Common questions about Rage (music genre)

Short answers, pulled from the story.

Who created the rage music genre?

Playboi Carti stands as the primary architect of the rage music genre, having laid the foundation of the genre on his 2018 album Die Lit. The genre emerged from the United States in the late 2010s, evolving from production techniques that combined trap music with video game soundtracks. Producers like Mike Will Made It, Dun Deal, and C4 laid the groundwork in the mid-2010s before Carti solidified the movement.

When did the rage music genre emerge?

The rage music genre emerged from the United States in the late 2010s, with key developments occurring between 2018 and 2021. Playboi Carti released Die Lit in 2018 and Whole Lotta Red in 2020 to define the style, while the term rage in reference to the microgenre comes from the 2021 track Miss the Rage by Trippie Redd and Playboi Carti. The genre continued to evolve in 2021 and 2022 with artists like Yeat releasing albums such as Up 2 Me and 2 Alive.

What are the defining characteristics of rage music?

Rage music is defined by stereo-widened, future bass-influenced leads that repeat throughout a song to create a hypnotic atmosphere. The sound combines bouncy, overdriven 808 bass notes of trap music with short, looping synthesizer hooks that sound like video game soundtracks from the 1980s and 1990s. The genre is described as a hybrid of trap music and electronic dance music where synthesizer hooks play a dominant role.

Where did the rage music genre originate?

The rage music genre originated in the United States in the late 2010s. The sound spread globally with artists from the United Kingdom, such as Lancey Foux, releasing albums like Live.Evil in 2021 that mixed rage elements with UK hip-hop. The genre's evolution demonstrates its ability to adapt to different cultural contexts beyond its American origins.

Why is the song Miss the Rage important to the rage music genre?

Miss the Rage is a genre-pioneering track made in 2021 by Trippie Redd and Playboi Carti that became the catalyst for the genre's explosion. The main loop for the instrumental was based on a royalty-free melody loop from the Cymatics Odyssey EDM Sample Pack, which became the blueprint for countless copies. The single's influence led to the release of Trip at Knight by Trippie Redd and inspired major artists like Drake to release What's Next in 2021.

How did the rage music genre evolve after 2021?

The rage music genre evolved after 2021 with artists like Yeat releasing a more chaotic and dark version of rage rap that utilized abundant bell samples. Underground rappers such as Yung Fazo, SSGKobe, and KayCyy emerged to use rage in experimental fashion, sometimes stripping the genre down to core elements. The genre continued to develop with artists like Yeat releasing albums in 2021 and 2022, proving that the movement was not just a fleeting trend.