Cloud Rap and its Prominent Rappers
If you are a fan of trap music and lo-fi beats, then you have most likely come across the subgenre of Cloud Rap. Cloud Rap is a niche form of Hip-Hop, characterized by its ethereal and dreamy soundscapes.
It is a genre that has gained immense popularity in recent years, thanks to the rise of prominent Cloud Rappers such as Roddy Ricch,
Bladee,
Ghostemane, and others. In this article, we will delve into the world of Cloud Rap, exploring its definition, prominent rappers, and their achievements.
What is Cloud Rap? Cloud Rap is a subgenre of Hip-Hop that originated in the early 2010s.
It is characterized by its use of ethereal and dreamy soundscapes, which often feature elements of ambient music. The genre’s name comes from its atmospheric sound, which is said to resemble clouds.
Cloud Rap features a slowed-down tempo and often samples old soul and R&B tunes. The lyrics of Cloud Rap tend to be introspective and focus on themes relating to depression, anxiety, and drug addiction.
Prominent Cloud Rappers
Cloud Rap has the benefit of having several notable artists who are associated with the genre. Let’s take a look at some of these artists.
Roddy Ricch:
Rodrick Wayne Moore Jr., popularly known as Roddy Ricch, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from California. Roddy began his career by releasing a series of mixtapes and singles that garnered him a considerable following.
In 2019, he released his debut studio album, Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial, which featured the hit song “The Box.” The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 11 consecutive weeks and went on to be certified platinum. In 2021, Roddy won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for “The Box.” He currently has over 56 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Bladee:
Bladee, whose real name is Benjamin Reichwald, is a Swedish rapper and singer known for his melancholic and ethereal style.
Bladee first rose to prominence in the underground rap scene through his collaborations with fellow Swedish rapper Yung Lean.
In 2014, he released his debut project, Gluee, which gained him a cult following. Since then, he has released several other projects, including his most recent album, The Fool, which was released in 2020.
Ghostemane:
Eric Whitney, better known by his stage name
Ghostemane, is an American rapper and singer from Florida.
Ghostemane first gained popularity through his affiliation with the underground rap collective Schemaposse.
He is known for his heavy use of industrial and metal influences in his music. In 2018, he released his debut studio album, N/O/I/S/E, which featured the hit song “ANDROMEDA.”
Ghostemane’s unique style has garnered him a dedicated fanbase, and he currently has over 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Sickboyrari:
Sickboyrari, whose real name is Darian Thomas, is an American rapper and producer from Louisiana. He first gained attention through his collaborations with GothBoiClique, a music collective that includes the late
Lil Peep.
Sickboyrari’s music is characterized by its lo-fi, dreamy sound, and its heavy use of guitar samples. He has released several projects, including his most recent album, LATE NIGHT SESH, which was released in 2020.
Other notable Cloud Rappers include
Lil Peep,
Night Lovell,
Lil Mosey, Duwap Kaine, and Killstation.
Conclusion
Cloud Rap is a unique subgenre that has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is characterized by its ethereal and dreamy soundscapes, and introspective lyrics that focus on themes relating to depression, anxiety, and drug addiction.
The genre has several prominent artists, including Roddy Ricch,
Bladee,
Ghostemane, and
Sickboyrari. These artists have achieved considerable success and amassed large followings, thanks to their unique sound and style.
If you haven’t already checked out Cloud Rap, we highly recommend giving it a listen.
Bladee
Benjamin Reichwald, professionally known as
Bladee, is a Swedish rapper and singer, known for his melancholic and introspective style of music.
Bladee was born on 9th April 1994 in Stockholm, Sweden.
He grew up in a creative family with his father being a filmmaker and his mother an artist. Benjamin started creating music as a teenager, inspired by iconic artists such as Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan.
Early in his career,
Bladee gained attention through his collaborations with fellow Swedish rapper Yung Lean, with whom he released several mixtapes, including Unknown Death 2002 and Unknown Memory. In 2014, he released his debut project, GLUEE, which was a highly anticipated release that gained him a cult following.
