Do you want to make it big on SoundCloud? Even if the site’s major rap era is over, it’s still a great way of getting more listeners. This could even help you earn a major record deal. But what is a SoundCloud rapper’s style? How does it differ from mainstream rap? Find out in this guide!
What Is a SoundCloud Rapper? Defining the Genre
As the name suggests, these are rap artists who came to prominence via SoundCloud. This site has, in many ways, transformed the whole music landscape. But it’s the platform’s impact on rap that’s had the furthest-reaching effects.
SoundCloud is perhaps the digital age’s answer to the mixtape era. The site acts as a space for up-and-coming artists to share their songs. These artists are usually quite different from the music industry’s biggest rappers. However, this is part of what makes them so popular.
There’s a lot that separates these rappers from their mainstream counterparts. In fact, there’s a schism of sorts in the industry about their conflicting styles. Many big-name artists even dubbed their genre as “mumble rap.”
These rappers are quite controversial in the hip-hop scene. However, their legacy and impact on the industry is undeniable.
The Characteristics of SoundCloud’s Rap Songs
Anyone rapping on SoundCloud is technically a SoundCloud rapper. However, the site’s rap has effectively become its own subgenre. This is because of the new styles and aesthetics that their users created. Here’s what makes SoundCloud rap so unique:
- Lo-fi production: Many SoundCloud raps have generally low sound quality. Several of the recordings don’t use professional mics. This gives the songs a more gritty style.
- Do-it-yourself style: These rappers often share their tracks on free SoundCloud profiles without record labels. They even take care of song promotion on their own channels.
- Use of autotune: For many years, autotune was a sign of somebody who couldn’t really sing. SoundCloud rappers instead use this stylistically to make songs more raw.
- Short tracks: Many SoundCloud rappers only upload short songs that are about two minutes in length. This is possibly because free accounts can only upload three hours of music.
- Punk/emo influence: The site’s rap draws a lot from other genres. Some tracks have screaming vocals, for example. They mix these with traditional hip-hop flows.
- Vulnerability: On a more lyrical level, these songs deal with emotional vulnerability and mental health struggles. This sharply contrasts with most mainstream rap songs.
- New aesthetics: SoundCloud rappers codified a new rap aesthetic. Many of them have face tattoos and bright hair. Lil Pump’s neon dreads are a shining example of this.
- Rejection of norms: These rappers are proud to be different on every level. They don’t sand away their music’s rougher edges — they instead celebrate them.
SoundCloud vs. Mainstream Rap
There’s quite a divide between SoundCloud and the overall hip-hop scene. Eminem, Pete Rock, J. Cole, and other rappers have criticized the genre’s unclear lyrics. This is why people, usually mockingly, call it “mumble rap,” though it still has its defenders.
These songs often focus on catchy melodies or hooks rather than complex wordplay. This could be due to their influences from other genres. Many oldheads love rap with a poetic flow, but not every SoundCloud rapper makes that kind of music.
This grittier side to rap is a lot less conventional. The use of autotune, as well as other electronic sounds, is just one part of this. Mainstream rap is much more polished, with professional sound mixing and engineering. This makes it higher-quality but a lot less raw.
Tonally, SoundCloud’s rappers deal more with personal struggles. Both sides of the art form talk about social issues. But the mainstream side is a lot more “lavish” in nature. When it talks about violence, it’s usually a boast. SC rap is more about sharing what they’ve been through.
Why Rappers Choose SoundCloud
Most new rappers don’t have a way of getting in touch with big music labels. SoundCloud might be their best bit for reaching a national audience. Any young rap prodigy is sure to turn to a site like SoundCloud until their big break.
The site is easy to use; people can simply upload a track from their device. They’ll then give it a genre, description, and hashtags. With the right SoundCloud SEO tricks, artists can get the right people to listen to their songs.
SoundCloud’s open, independent nature makes it easy for rappers to experiment. For example, they can upload remixes of their own tracks and write the lyrics for themselves. They don’t have to worry about what plays well on the radio.
Ultimately, it’s a space for artists to embrace their music’s edges. They don’t need professional, or even any, equipment. They can still get big on the strength of the songs themselves. With the growth of social media, sharing home-grown tracks is also easier than ever.
5 of SoundCloud’s Biggest Rappers
Dozens of today’s biggest rap names had their start on SoundCloud. The platform offered a way for young artists with few opportunities to still make it big. Here are just five of the site’s greatest rap success stories.
Denzel Curry
Denzel Curry’s tribute to SpaceGhostPurrp made him a star of the Florida hip-hop scene at only 16. One year later, he released his first single, Dark & Violent, on SoundCloud. After over twelve years of acclaim, he still posts his latest releases on the platform.
