
  74. ↑ HOW EMO-RAP STAR NOTHING,NOWHERE. GOT THE GUTS TO EMBRACE HIS METAL SIDE. Revolver. March 24, 2023
  75. ↑ 24kGoldn Brings MySpace Emo To TikTok Rap. Stereogum. September 2, 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  76. ↑ NOISEWORTHY: HERE'S WHY POORSTACY IS A ROCKSTAR FOR THE SOUNDCLOUD GENERATION. Retrieved 6 February 2021
  77. ↑ BEST NEW SONGS RIGHT NOW: 11/13/20. Revolver. November 13, 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021
  78. ↑ 16-YEAR-OLD REDFERN RAPPER DEBUTS IN BILLBOARD TOP TEN: 'THIS IS MORE THAN I COULD OF EVER ASKED FOR'. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  79. ↑ The Universal Loneliness of Powfu. The New York Times. August 5, 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  80. ↑ Iann Dior Is Strategically Blurring Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop. Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  81. ↑ 81.0 81.1 2020 Is The Year Rap Artists Rule The Rock Charts. Forbes. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  82. ↑ McKinney, JessicaHow 24KGoldn and Iann Dior's "Mood" Became One of the Biggest Songs in the World. Complex. January 11, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2020
  83. ↑ 24kGoldn. Billboard. Retrieved 2021-05-05
  84. ↑ GOLD & PLATINUM. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 20 February 2021
  85. ↑ Pop-Punk and Hip-Hop: 2020's Dynamic Duo. Spin. November 30, 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021
  86. ↑ How did rapper Lil Bo Weep die? Artist lost her child a year ago
  87. ↑ Every Song Ranked on Justin Bieber's 'Justice': Critic's Picks. Billboard. Retrieved 23 March 2021
  88. ↑ Every Ariana Grande Song, Ranked: Critic's Picks. Billboard. Retrieved 23 March 2021
  89. ↑ Miley Cyrus Plastic Hearts. Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 March 2021
  90. ↑ Enis, EliThis is Hyperpop: A Genre Tag for Genre-less Music. 27 October 2020
  91. ↑ Dandridge-Lemco, BenHow Hyperpop, a Small Spotify Playlist, Grew Into a Big Deal. 10 November 2020
  92. ↑ From Lil Peep To Paramore, Emo And Rap Have Been Related For Years. Kerrang!. September 5, 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2021
  93. ↑ Misery Business: How Gen-Z Rappers Are Reinventing The Emo & Pop Punk Influences Of Their Childhood. Retrieved 5 February 2021
  94. ↑ Melis, AliyaHip-Hop and TikTok Are Bringing Pop-Punk Back in a Big Way. Consequence. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2023-03-10
  95. ↑ How Machine Gun Kelly's latest album catapulted him to pop-punk fame. Evening Standard. October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021
  96. ↑ Trippie Redd, Louder and Crunchier. Hyperallergic. February 27, 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021
  97. ↑ Lil Tracy drops "Beautiful Nightmare" ahead of Anarchy. Retrieved 4 March 2021
  98. ↑ gothboiclique rapper cold hart goes pop punk. i-D. July 12, 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2021
  99. ↑ Kim Petras and Lil Aaron Go Full Mall-Goth. September 5, 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2021
  100. ↑ The 'Punk Goes Pop' Series Laid the Groundwork For Today's Dialogue Between Pop, Punk and Hip-Hop. Billboard. Retrieved 9 March 2021

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