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What musical characteristics are common in trap music?
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hip-hop
American rap group Public Enemy, 1988.
Trap music is a subgenre of rap characterized by several distinct musical elements that emerged from the Southern hip-hop scene.12
Key musical characteristics include:
- Heavy Bass and 808s: The genre is defined by heavy bass and booming sub-bass lines, commonly referred to as "808s" after the Roland TR-808 drum machine.12
- Complex Drum Patterns: Trap features intricate drum patterns that incorporate rapid hi-hats and rhythmic snare hits.12
- Triplet Rhythms: The music often utilizes triplet rhythms, which consist of three notes played to a single beat. Performers frequently mirror this in their vocal delivery by using triplet flows with syllables in their verses.2
- Genre Fusion: Trap incorporates elements of electronic dance music and has evolved into various offshoots that blend with genres such as reggaeton, K-pop, soul, and country music.12