The History of Trap

Trap did not start on the charts. It started on Atlanta's toughest streets, in the houses the slang named, with stark stories nobody else was telling over booming 808s and dark, sinister melodies. Then it took over everything. The History of Trap is Volume 6 of The History of Hip Hop — the focused, no-filler deep dive into the sound that reinvented hip hop down South and then conquered global pop culture.

Eric Reese charts trap's underground rise and explosive breakout, from gritty Atlanta beginnings to the clubs, charts and runways of the world. Short, sharp and built for fans who want the real story, this volume breaks down the formula, the pioneers and the takeover.

Inside this volume:

• Atlanta origins — pioneers mixing candid street stories with aggressive beats and a brand-new sound

• The innovators — T.I., who named the genre with Trap Muzik in 2003, plus Gucci Mane and Three 6 Mafia amplifying the sound

• The producers — DJ Toomp, Shawty Redd and Zaytoven building the blueprint, and Lex Luger pushing it into a new era

• The formula — booming 808s, rolling hi-hats, sinister synth melodies and lyrics that reflect life on America's toughest streets

• The takeover — Future, Migos and Young Thug taking trap worldwide, from niche Southern rap to global phenomenon

• Beyond the music — trap fashion and culture influencing far more than the charts, and the social commentary running through the lyrics

From the streets of Atlanta to running the charts and clubs, this is the story of hip hop's most irresistible sound — told straight, in one tight volume.

The History of Hip Hop — the complete series:

Volume 1 — Origins

Volume 2 — The 80s Golden Era

Volume 3 — Rhythms of Resistance: 90s Hip-Hop

Volume 4 — Beats of the New Millennium

Volume 5 — 2011–2020

Volume 6 — Trap

Volume 7 — Worldwide

Volume 8 — The Quiz Book

Start anywhere. Finish the series.

Topics: hip hop, rap, music history, African American culture, urban culture, music biography, music education, cultural studies, hip hop culture, rap artists, music industry, Black history, music evolution, urban music, musical genres, hip hop origins, rap legends, music analysis, cultural movements, music reference, music appreciation, contemporary music history, musical influence, social commentary, music and society, entertainment history, performing arts

Readers of: Jeff Chang, Dan Charnas, Nelson George, Tricia Rose, Jay-Z, Questlove, Shea Serrano, Bakari Kitwana, S. Craig Watkins, Mark Anthony Neal, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Hanif Abdurraqib, Touré, Danyel Smith, Erica K. Blount, Michael Eric Dyson, Nikki D. Giovanni, Joan Morgan, Adam Bradley, Rakim, Chuck D, KRS-One, Kendrick Lamar, Ice-T, Russell Simmons, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Danyel Smith, Kathy Iandoli, Marcus Reeves, Brian Coleman, Vikki Tobak