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Internet rap
Lil B credited as "the godfather of internet rap".
Other names
  • Underground rap
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsLate 2000s,[1] Internet communities and social media platforms such as Myspace and SoundCloud
Typical instruments
Subgenres
Regional scenes
Global, notably United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Argentina
Local scenes
Other topics

Internet rap (also referred to as underground rap[3] or underground[4]) is a style of hip hop that emerged in the late 2000s, initially spreading through online social media platforms like Myspace. It encompasses various subgenres, microgenres, and aesthetics that are deeply intertwined with internet culture, memes, and digital communities. Unlike traditional hip-hop, internet rap is often primarily influenced by the internet and is born out of online communities and sites like SoundCloud. Songs are frequently promoted and shared on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Though many internet rappers achieve mainstream success, many artists within this label have been described as alternative or "underground rap." The scene was originally based primarily on trap music but later gave rise to several microgenres and internet subcultures, such as cloud rap, plugg, emo rap, phonk, mumble rap, sigilkore, digicore, and jerk.

Origins

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In the late 2000s, influential rappers like Lil Wayne and Soulja Boy were the first to embrace social media, with the latter being credited as the first rapper to have a Twitter account.[5] Wayne helped redefine hip-hop through his approach to online distribution, as his popularity grew largely from freely sharing his songs through online music videos, demonstrating to the hip hop music industry that uploading your songs on the internet could effectively build a fan base and generate profit—an idea that was unpopular at the time.[6]

Early internet rappers operated primarily on the early social media platform Myspace, which became an influential hub for the movement.[7][8][9]

By 2009, influential cloud rap pioneer Lil B[10] emerged, with his success largely linked to internet virality and an embrace of broader online trends. His popularity inspired a generation of internet-based rappers who drew influence from online spaces, movements, memes, and digital culture.[11] Rapper Metro Boomin stated on twitter: "Lil B is responsible for a lot of careers man. A true hip hop pioneer". Lil B has been credited as "the godfather of internet rap"[12] influencing artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Lil Yachty, Chief Keef, Chance the Rapper, Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, the Creator.[13]

Additionally, influential rap groups and collectives such as Odd Future,[14] Brockhampton,[15] Migos, A$AP Mob, Metro Zu, and SpaceGhostPurrp’s collective Raider Klan also proved highly influential to the development of internet rap into the 2010s.[16] Other influential figures included Danny Brown,[17] Tyler, the Creator, and Yung Lean.[18]

History

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See also: Soundcloud rap

Early 2010s

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By the early 2010s, internet rap began to amass wider audiences, with rappers drawing from Lil B, Waka Flocka Flame and Juicy J.[19][20] Other pivotal influences included Chicago's Chief Keef[21] who helped popularize and pioneer drill music, with his style significantly influencing both mainstream trap music and internet rap scenes.[18][22][23]

In 2012, Black Kray formed Goth Money Records alongside Karmah and Hunned Mill (a.k.a. Hunned Stackz). An influential record label and rap collective. Additionally, Kray's early collaborations with Working on Dying contributed to the development of tread music.[24] In 2013, Swedish rapper Yung Lean's track Ginseng Strip 2002 went viral online, influencing a new generation of internet rappers.[25][26] The Swedish internet rap collective Drain Gang, consisting of Bladee, Ecco2K, Thaiboy Digital, and Whitearmor, further influenced the development of internet rap music.[27]

Soundcloud Era (Late 2010s)

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During the mid-to-late 2010s, the music distribution site SoundCloud became a central hub for a new style and movement in online hip-hop. This era was defined by artists like XXXTentacion, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty and Playboi Carti, collectively labeled soundcloud rap. The term "mumble rap" later emerged as a pejorative to describe the off-kilter lyricism and unclear cadence and delivery of these rappers.[28]

2020s

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The early 2020s, saw the emergence of many internet rap microgenres such as sigilkore, digicore, rage, jerk, krushclub, ambient plugg, terror plugg and hexD.[29]

Modern internet rappers include Xaviersobased, Yhapojj, Nettspend, OsamaSon and 2hollis, as well as UK-based rappers YT[30], Fimiguerrero, Lancey Foux[31] and Fakemink[32] who have frequently been referred to as "underground rap".[33]

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Cloud Rap

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Main article: Cloud rap

Cloud rap is a subgenre of internet rap that emerged in the late 2000s, characterized by ethereal, ambient production and lo-fi aesthetics. It was popularized by artists like Lil B and producers such as Clams Casino.

Phonk

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Main article: Phonk

Phonk is a style of hip hop that draws heavily from 1990s Memphis rap and horrorcore, pioneered by SpaceGhostPurrp, featuring lo-fi samples, chopped and screwed vocals, and cowbells. The genre later gave birth to new microgenres like drift phonk, which were widely popularized on platforms like SoundCloud and TikTok in the late 2010s to early 2020s.

Drill

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Main article: Drill music

Drill originated in Chicago in the early 2010s, known for dark beats and violent, raw lyrics. Chief Keef is credited with popularizing the genre, which later developed scenes in the UK and New York City.