The album featured
Bladee’s unique sound characterized by auto-tuned vocals, dreamy soundscapes, and introspective lyrics. His music often tackles themes relating to depression, anxiety, and drug addiction.
Bladee is also a creative director and has been involved in various fashion projects. In 2016, he was named the creative director of Sadboys Gear, a fashion brand founded by his longtime collaborator, Yung Lean.
The brand features graphic t-shirts, hoodies, and other clothing items with
Bladee’s artwork. Additionally, he is also a solo painter who has exhibited his artwork in galleries in Sweden and Denmark.
Bladee is associated with the artistic collective, Drain Gang, which he founded in 2013 alongside artists Thaiboy Digital and Yung Lean. The collective has since expanded to include other artists, such as Whitearmor, ECCO2K, and Mechatok.
Drain Gang is known for their unique sound and style, which merges elements of trap music, emo, and cloud rap to create a genre they call “drain.”
Ghostemane
Eric Whitney, better known by his stage name
Ghostemane, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Florida. born on 15th April 1991,
Ghostemane grew up in a small town in Palm Beach County.
He started creating music in high school, influenced by punk rock, heavy metal, and trap music. Eric initially rose to prominence through his association with the underground rap collective, Schemaposse, which included artists such as
Lil Peep and JGRXXN.
He later parted ways with the collective to pursue his solo career.
Ghostemane’s music is characterized by its aggressive and dark sound, which combines elements of metal and trap music. His unique style has amassed him a significant following, particularly on Soundcloud.
Some of his most notable songs include “Venom,” “Nihil,” and “Bonesaw.” He has released several studio albums and collaboration albums, including Hexada, N/O/I/S/E, and ANTI-ICON.
Ghostemane has been vocal about his struggles with depression and anxiety, which he often addresses in his music. He has spoken about the therapeutic nature of music and how it has helped him deal with mental health issues.
He is also known for his interest in esotericism and the occult, which is a recurring theme in his music. In conclusion,
Bladee and
Ghostemane are two significant names in the cloud rap and trap music scene.
Both artists have unique sounds and styles that have garnered them considerable followings.
Bladee’s melancholic and introspective style, combined with his involvement in fashion and his artistic collective, Drain Gang, has made him a significant player in the scene.
On the other hand,
Ghostemane’s aggressive and dark sound, influenced by metal and trap music, has set him apart from his contemporaries. Together, these artists represent the evolving sound and style of the underground rap scene and continue to push boundaries with their music and creative projects.
Sickboyrari
Timothy O’neal, better known by his stage name
Sickboyrari, is an American rapper and producer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his career as a member of the rap collective, Goth Money Records, in 2013.
Sickboyrari’s music is characterized by its lo-fi sound and dreamy soundscapes, which pay homage to the internet rap culture of the early 2010s. He gained popularity through his collaborations with fellow artists such as
Thouxanbanfauni, UnoTheActivist, and Lil B.
Sickboyrari released his debut album, BVLVNCE, in 2016, which cemented his position in the underground rap scene. The album featured hit singles such as “BOSSUP,” which showcased his unique sound and style.
His music continues to evolve, incorporating elements of trap, R&B, and rock music. He has released several other projects, including LATE NIGHT SESH, which was released in 2020.
As of 2021,
Sickboyrari has over 800,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, a testament to his growing fanbase. His music continues to inspire a new wave of artists who are redefining modern rap music.
Thouxanbanfauni
Taajwar Hakeem Latimore, professionally known as
Thouxanbanfauni, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career making music with his childhood friends, UnoTheActivist and Playboi Carti.
Fauni’s music is characterized by its hypnotic and atmospheric sound, which often features minimalistic beats and auto-tuned vocals. Fauni gained popularity on Soundcloud, where he released several mixtapes and singles that helped him build a dedicated following.
In 2017, he released his debut mixtape, The Lost Files, which featured the hit single, “Wish the Worst.” This project helped him gain even more exposure, leading to collaborations with artists such as Lil Yachty, Lil Keed, and Yung Bans. Fauni’s most recent project, Ultra Violet, was released in 2020 and showcased his growth as an artist.
