The History of Trap Music

by Henry Adaso
Updated March 18, 2017

Chances are you've heard trap music. If you've heard any of

Future's recent hits or anything by Young Thug, you're already
familiar with trap music.
Trap music is a style of hip-hop that sprung out of the
southern rap scene in the 1990s. You'll know a trap track by
its beat--stuttering kick drums, hi-hats, 808s, and oodles of
synthesizers.
Trap took its root in Atlanta, where the likes of Ghetto Mafia
and Dungeon Family first used the term to describe their
sound.

The Definition of "Trap"

The term itself comes directly from the streets. The "trap"
typically refers to a drug house, where narcotics are cooked up
and sold. As such, trap rappers usually rap about drugs and
slinging dope. Example: Future's "Move That Dope."
The content of a trap song isn't limited to the subjects of the
trap. Trap tunes also touch on the bleak standard of living in
the hood. Trap music details observations of life in the streets.
And, of course, trap songs can also make for catchy party
tunes.

The Origin of Trap Music

Although trap first gained traction in the 1990s, it wasn't until

the early 2000s that it began to grow in mainstream culture.
As we entered the 2000s, DJs started fusing crunk music with
synths to produce the quintessential trap sound.
Trap's popularity arrived with the emergence of Young Jeezy
and T.I. The ATLiens made trap a fixture on their respective
debut albums.

In fact, T.I. titled his second album Trap Muzik.

With his debut, Jeezy showed that trap had crossover
potential. Despite his gritty lyrical content, his songs were
widely played on mainstream radio stations in the Third Coast
and beyond.

The Sound of Trap

No conversation on trap is complete without a nod to the

producers who helped innovate the sound.
Production styles vary, but a few notable trap producers are
DJ Toomp, Shawty Red, Drumma Boy and Mannie Fresh.
Following the successes of T.I. and Young Jeezy, the two
stalwarts of trap, new artists started to take notice. Over the
years, more rappers have started exploring the sound. One
notable player was producer Lex Luger. In the 2010s, Luger
produced a number of trap hits for Rick Ross ("B.M.F.") and
Waka Flocka Flame ("Hard in da Paint").

Trap Music Today

Trap has maintained a strong presence in hip-hop since it

exploded onto the mainstream in 2009. Today, the likes of
Future, Young Thug and Drake (to a lesser degree) keep the
trap flag flying high.
In 2015, newcomer Fetty Wap conquered the charts with a
trap hit single "Trap Queen." Produced by Tony Fadd of RGF
Productions, "Trap Queen" peaked at No.2 on the Billboard
Hot 100 Chart. Fetty Wap followed up with "My Way," which
also reached the Top 20 on Billboard.
It's a testament to trap's staying power that more mainstream
artists are adopting the sound. In 2015, Drake joined Future
on the collaborative effort . The project allowed Drake to fully
explore his trap side over the course of an entire album.
Incidentally, trap's ascension coincided with the decline of its
cousin crunk music.

Key Trap Rappers

Future
Young Jeezy
T.I.
Yong Thug
Gucci Mane
Waka Flocka Flame
Chief Keef