Lil Peep
Lil Peep’s career began with him making SoundCloud tracks as Trap Goose in 2013. His music was among the first to show how experimental the site’s rappers were, genre-wise. He blended emo and pop punk into his raps and often talked about his depression.
Lil Pump
Lil Pump first gained major attention in 2016 through SoundCloud. His first tracks quickly earned over three million plays each. His 2017 singles (D Rose and Boss) would gain 70 million total streams. Their popularity led to him signing with Warner Records while still 16.
Lil Uzi Vert
Uzi released their first EP in 2014 and signed with Atlantic Records in 2015. In the years since they’ve still released a number of projects exclusively (or originally) on SoundCloud. Uzi’s major influences include rock and punk music; they also embrace androgynous fashion.
Ski Mask
Also known as the Slump God, this rapper uploaded his first songs to SoundCloud in 2014. The site was his main platform for uploading music for years. As of 2024, he now has five million Insta followers. On SoundCloud, he has 1.46 million fans.
Is the SoundCloud Rap Era Over?
People are still uploading rap music to SoundCloud every day. This includes more traditional rap beats and the site’s homegrown subgenre. But the landscape today is very different from how it used to be.
In fact, many major publications seem to agree that the platform’s rap era is over. The New York Times described it as reaching a “tragic end” in early 2020. There are several factors to account for here. For example, the death of numerous leading SC rap figures by this point.
By 2020, this included Juice WRLD, Lil Peep, and XXXTentacion. The latter, in particular, was an incredibly influential SoundCloud rapper. In fact, XXXTentacion’s estate posthumously released his final tracks on the platform in 2021.
It’s undeniable that SoundCloud rappers now face an uphill battle. They can still secure a record deal or underground fame via the site. However, with the site’s rap boom over, this could be a lot more difficult.
Is the SoundCloud Rap Era Over?
People are still uploading rap music to SoundCloud every day. This includes more traditional rap beats and the site’s homegrown subgenre. But the landscape today is very different from how it used to be.
In fact, many major publications seem to agree that the platform’s rap era is over. The New York Times described it as reaching a “tragic end” in early 2020. There are several factors to account for here. For example, the death of numerous leading SC rap figures by this point.
By 2020, this included Juice WRLD, Lil Peep, and XXXTentacion. The latter, in particular, was an incredibly influential SoundCloud rapper. In fact, XXXTentacion’s estate posthumously released his final tracks on the platform in 2021.
It’s undeniable that SoundCloud rappers now face an uphill battle. They can still secure a record deal or underground fame via the site. However, with the site’s rap boom over, this could be a lot more difficult.
The Aesthetics of a SoundCloud Rapper
Every big SoundCloud rapper has a unique style. But there are some common threads that can teach us a lot about the genre.
In terms of how they look, these rappers are quite rebellious. Tattoos and eccentric styles aren’t new in rap. In fact, some mainstream rappers (including Lil Wayne and Post Malone) have them on their faces. But, by and large, these artists take it to the next level.
For example, Lil Peep had quite a few face tattoos. This included a broken heart under his eye, alongside the word “Crybaby” on his forehead. The actual choice of tattoos here shows just how raw and vulnerable his music was.
Colorful hair was another major marker of SoundCloud’s hip-hop scene. Lil Pump had neon pink and purple dreads, and 6ix9ine was notorious for his rainbow-colored hair. Some of these artists also experimented with genderfluid or androgynous clothing styles.
Ultimately, this movement was (and still is) all about rebellion. This paired well with their overall “DIY” ethos. So much of their style reflects their lo-fi, unfiltered sound.
SoundCloud’s Biggest Rap Songs
It’s impossible to list every SoundCloud song that influenced the site’s rap movement. But there are some standouts that are impossible to ignore. Here are eight of SoundCloud’s greatest rap songs:
- Trap Queen (Fetty Wap, 2014): This song was perhaps the site’s first major rap hit. The song’s runaway online success changed how labels scout for music to this day.
- 1 Night (Lil Yachty, 2015): A cornerstone of bubblegum trap, “1 Night” was controversial at the time. It pioneered techniques that other SC rappers now take for granted.
- Look At Me! (XXXTentacion, 2015): This song brought emo rap to SC’s hip-hop scene. In 2017, it became a sleeper hit, going Platinum by August of that year.
- Money Longer (Lil Uzi Vert, 2016): Uzi’s breakout single brought synths into the scene. It became an instant hit on SoundCloud and Musical.ly, the precursor to TikTok.