The project featured guest appearances from artists such as Lil Tecca, Sheff G, and Lil Durk. As of 2021, Fauni has over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a testament to his increasing popularity.
In conclusion,
Sickboyrari and
Thouxanbanfauni are two rising stars in the underground rap scene. Both artists embody the evolving sound and style of modern rap music, blending elements of trap, R&B, and rock music to create their unique soundscapes.
Their music has gained them considerable followings, and they continue to inspire a new wave of artists who are pushing boundaries and redefining the genre.
Lil Peep
Gustav Elijah hr, better known as
Lil Peep, was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Long Island, New York. He was a prominent figure in the emo rap scene and gained a significant following on SoundCloud in the early 2010s.
Peep’s music was characterized by its blend of emo, pop-punk, and trap influences, and his lyrics often dealt with themes of drug addiction, depression, and heartbreak. Peep began his career as part of the collective GothBoiClique, with whom he released several mixtapes, including Crybaby and Hellboy.
His unique sound and style quickly gained him a dedicated following, and he soon signed to the label, First Access Entertainment. In 2017, he released his debut studio album, Come Over When You’re Sober Pt. 1, which received critical acclaim and went on to be certified platinum.
Tragically,
Lil Peep died of an accidental overdose in November 2017, at the age of 21. Despite his short career,
Lil Peep’s legacy continues to inspire a new generation of artists.
His music and style have been described as groundbreaking, with many citing him as being instrumental in broadening the emo and rap genres. His discography includes several platinum and gold-certified singles, including “Awful Things” and “Benz Truck,” and he remains one of the most streamed artists on platforms like Spotify.
Night Lovell
Shermar Cuba Paul, better known as
Night Lovell, is a Canadian rapper and producer from Ottawa, Ontario. He was born on May 29th, 1997.
Lovell’s music is characterized by its dark and atmospheric sound, which features heavy basslines and slow, ominous beats. His lyrics often tackle themes of isolation, paranoia, and violence.
Lovell first gained attention through his SoundCloud uploads, which quickly gained him a dedicated following. He released his debut album, Concept Vague, in 2014, which was met with critical acclaim and helped him gain even more exposure.
He has since released several studio albums, including Red Teenage Melody and Just Say You Don’t Care. As of 2021,
Night Lovell has over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a testament to his growing popularity.
He has collaborated with several other notable artists, including Joji, Denzel Curry, and Lil West. Lovell’s unique sound and style have established him as one of the most exciting artists in the underground rap scene, and he continues to push boundaries with his music.
In conclusion,
Lil Peep and
Night Lovell are two artists who have gained significant followings in the emo rap and underground rap scenes. Both artists have unique sounds and styles that have helped them stand out in a crowded field.
Lil Peep’s legacy as a groundbreaking artist continues to inspire a new generation of artists, while
Night Lovell’s dark and atmospheric sound has established him as a leading figure in the underground rap scene.
Lil Mosey
Lathan Moses Stanley Echols, better known as
Lil Mosey, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Mountlake Terrace, Washington. Mosey began his music career at the age of 14, uploading his first songs to SoundCloud.
His unique sound and style quickly gained him a dedicated following, and he soon signed to the record label, Interscope Records. In 2017,
Lil Mosey released his debut single, “Pull Up,” which gained him significant attention and helped him build his brand as a rising star in the rap scene.
He released his debut studio album, Northsbest, in 2018, which featured hit singles such as “Boof Pack” and “Noticed.” The album received critical acclaim and helped firmly establish
Lil Mosey as a top-tier artist in the genre. Since then,
Lil Mosey has released several other projects, including Certified Hitmaker, which features guest appearances from artists such as Gunna and Trippie Redd.
He has also been nominated for several awards, including Best New Hip Hop Artist at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards. As of 2021,
Lil Mosey has over 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a testament to his growing popularity.
His music and style have been described as fresh and dynamic,