Lowend

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Main article: Lowend

Lowend is a subgenre of hip-hop that emerged primarily on the internet, focused on heavy bass, slowed-down beats, claps and ambient textures.

Plugg

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Main article: Plugg

Plugg is a subgenre of trap music that developed in the mid-2010s, noted for dreamy, minimal beats often produced with synth pads and bell sounds, emerging around 2013 as a cohesive production style of the collective called Beatpluggz including Atlanta-based producers MexikoDro and StoopidXool.[34][35] Plugg was inspired by Zaytoven,[36] Project Pat, Juicy J, Gucci Mane, the snap rap group D4L, and the Paper Mario Nintendo soundtrack.[37]

Emo Rap

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Main article: Emo rap

Emo rap combines hip hop with themes and aesthetics of emo and alternative rock, often featuring introspective lyrics about depression and heartbreak. Artists like Lil Peep and Juice WRLD helped bring it into the mainstream.

Pluggnb

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Main article: Pluggnb

Pluggnb is a fusion of plugg and contemporary R&B, combining soft melodic vocals, plugg-style instrumentation and dreamy R&B synths. It emerged in the late 2010s with artists such as Lil Shine, Izaya Tiji, Autumn!, Summrs,[38] Weiland, and Kankan[39] and the now-defunct artistic collective known as SlayWorld.[40][41]

Mumble Rap

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Main article: Mumble rap

Mumble rap is a loosely defined term for a style of hip hop marked by slurred or unclear vocal delivery. It gained traction in the mid-2010s with artists like Future, Young Thug, and Lil Uzi Vert.

Digicore

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Main article: Digicore

Digicore is a hyper-online, genre-blending form of internet rap that emerged alongside hyperpop in the late 2010s, characterized by digital vocal effects and emotionally charged, high-energy production. It was cultivated by young artists on platforms like Discord and SoundCloud.

Rage

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Main article: Rage music

Rage is an offshoot of trap music marked by aggressive synths, energetic drums, and distorted vocals. It emerged in the late 2010s, but was popularized in the early 2020s by artists like Playboi Carti and Yeat.[29]

Jerk

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Main article: Jerkin'

Jerk is a style of internet rap microgenre that emerged in the early 2020s, taking from the early 2010s wave of jerk rap, the sound was reimagined by Californian producer kashpaint and New York rapper Xaviersobased alongside his collective 1c34 into a completely different style that incorporated fast tempos, melodic synths, and off-kilter lyricism, while blending elements of cloud rap, digicore and plugg.[29]

Sigilkore

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Main article: Sigilkore

Sigilkore is a microgenre and electronic music style that started on SoundCloud in the late 2010s and combines aspects of cloud rap and trap music, contrary to its sound, derived from hyperpop.[42] Digital stereo effects and incredibly intricate DJ mixing, frequently applied in-post over recorded vocals, are often its defining characteristics. Lyrical themes in the genre revolve around dark themes,[43] including occultism,[44] blood and vampires.[43]

HexD

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Hexd is an internet rap microgenre that emerged in the late 2010s to early 2020s, characterized by heavy use of bitcrushing and distorted digital sounds. The term was coined by Hexcastcrew member Stacy Minajj, who released the DJ mix Rare RCB hexD.mp3 in late 2019, which samples and remixes songs from the influential online rap collective ReptilianClubBoyz.[45][46][29]

Krushclub

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Main article: Krushclub

Krushclub is a subgenre of sigilkore, originating in the early 2020s, mixing Jersey club elements with electronic sound qualities. Blending hyperpop and dance music, known for bitcrushed sounds, cartoonish lyrics, and video game-like energy. Popularized by artists like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Luci4, and Lumi Athena. The genre draws influence from hexD and sigilkore,reaching wider recognition on online platforms like TikTok.[29]

Ambient Plugg

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Ambient plugg is a microgenre blending plugg percussion with atmospheric textures, glitchy ad-libs, and meditative synths. Pioneered in the late 2010s by artists like wifi and Izaya Tiji, the style emphasizes mood and texture over lyricism, creating soft, surreal soundscapes. It later gained traction through collectives like Shed Theory and artists like Babyxsosa.[29]

