The Rise of Emo-Rap

Juice WRLD, Post Malone, XXXTENTACION, Lil Uzi Vert - you’ve probably seen these names before in chart topping singles and albums, but what’s even more interesting than their obscure names is their genre, in what is defined as “Emo Rap.” 

Origin Story

With those four and many many others being the heavy hitters in the genre, Emo Rap has been on a steady rise in the last decade or so and has finally bleed into the mainstream with songs like “SAD!” and “Lucid Dreams” stealing top spots from traditional pop songs. Emo Rap, however, is not all that new as it began to gain traction in the 2000’s with artists like Kid Cudi and Drake whom laced their songs with emotional and heartfelt lyrics that made their music different from their contemporaries. While still being hotly, debated, Emo Rap is typically seen as its own genre rather than a rub genre of Rap/Hip-Hop. Often infusing sad emotions by covering topics such as depression, anxiety, drug abuse, self-medication, heartbreak and loneliness and lacing them over catchy rap/trap instrumentals. With influences from pop punk and punk rock (and even ear piercing screamo), the vocal delivery varies depending on the artist; however, where they intersect is in their subject matter and emotion. 

The Rise

The late Lil Peep has been commonly noted as one of its pioneers for having brought a great deal of mainstream attention to the genre with singles from his 2017 album “Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1,” such as “Awful Things” and “Save That Sh*t.” In that same year of his debut album, Peep passed away from alleged overdosing and began to raise awareness of mental illness and its affect on artists in the spotlight. His passing hit hard with Emo Rap followers as mental illness is a common issue and topic for the genre, and many artists in the industry started to highlight the negative effects of these issues. In that same year, the controversial XXXTENTACION released his debut album “17,” followed by “?” in 2018, both received as highly pivotal to the catapulting of Emo Rap into the mainstream. Eventually, the trend caught the attention of millions of listeners and more and more artists began emerging from the genre, such as Juice WRLD who made his presence in 2018 as a dominant force to be reckoned with in the music industry with instant hits like “All Girls Are The Same.”

Emo Rap in 2019

In 2019, Emo Rap truly took over the music scene with the genre leaders dropping new projects such as Juice WRLD’s “Death Race for Love” and Post Malone’s emotive “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” both fully embracing the emo vibe of the 2000s. This rise shows no signs of stopping with artists constantly blowing up such as Chicago's Jumex, Texas' Iann Dior, Hamilton's Jay Portal and Ottawa's KAM (a DARKK MOON rising). But if you're on the search for today's heavy hitters, then check out Juice WRLD, Post Malone, Lil Peep, XXXTENTACION, Lil Uzi Vert, Trippy Red, and Lil Skies.

Have a Listen

Interested in checking out some more rising underground Emo Rap artists? Check out these playlists on Spotify.

Tear Drop

Emo Rap