As hip-hop celebrates 50 years of musical and cultural history, GRAMMY.com is exploring the genre’s influence and international reach through the decades. Much of its success and longevity is a credit to established acts who have broken geographical barriers. Meanwhile, contemporary supernovas have driven rap forward in recent years.
Their transcendent powers have allowed hip-hop to be as cross-cultural as ever before, with the genre trickling into other musical landscapes such as reggaeton, Afrobeats, dancehall, Afro-swing, and countless others. While artists Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Lil Uzi Vert, and Future have held down the domestic fort, exports like Drake, Central Cee, and others are drawing eyes and massive crowds across country lines.
By establishing their influences, these artists have also added to the assemblage of subgenres within rap. One example is the evolution of trap and drill music, and the recent insertion of reggaeton and afro beats into the larger hip-hop sphere. Many of them have led to industry-rattling hits and GRAMMY wins, but one can’t ignore how hip-hop’s other forms have contributed to its increasingly widespread appeal.
While there’s no limit on rap’s expansion, here’s a look at some of the most diverse and uniquely creative subgenres that have spawned from hip-hop’s roots.
Boom Bap
Artists: Dave East, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson
With a snapping drum and snare bass, boom bap became the backdrop of hip-hop’s golden age during the 1980s and early 1990s. The sound was exemplified by now-legendary artists like LL Cool J, Nas, the Notorious B.I.G., and groups like Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Mobb Deep, who were at the center of New York’s supremacy during that period.
After peaking in the late 1990s, boom bap had a resurgence during the early 2010s with the rise of Tri-State talents Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Dave East, and Bishop Nehru, who offered a more nuanced take on 1990s East Coast sound.
Gangsta Rap
Tales of street life are rooted in hip-hop, as it’s long reflected the reality many artists endure along their journey to stardom. With the emergence of gangsta rap in the late 1980s, the subgenre became their canvas.
Established by Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D and Ice-T, gangsta rap soon grew in popularity with legendary Southern California acts like N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and others taking the helm in the 1980s and 90s. In time, gangsta rap spread across rap’s various regions and later inspired drill and trap music.
Trap
Artists: Young Thug, Future, 21 Savage
Among all of hip-hop’s subgenres, trap remains arguably one the most popular and widespread sounds. It started as an off-shoot of gangsta rap in the early 1990s with the emergence of Southern acts like UGK, Goodie Mob, and Three 6 Mafia, but pioneers like Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and T.I. elevated the once niche sound to the mainstream.
Characterized by rattling hi-hats, hard-hitting kicks and tales of street life, trap is the sound of Billboard-topping hits by the likes of Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, and others.
Jersey Club
Artists: UNIIQU3, Bandmanrill, Cookie Kawaii
Originally called Brick City Club, this style of electronic club music was crafted in Newark, New Jersey by DJ Tamiel. Like Baltimore Club music, it fuses house and hip-hop at a frenetic pace. The subgenres are differentiated by tempo, with Jersey club beats reaching speeds of 150 BPM compared to Baltimore’s 130 BPM.
The subgenre took a turn in the mid-2000s, with artist Chad B becoming one of the first rappers to rhyme over Jersey club beats. The relatively new subgenre continues to gain momentum with artists Bandmanrill and Cookie Kawaii producing viral TikTok hits like "Heartbroken" and "Vibe (If I Back It Up)."
Rap Rock
Artists: Lil Yachty, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne
It’s easy to see why rappers are considered modern rock stars — with the electrifying performances and rowdy fanbases and all — and the rap rock subgenre hasn’t trailed too far behind. Artists Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Kid Cudi, and Lil Yachty have all layered their voices over thunderous, guitar-ridden beats to explore the boundless nature of rock music.
But before these artists dove into the punk world, pioneers like Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and producer Rick Rubin were the innovators of the rap rock movement. While it hasn’t led to Billboard hits or GRAMMY wins in recent years, it remains a point of sonic exploratio for the genre’s biggest stars.
