Rage (music genre)

• 1. Origins And Etymology

  ›

  The word rage first appeared in hip-hop through Kid Cudi's Mr. Rager alter ego during the 2010s. Travis Scott later adopted this term and made it a core part of his own aesthetic. Multiple artists and critics used the phrase to describe overdriven energetic sounds or mosh pits at rap concerts. Lil Uzi Vert released Luv Is Rage in 2015 followed by Luv Is Rage 2 in 2017. The specific genre name arrived with Miss The Rage, a track created in 2021 by Trippie Redd and Playboi Carti. This song referenced mosh pits that Trippie Redd missed while locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  158

• 2. Sonic Characteristics

  ›

  Rage music features short looping synthesizer hooks that are stereo-widened and influenced by future bass. These melodies often sound like 1980s and 1990s video game soundtracks mixed with trance music. A basic trap beat accompanies these loops using bouncy heavy 808 bass notes that feel elastic and overdriven. Vivian Medithi of HipHopDX described the sound as rooted in plugg music legacy but with more electronic influences. Tom Breihan of Stereogum called the beats glitchy and disorienting yet sometimes psychedelic. Synth leads play such a central role that the entire style functions as a hybrid between trap music and EDM.

  2363

• 3. Pioneering Artists

  ›

  Playboi Carti laid the foundation for rage on his 2018 album Die Lit which was mostly produced by Pi'erre Bourne. His 2020 album Whole Lotta Red further defined the genre despite receiving initially mixed reception from critics. Mike Will Made It created early precursor beats alongside Dun Deal and C4 for Young Thug's 1017 Thug project. Metro Boomin and Southside also contributed to the mid-2010s soundscape that preceded the full emergence of rage. Trippie Redd credited XXXTentacion as an influence on the genre while collaborating directly with Playboi Carti on Miss The Rage. These artists integrated video game samples into their work during the 2000s before Polow Da Don began fusing European synthesizer-based music with hip-hop.

  141916

• 4. Mainstream Breakthrough

  ›

  The genre achieved commercial explosion after Miss The Rage reached listeners in 2021 through TikTok trends. Drake released What's Next in 2021 on his Scary Hours 2 EP which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The instrumental for that track came from producers Maneesh and Supah Mario who mimicked styles found on Whole Lotta Red. Yeat started releasing a darker version of rage rap later in 2021 after Sorry Bout That became popular on social media platforms. His subsequent albums Up 2 Me and 2 Alive showcased this signature sound to wider audiences. SoFaygo collaborated with Trippie Redd on MP5 following his own Off The Map single which some described as proper rage songs.

  182229

• 5. Label Influence

  ›

  Playboi Carti's record label Opium has shaped the genre through signed artists like Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely. Ken Carson released Project X in 2021 while Destroy Lonely dropped No Stylist in 2022. Both projects received positive reception from fans and pushed the genre toward mainstream success. Homixide Gang also joined the roster under the same label umbrella. SoFaygo worked with Lil Yachty on Solid after establishing his own presence in the scene. These releases demonstrated how a single label could concentrate talent and drive specific sonic trends across multiple artists simultaneously.

  1046