T.I.’s 2003 record, Trap Musik was a ground-breaking moment for the budding genre, and was followed by albums by Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane, among others, that popularized and synthesized the sound of the trap genre as something recognizable. Before the mid-2000s, trapping (the act of selling and distributing drugs) was occasionally referenced in rap, but not associated specifically with any type of sound. The term “trap” actually comes from the “trap house,” basically a house that serves as a headquarters for illicit drug operations.
Producers such as Shawty Redd, Zaytoven, Lex Luger, and Drumma Boy are all partially responsible for helping the cult Southern hip-hop style gain international appeal. Trap music has evolved from its early Southern roots into a global phenomenon. In it, we go into a lot of detail on every aspect of making hip-hop beats, but today I want to focus on one small but significant part of that journey: the trap beat. + Learn the nuances of producing beats, arranging tracks, and creative sampling, drawing on the rich history and influence of hip-hop in Soundfly’s acclaimed online course, The Art of Hip-Hop Production.Īs you probably know by now, I just launched my brand new online course with Soundfly called The Art of Hip-Hop Production.
