03 Mar,2017

A Classic Guide to Understanding Hip Hop and Rap Subgenres

Music with all its different genres and sub-genres is diverse. With social media dominance on every field, music isn’t left behind! There is an online-networking site dedicated to music and its lovers, known as Soundcloud. Here, many popular DJs, music producers, composers, famous singers and amateur artists share their music with worldwide fans.

On soundcloud, there are many artists who are into hip hop and rap music. Since 1980’s, hip hop and rap has attained lot of popularity. The rhythmic and rhyming speech in the songs have a long-lasting influence on fans. Hip hop and rap are synonymous with each other, although hip hop refers to complex music culture of B-boying, graf writing, rapping and deejaying, while rapping is mostly rhythmic chanting.


There are artists who record music of hip hop and rap sub-genres. However, promoting that music is tough due to the ongoing web competition. But, soundcloud promotion from Music Promotion Club ensures that the hip hop and rap artists become famous across the globe.

Mostly, all of us know what exactly is hip hop and rap, but only a handful of people understand the sub-genres, styles and flows. Each hip hop and rap sub-genre has different name, and to call yourself a true hip hop and rap fan, you must know about all of them.

The Guide to Hip Hop and Rap Sub-genres:

Hip hop and rap is a diverse music celebration. So, it is important to know all about the hip hop sub sub-genres to call yourself a hip hop and rap fan.
  1. Alternative Hip Hop: The rappers of this sub-genre doesn’t follow a systematic style or boundaries. The artists are not concerned about dance moves or pop hooks. The aim is to push the structure and explore all unique concepts.

  2. Battle Rap: It is a style that blends hip hop music with the arrogant behavior of the artists for lyrical dominance. The experienced battle rappers focus on swanky lines and boastful rhymes about their success and accomplishments. It is coupled with verbal abuse (directly/indirectly) hurled towards others.

  3. Conscious Rap: This style of rap is supported by the idea that comprehensive social alterations comes via societal awareness, personal discovery and knowledge of self. The conscious rappers commit most of their rhymes criticizing social issues and promoting optimism. This sub-genre of rap is a controversial category and not all rapper likes to be associated with it.

  4. Crunk: In the 1990s, Crunk begin as a sub-genre of southern hip hop. The movement was headed by Producer Lil Jon and it highly credited for it. Crunk comprises of a chaotic introduction of highly energetic chants and club beats.

  5. East Coast Hip Hop: Originated in the streets of New York, USA, a dizzying mess of styles is the force of this particular style. From the street to becoming a popularized version of hip hop – East Coast Hip Hop have come away.

  6. Gangsta Rap: Gangsta rap concentrates around trunk-heavy beats and aggressive lyrics. Since the early 1990s, this sub-genre was hugely accepted. However, from time-to-time, it has come under a lot of fire for violent and misogynistic themes.

  7. Hyphy: This sub-form is considerably new and imported from west coast. It includes a high energy and up-tempo style. Hyphy is represented by rugged beats and witty lyrics. It was accounted as a branch of Crunk. However, with time it has enjoyed significant amount of success.

  8. Snap: The smooth poly-rhythms of Snap is traditionally accompanied by finger snaps (origin of the name) and casual whistling to create the distinctive melody. This style gradually spread far and wide but it quickly fizzled out almost as soon as it became popular.

  9. Southern Rap: Southern rap is heavily relied on direct lyrics and euphoric production. With some exceptions, this sub-genre is well-defined for its insults and sound than the lyrics. Most rappers incorporate unique lingos, nightlife, fashion and culture in their lyrics to make the songs stylish.

  10. Trap Music: In the 1990s, this style of hip hop jumped out of the southern rap scene. A trap track can be identified easily by the sounds of synthesizers, 808s, hi-hats and the beats of stuttering kick-drums.
Hip Hop and Rap music is widely accepted now and is getting more recognition and credit as an art form, than just a fading fad.