Emo rap

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Emo rap
Other names
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsMid-2010s, United States
Typical instruments
Derivative formsHyperpop[6]
Other topics

Emo rap is a

SoundCloud rap scene in the mid-2010s,[8] the genre fuses characteristics of hip hop music, such as beats and rapping, with the lyrical themes, instrumentals, and vocals commonly found in emo music. Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and Juice Wrld are some of the most notable musicians in the genre.[9]

Characteristics

Emo rapper Lil Peep

Publications have described emo rap as taking influence from

pop punk,[12] nu metal,[10] indie rock,[7] 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,

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.[3][27][28]

History

1990s to early 2010s: Precursors

Prior to emo rap solidifying itself as a genre, the term was applied by critics to rappers such as

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 pop band Weezer in 2009, on the song "Can't Stop Partying" off of the band’s album Raditude.[12] Also 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 and member of the Sad Boys collective, Yung Lean, released "Ginseng Strip 2002" and the highly influential mixtape Unknown Death 2002, which publications such as the Guardian and Recording Arts Canada have regarded as cementing Yung Lean as the "father of emo rap".[42][43][44]

Mid 2010s to present: Popularity and deaths

Emo rap was pioneered by

sellout, due to the streaming service's ability to monetize.[54]

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]

Emo rappers XXXTentacion (left) and Juice Wrld (right) were leading figures in the genre.[63]
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

Juice WRLD died after suffering a seizure, induced by an overdose of oxycodone and codeine.[72] 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.[73]

In 2018,

pop punk and rap as 2020's "commercial juggernaut".[86] 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.[87]

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,[88] Ariana Grande,[89] and Miley Cyrus.[90]

Emo rap, along with styles like cloud rap, trap, dubstep, trance, chiptune and pop music were influential on the development of the hyperpop genre.[91] The genre gained mainstream attention in the late-2010s and early-2020s through artists such as 100 gecs, Charli XCX, and Dorian Electra.[92]

The genre also brought about a revived interest in pop punk in the mainstream.

Cold Hart,[99] Lil Aaron,[100] and 24kGoldn[101]
also began releasing pop punk albums and songs.

See also

References

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