SoundCloud rap

SoundCloud rap

Through SoundCloud, a sub-genre of rap was created. Artists such as SpaceGhostPurpp, Lil Pump, XXXTentacion, Juice Wrld, Lil Skies, Nav, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Trippie Redd, Tay-K, Pop Smoke, 6ix9ine, Lil Xan, Lil Yachty, Ski Mask the Slump God, Lil Tjay, Smokepurpp, Suicideboys, Lil Peep, PlayThatBoiZay, Famous Dex, and Denzel Curry originated from SoundCloud and have since risen to the Billboard top charts. The sound created was different from the mainstream, featuring a grittier and darker sound that results from a lack of production. SoundCloud rap is a lo-fi, melody driven, distorted sound with lyrics that usually focus on repetition and less on content. The SoundCloud artists themselves are known to have exaggerated appearances that include bright colored hair and face tattoos. Smokepurpp, a SoundCloud artist, explained in a Rolling Stone article how the first songs he created and put on the platform were recorded using a simple headphone microphone. The DIY nature of SoundCloud made it so millions of artists were able to put out their work without any studio equipment usually needed to make music. The freedom to upload on the platform allows for many SoundCloud rappers to post tracks impulsively or post many tracks at a time. For example, Lil Uzi Vert was known to upload songs to SoundCloud impulsively, usually without telling anyone except their security and close friends. The imperfect sound created by these SoundCloud rappers has contributed to their growing popularity and the creation of a rap sub-genre.