Terror Plugg

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Terror plugg is a darker, horror-inspired take on plugg that uses distorted 808s, eerie melodies, and intense vocal delivery. It remains a niche style within online rap circles.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kathy Iandoli (21 December 2016). "The Rise of 'Mumble Rap': Did Lyricism Take a Hit in 2016?". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  2. ^ Johnson, Emily (7 May 2018). "5 Ways How Mumble Rap or Non Lyrical Rap has Influenced Urban Pop Culture". Bong Mines Entertainment. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  3. ^ "What Does 'Underground Rap' Mean Today?". Complex. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  4. ^ Dazed (28 February 2025). "9 underground artists leading the UK's rap revolution". Dazed. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Soulja Boy Responds to Lil B Saying Wiz Khalifa Was the F..." Complex. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  6. ^ Kramer, Kyle (7 November 2017). "Lil Wayne Changed the Internet Forever". VICE. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  7. ^ "The Strange Cult of Lil B". VICE (in Danish). 9 January 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Myspace Lost A Ton Of Songs And Some True Hip-Hop History". UPROXX. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  9. ^ "MySpace Played a Big Role in Hip-Hop History; Now Much of That Record Is Gone". CBC Radio. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  10. ^ "The Mysterious Figure That Is Lil B The Based God". For the Speakers. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  11. ^ Kramer, Kyle (10 January 2017). "A Year of Lil Wayne: Lil Wayne and Lil B". VICE. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  12. ^ "A Decade Of Lil B: The Godfather Of Internet Rap Remains Well Ahead Of His Time - Okayplayer". www.okayplayer.com. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  13. ^ "All Your Favorite Rappers Love Lil B". The FADER. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  14. ^ Fisher, Gus (15 June 2018). "How Odd Future Influenced The Current Rap Landscape". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Brockhampton and Danny Brown get weird in 'Buzzcut'". District Magazine. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  16. ^ Matson, Andrew (9 March 2020). "Bragging rights don't mean shit: An oral history of Raider Klan". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Danny Brown (US)". www.primaverasound.com. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Five artists that shook up hip hop in the internet age". District Magazine. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  19. ^ Garvey, Meaghan (25 February 2025). "A Rare Interview With Bladee, the Mystic Oracle of Internet Rap". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  20. ^ Soderberg, Brandon (16 May 2013). "No Trivia's Rap Songs of the Week: Vampire Weekend Prove Their Rap-Nerd Bonafides". SPIN. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  21. ^ Aku, Timmhotep (4 July 2012). "The Exploitation of Chicago's Chief Keef". The Root. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  22. ^ Soderberg, Brandon (4 January 2013). "No Trivia's Friday Five: Jay-Z and Chief Keef Beat On, Boats Against the Current". SPIN. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Chief Keef, 'Finally Rich'". Rolling Stone Australia. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  24. ^ Jackson, Reed (2 November 2015). "Meet Goth Money, the Most Positive Crew of Trillionaires on the Internet". VICE. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  25. ^ "Yung Lean Doer Is the Weirdest 16-Year-Old White Swedish Rapper You'll Hear This Week". VICE. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  26. ^ Pierre, Alphonse (10 May 2024). "Underground Rap Wouldn't Be the Same Without Black Kray". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  27. ^ "Drain gang: the Next step in the evolution of modern music?". The OSA Telegraph. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  28. ^ Iandoli, Kathy (21 December 2016). "The Rise of 'Mumble Rap': Did Lyricism Take a Hit in 2016?". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g "THE FACE's guide to the American rap underground". The Face. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  30. ^ Selenou, Serge. "YT: OI!". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  31. ^ Press-Reynolds, Kieran. "Fimiguerrero / Len / Lancey Foux: CONGLOMERATE". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  32. ^ Madden, Emma. "fakemink: "Givenchy"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  33. ^ Lindert, Hattie (14 March 2024). "The Future of Underground Rap Is Extremely Online". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  34. ^ Hara Vanna Martin. "Everything You Need To Know About Plug Music". Peacock Plume Student Media, The American University of Paris. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  35. ^ Arshan Jawid (12 June 2022). "MexikoDro on Drake Placement, Plugg, Lancey Foux, Rapping? Pluggnb (Interview)". KidsTakeOver. Arshan Jawid: "I mean, you created the plugg sound [...]" MexikoDro: "[...] I am not finna say that I created this [plugg] sound. You gotta tell people. Pluggz created this sound. [I mean] BeatPluggz: me, dashawn, StoopidXool, PoloBoyShawty and all that were doing this sound. I ain't even gonna take full credit"
  36. ^ Zainab Hasnain (9 May 2016). "ON THE BEAT: MexikoDro, the Enigmatic Atlantan Producer Redefining Trap's Sound". The Hundreds. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  37. ^ Julia R. (1 July 2021). "Plugg: From Atlanta To Paris". Future Audio Workshop. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  38. ^ Mario Sundaresan (17 March 2021). "It's 2021 and I can't stop listening to PLUGG". No Bells. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  39. ^ Mario Sundaresan; Alphonso Pierre (7 December 2021). "eoy_2021: The year plugg took over". Sparky. No Bells. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  40. ^ Brandon Callender (20 December 2021). "Popstar Benny wants to make your favorite artist get weird". The Fader. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  41. ^ Julia R. (1 July 2021). "Plugg: From Atlanta To Paris". Future Audio Workshop. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  42. ^ Reynolds, Kieran (30 April 2024). "THE FACE's guide to the American rap underground". The Face. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  43. ^ a b Orvis, Jameson (15 January 2021). "A Guide to Soundcloud's Demonic Underworld". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  44. ^ Press-Reynolds, Kieran (19 January 2024). "The Musical Age of Shitpost Modernism". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  45. ^ Press-Reynolds, Kieran (19 February 2025). "Chasing Yabujin, the Artist Who Secretly Shaped the Underground Sound of the 2020s". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  46. ^ Meyer, Tom (14 September 2020). "The Influence of Rare RCB + HexD MP3". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
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