- Love Scars (Trippie Redd, 2017): “Love Scars” samples video game music and paints a picture of chaotic love. With this, Redd is reaching SC rap’s more emotional side.
- Poppin (Rico Nasty, 2017): “Poppin” mixes rap with pop-punk to build an iconic clash of styles. This helps her stand out in a scene that’s sadly still quite male-dominated.
- Lucid Dreams (Juice WRLD, 2018): This song is a rare breakout from the movement’s twilight years. When listening, it’s easy to forget that he made this in his bedroom.
- Ransom (Lil Tecca, 2019): Despite being a late-game entry, “Ransom” was soon a club classic. Tecca’s growth in the years since shows success is still possible on SC.
Do SoundCloud Rappers Get Paid?
The goal of any SC rapper is to get a deal. While the independence of uploading to SoundCloud is freeing, they’re still hoping to make it big. This means, in an ideal scenario, they’ll be signing a record deal that changes their livelihood forever.
Until this point, however, they can still earn the site’s royalties. The way this works has changed a lot over the years. SoundCloud Premier used to be the main way for artists to make money on the platform. This utilized the track’s unique recording code across several platforms.
Now, however, rappers with a Next Pro subscription rely on SoundCloud for Artists. This makes use of fan-powered royalties. SoundCloud used to put all the money it made into a pool, which it then distributed between artists. Now, artists make exactly what they earn from plays.
Next Pro accounts can also view more information about followers and listeners. This lets them appeal more directly to their fans, possibly earning more money in the process.
How SoundCloud Rappers Influenced Mainstream Music
Some of SoundCloud’s biggest names are now world-famous. This means there’s been a major shift in mainstream hip-hop. Here are some of the ways it’s changed the scene:
- Artist discovery: Scouts and labels now look much more closely at online platforms and viral songs. This shows them the diamonds in the rough who are worth signing.
- More raw style: Even with a more professional approach, this subgenre’s lo-fi sound still remains. This is a deliberate choice — one which makes the songs more gritty.
- Vulnerability: More rap artists are opening up and even talking about their struggles. At the same time, we’re seeing massive changes in how we discuss mental health.
- Emotion over lyricism: Similarly, these songs are less concerned with lyrical content or complex wordplay. The “mood” of a track can be enough to tell the whole story.
- Short songs: SoundCloud artists usually share songs that are around two minutes in length. As more plays often means more money, this carries over to their major releases.
- Fashion choices: The edgy, neon style of many SoundCloud rappers is more common today. Even beyond rap, artists such as Billie Eilish are adopting similar looks.
- Autotune: More artists are seeing how autotune can offer their track a certain mood. It’s no longer a sign of poor vocals in hip-hop, pop, or virtually any music genre.
- Social media: SoundCloud artists used meme culture and viral trends to grow quickly. In today’s rap scene, this is now an even bigger cornerstone of self-promotion.
SoundCloud Rappers and Genre
The site’s hip-hop scene quickly became its own genre. However, this takes inspiration from an incredibly wide range of artists. Certain songs have pop punk, synthwave, and even video game influences. This sets them apart while still giving them a broader appeal.
Experimentation is at this movement’s core and always has been. To describe SC rap as simply one genre may be doing it a disservice. It covers a massive mix of styles, aesthetics, and vibes. This has had a knock-on effect on mainstream rap, making it more genre-fluid.
SoundCloud hip-hop can have loud, aggressive vocals or softer pop-punk melodies. Both types of music can co-exist under the same umbrella. This makes “mumble rap” even more inaccurate as a way of describing the site’s rap scene. Most songs don’t fit this label at all.
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Frequently Asked Questions
[FAQ] Who is the most famous SoundCloud rapper?
It’s hard to nail down the biggest artist in SoundCloud’s rap scene. But XXXTentacion, Lil Peep, Juice WRLD, and Lil Uzi are some of Can SoundCloud rappers see their listeners?
With premium plans, SoundCloud artists of all kinds can view their top listeners. A free account can only see their followers.
Do mainstream rappers have SoundCloud?
Some major rappers have SC accounts, even if this isn’t where they began. Post Malone wasn’t part of SoundCloud’s major rap scene. However, he still has an account he regularly uploads to.
What makes SoundCloud rapping unique?
In terms of the actual lyrics, SoundCloud hip-hop songs are usually more emotive. They build a mood with their backing track just as much as their lyrics. These lyrics are also sometimes, but not always, less complicated.
Did other music subgenres grow on SoundCloud?
Future core, vaporwave, hyper pop, future house, chill hop, tropical house, and more owe at least some popularity to SoundCloud. More of these “micro-genres” are slowly picking up steam over time.