Who Invented Trap Music?

↓ More info below ↓

Gucci Mane and T.I. both claim to be the creators of trap music, but are they really trap music originators?

Hi-hats. That blazing fast sound is everywhere—pop, reggaeton, country—and hi-hats are essential in trap music. Where exactly did trap music come from and how did it become a part of so many other musical styles? Hosts LA Buckner and Nahre Sol explore the genre's roots and make their own original beat inspired by the trap sound.

What Makes a Song Sad?

How James Brown Invented Funk

Nahre's Soundbank

[UnknwnFL]

Trap Sound was invented by the producers not by the rappers

[r_money]

The legends always go without being recognized... Three 6 Mafia

[walt]

I love the format. Although it is kinda blasphemous to mention the origins of the modern Trap sound and not mention Three 6 Mafia.

[mavhunter]

It's a shame the producers that start this don't get the credit the deserve...

[SoundFieldPBS]

Shout out to Zaytoven another innovator of the trap sound. We didn't have enough time to talk about him in our video, but he produced tracks like the Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy hit, Icy in 2005!

[roberttrammel]

It was 36 mafia. Grew up in Memphis, this was the sound in the mid 90s. They even made an oscar winning movie about it before it was popular.

[doctorsorder]

Three Six Discussion over! I have all the tapes. DJ Paul started the groove and it's used today.

[TonyMontana-mvez]

Shout out to PBS talking about young black males in a good way. I would never think in a million years PBS would be talking about trap music.

[davidshi]

I love seeing you guys compose music as a way to explain the genre! Taking that extra step is what makes you stand out from other YT channels

Trap music was heavily influenced from Memphis Rap and generally from memphis area.

[mrnutterbutterdude]

trap is really dat memphis sound. Three 6 Mafia

[jimmydakid]

The term came from Atlanta but alot if the musical style came from and was influenced by Memphis artists of the 1990s

[IsaiahSugar]

The feeling when the 808 bass is so low you can't hear it on your speakers.


D:

[davidramirez]

Yooo PBS is dope af. No matter the content, news, history, PBS has always had my best interest in mind.

[GDem]

Man, the people you have for your videos are the icing on the cake and I love how much background you two give. This is a real music lesson!

[kevinyoung]

Producers back then used to have tags too like David Banner. Rappers also shouted out a lot of producers in the early 2000s. I believe names like Mike Will and Metro became famous because of how catchy their tags were and/ or how their beats set them apart from others

[AboveTheNoise]

Loving this channel! A perfect mix of nerdy information and dope creativity. Love that you show how technology, geography, culture and musical evolution intersect to make trap music what it is. Keep it UP!

[BCam]

Really started in Memphis but only the Real know that

[MistaTamilan]

Even though the word trap was invented and used by artist in ATL in the mid 90s, but I think the sound was founded in Memphis. They used a bpm of around 100-150 and the drums on their TRs was playing in half time for the bounce with those dirty hi hat rolls. The low quality tape sound actually made the 808s sound distorted despite it coming directly from the sequencer. However this is the main reason why you can't deny they originated the sound: The triplet flow was their sound since 1991. (the flow that most contemporaries are mumbling such as Migos)
Some notable artist that have that sound is Triple 6 Mafia (now Three 6 Mafia), Tommy Wright III, and Dj Zirk.
But can't deny the fact ATL and other southern rappers have shaped the sound of what we hear across the globe. Hell, I even heard Indian songs influenced by it.

[Madyetmellow]

TR-808 a legendary drum machine. Used in everything from hip hop, pop, dance to R&B ❤️