Internet rap

Internet rap, also called online rap or blog rap, is a style of hip-hop that started in the late 2000s. It first spread through online blogs and early social media sites like Myspace, Tumblr, and the mixtape-sharing site DatPiff.

This kind of music is closely tied to internet culture, memes, and online groups. Unlike traditional hip-hop, internet rap is shaped by the internet and grows from online communities. Artists often share their music on platforms such as SoundCloud and promote their songs through YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Even though some internet rappers become very popular, many are seen as alternative or underground rap. The scene began with trap music but later created many smaller music styles and online cultures.

Etymology and characteristics

The term "internet rappers" started out as a way to dismiss some artists, but it became popular with the SoundCloud generation. Writers talked about how bloggers searched the internet for new music talents and trends. Internet rap has a style that mixes many different sounds, much like other internet music styles.

History

1990s–2000s: Forerunners

In the 1990s, rapper Canibus was one of the first to talk about the Internet in his music. He created his own website, www.canibus.com, to share his work and connect with fans. Another rapper, Trick Daddy, also used the Internet to share his music and connect with listeners.

2000s–2010s: Blog era

In the late 2000s, artists like Lil Wayne and Soulja Boy started using social media to share their music. They posted songs and videos online for free, which helped them gain fans and make money. This was new at the time, as most musicians didn’t share their music this way.

Artists began sharing their music on websites like Myspace and DatPiff. Lil B became very popular online, and his style influenced many other rappers. He helped make the Internet a big part of the music world.

Early 2010s: Cloud rap & Internet rap collectives

In the early 2010s, groups like Odd Future and Brockhampton became popular. They used websites like Tumblr, SoundCloud, YouTube, and Spotify to share their music. Artists like Danny Brown and Tyler, the Creator also gained attention this way.

During this time, Lil B continued to grow in popularity, and other rappers like Waka Flocka Flame and Gucci Mane also influenced the scene. Chief Keef from Chicago helped create a new style called drill music, which became very popular.

Mid–late 2010s: SoundCloud rap

In the mid-to-late 2010s, SoundCloud became a key place for new rap music. Artists like Denzel Curry, Lil Tracy, and Lil Peep started here. Lil Pump became very famous with his song Gucci Gang.

Artists like XXXTentacion, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, and Playboi Carti were part of what was called soundcloud rap. They had a unique style that many people liked.

2020s

In the 2020s, new styles of rap continued to grow online. Platforms like Discord and games such as Roblox became important for sharing music. Artists like Nettspend gained fame through these online communities.

Scenes like sigilkore and rage became popular, with artists such as Yeat and Odetari leading the way. Internet rap also spread to many countries, with artists in places like the United Kingdom, China, and Argentina making their mark.

Related genres

Cloud rap

Main article: Cloud rap

Cloud rap is a style of internet rap that began in the late 2000s. It has soft, dreamy sounds and simple beats. Artists like Lil B and producers such as Clams Casino helped make it popular.

Phonk

Main article: Phonk

Phonk is a type of hip-hop that uses old sounds from 1990s Memphis rap and horrorcore. It was started by SpaceGhostPurrp and includes slow, changed vocals and special beats. It became popular on SoundCloud and TikTok in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

Drill

Main article: Drill music

Drill music started in Chicago in the early 2010s. It has dark beats and strong lyrics. Chief Keef helped make it famous, and it later spread to the UK and other parts of the United States.

Lowend

Main article: Lowend

Lowend is a style of Milwaukee hip-hop that began on the internet. It uses deep bass, slow beats, fast claps, and calm sounds.

Plugg

Main article: Plugg

Plugg is a kind of trap music that started in the mid-2010s. It has simple, dreamy beats made with special sounds. It began around 2013 with producers in Atlanta and was inspired by other rappers and music styles like snap rap and the Paper Mario game music.

Emo rap

Main article: Emo rap

Emo rap mixes trap and cloud rap with ideas and looks from emo and alternative rock. It started with artists like Bones and Black Kray. Later, Lil Peep, XXXTentaction, and Juice WRLD helped it become well-known.

PluggnB

Main article: Plugg § Second wave: PluggnB scene

PluggnB mixes plugg music with soft contemporary R&B. It began in the late 2010s and became popular on TikTok in the early 2020s. Artists like Lil Shine, Izaya Tiji, Autumn, Kashdami, SoFaygo, Yeat, Summrs, Weiland, and Kankan are part of this style.

Digicore

Main article: Digicore

Digicore is a type of internet rap that started with hyperpop in the late 2010s. It uses strong voice effects and fast sounds, often shared on Discord and SoundCloud. Groups like novagang and helix tears are important to this style.

Rage

Main article: Rage (music genre)

Rage, also called rage music or rage rap, is a type of trap music with strong sounds, fast beats, and changed voices. It began in the late 2010s but became popular in the early 2020s with artists like Yung Fazo, Playboi Carti, Trippie Redd, Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, Mario Judah, and Yeat.

2k13 Hood EDM

2k13 Hood EDM is a small type of EDM trap music started by rapper St47ic from the group 1c34.

Jerk

Main article: Jerk (music genre)

Jerk is a style of internet rap that began in the early 2020s. It mixes fast speeds, nice sounds, and special rhymes, combining ideas from cloud rap, digicore, Milwaukee lowend, and plugg.

Sigilkore

Main article: Sigilkore

Sigilkore is a small type of music that started on SoundCloud in the late 2010s. It mixes cloud rap and trap music with dark sounds and effects. The lyrics sometimes talk about mysterious and dark ideas.

HexD

Main article: HexD

HexD is a style of internet rap from the late 2010s to early 2020s. It uses strong sound effects and changed voices. It began with a producer from the West Coast and was named by a group called Hexcastcrew.

Krushclub

Main article: Sigilkore § Krushclub

Krushclub is a type of sigilkore that started in the early 2020s. It mixes Jersey club with electronic sounds. It is known for fun, game-like sounds and was made popular by artists like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Luci4, and Lumi Athena. It gets a lot of attention on TikTok.

Dark plugg

Dark plugg is a smaller type of plugg music that began in the DMV trap scene. It was started by producers and rappers like XanGang, Orcery, Eddie Gianni, Slimesito, and Fluhkunxhkos. Well-known artists include Glokk40Spaz, elijxhwtf, and Smokingskul. A British newspaper called it a small trend.

Ambient plugg

Ambient plugg is a style of plugg music that mixes the usual beats with calm sounds, strange effects, and relaxing melodies. It began in the late 2010s with artists like wifi and Izaya Tiji. It focuses more on feelings and sounds than on words. It became more popular through groups like Shed Theory and artists like Babyxsosa.

Terror plugg

Terror plugg (also called extremo-plugg) is a type of plugg music with loud, strange beats, creepy melodies, and strong singing. It started with producers and rappers like Squillo, tdf, marrgielaa, and boolymon. It became popular online between 2024 and 2025 through internet memes on TikTok and Instagram. A music writer said that a 2024 song by New York rapper Yuke showed the extreme end of this style. Popular artists include boolymon, Lazer Dim 700, twovrt, and savage.