Pop Rap
Artists: Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Pitbull
While gangsta rap and trap have long dominated hip-hop, pop rap artists Nicki Minaj, Pitbull, Flo Rida, and others have contributed to the genre’s expansion on a global scale. The elements of pop rap have seen many iterations over the years, with early adopters like Ja Rule and Nelly fusing melody-driven tunes with gritty lyrics in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The subgenre is often criticized by hip-hop purists, but it’s gained considerable popularity as artists Drake, Coi Leray, Doja Cat, Wiz Khalifa, and others have endeared crowds across different genres.
Hyphy
Artists: E-40, Too-$hort, Keek Da Sneak, Mistah F.A.B.
The word "hyphy" is slang for "hyperactive," and rapper Keak Da Sneak is known for coining the term and helping shape the distinctly East Oakland sound. The hyphy movement is synonymous with the San Francisco Bay Area, where artists such as E-40, Mac Dre, Mistah F.A.B. and others created party music with pounding, fast-paced beats and lyrics often centered on partying and drug use.
The subgenre amassed mainstream success in the mid 2000s with E-40’s "Tell Me When To Go," which drew millions of hip-hop fans to the once regional sound. After the buzz faded toward the back half of the 2000s, the hyphy movement had a resurgence in the mid-2010s, with artists like Drake, YG, Mustard and others borrowing the energy-fueled sound on street hits like "Who Do You Love?" and "Why You Always Hatin?" Contemporary rap stars and Bay Area ambassadors like Larry June, P-Lo, Kamaiyah and others continue to breathe new life into hyphy culture.
Pimp Rap
Artists: Suga Free, Three 6 Mafia, UGK
The influences of pimp rap can be traced back to the popular blaxploitation films of the 1970s and the graphic depictions from ex-pimp and author Iceberg Slim. Naturally, the visual representation and narrative elements of the pimp lifestyle made its insertion into a wide variety of rap styles.
Among the most influential artists includes Ice-T, Slick Rick, Suga Free, who cascaded to popularity with the songs "Why U Bull—in’?" and "I’d Rather Give You My Bitch" in the late 1990s. And groups Three 6 Mafia and UGK were also massive influencers of pimp rap, with their playalistic and womanizing-inspired hits like "It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp" and "Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" adding to the subgenre.
G-Funk
Artists: Payroll Giovanni, Larry June, Jay Worthy
What To Know: Along with elevating talents like Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and other mainstream acts, Dr. Dre is often cited as the father of the G-funk sound. G-Funk incorporates rap and funk music of the 1970s, especially that of the Goerge Clinton-led band Parliament-Funkadelic, which Dr. Dre established with 1992’s The Chronic.
While far less popular compared to its earlier form, elements of the F-funk sound have been adopted by artists like Detroit rapper Payroll Giovanni, Larry June and Jay Worthy.
Drill
Artists: Chief Keef, G Herbo, Polo G
A mix of trap music and gangsta rap, drill emerged in Chicago in the early 2010s under artists Chief Keef, Fredo Santana, Lil Reese, G Herbo, and others. The subgenre is known for its explicit, nihilistic lyrics and untamed aggression, which can be found in the early releases of Keef and company. And while Chicago drill’s momentum subsided in the mid-2010s, a renewed Lil Durk and Polo G have helped restore its luster.
Since elevating to the mainstream in 2012, drill’s influence made its way across state and international borders. Artists Fivio Foreign, Sheff G, and the late Pop Smoke established Brooklyn drill in the late 2010s, while UK drill has been headed by stars Central Cee, Digga D, Dave, and others.
Horrorcore
Artists: Eminem, Tech N9ne, Insane Clown Posse
Horrorcore delves into violent and graphic themes like death, satanism, and cannibalism. Think death metal, but with a moody hip-hop beat overlaying the dark and often grotesque lyrics. Horrorcore records are often inspired by slasher films, and some of the most notable artists that explored the subgenre are Tech N9ne, Eminem, Mars, and Detroit-bred duo Insane Clown Posse.