It's a Trap

Trap has now pretty much integrated itself into the world of dance music. 2012 was a defining year for the genre and solidified itself as a standalone genre away from being exclusively rap music.

What has interested me is the multiple comparisons between the rise of Trap to Dubstep. You can hear why in the music:
 - Similar drum patterns - Heavy sub bass - Experimentation (with samples, synth sounds etc) It's the almost negative comparison like 'oh look, it's like the new dubstep, erghh' - Just let them be man

I had been working on a couple of tracks myself and someone mentioned that the tracks had elements which sounded a bit 'Trappy', I didn't really know what they meant at the time. I listened to a couple of Trap tracks as I hadn't really looked into the genre much at all and was a little late to hear the bandwagon. I thought they were sick though, with very different productions and the tracks hit you with heavy, low bass alongside catchy, messed up hooks. Similar elements to dubstep, which I've been listening to for years, so I thought yeah great. 

  - One of my first faves. Liked the original so I thought this was mad.

So people compare Dubstep to Trap.
inthemix.com put out an article last year called 'Trap music: The new dubstep'

- see the link if interested - http://www.inthemix.com.au/features/53239/Trap_Music_The_new_dubstep

I had to laugh when I read the title, it pisses me off when easy titles like that are used + why does something new have to be a reincarnation of something else, just let it be.

Anyway the article talks about the rise of the genre and what producers have done what etc.
I could see points in it which make sense but most of it, I think, just missed the point.
'Therein lies a parallel between the most popular forms of trap and dubstep – its lack of subtlety. While trap doesn’t spill the same headache-inducing wobbles, for the large part it’s made for punters to get as rowdy, ignorant and “hood” as possible.' - quote from the article

Lack of subtlety?! You for real? - Hate to say it but its typical comment by someone who doesn't actually know what they're on about and hasn't done their research.  Proper heads, other than listeners of the diluted stuff picked up online, know there's plenty of heavy hitting tracks full of subtlety underneath the Dubstep umbrella.  When Dubstep was first emerging no one really knew what it was, so these stupid comments didn't really happen (that is until it blew up on the net, I'll get to that in a bit). 


 - Got to slap a DMZ release in there - it's not subtle, at all... (side note: anyone who hasn't heard anything of Loefah before, Trap or Dubstep fan, get onto youtube, google, whatever and listen to a few tracks) - 

And I think that's where the problem lies with the comparison.  Dubstep is such a broad genre but most people have only heard the 'noisy and messy for the sake of it' tracks.  The comparisons should be made between the experimentation and playfulness in the tracks.  I see loads of similarities between them but have just have completely different roots.



- Different feeling tracks - but if you actually listen there's plenty of similar points - loads of obscure samples, altered noises giving flow the track, similar beat patterns, sub-bass, bit of a build up introducing the track etc etc.I think these sorts of similarities are the reason that people are comparing the genres in this way yet I think the comparisons should be made between the way the genres are spreading and developing. But I still think people should just enjoy the music and just get on with it. -

After the wave of Dubstep being solely spread through nights (FWD, DMZ etc), it began to quickly spread and blow up through the internet.  The genre was able to quickly spread worldwide because dance music listeners could share the tracks online (and in turn this is why the synth based messier tracks became popular so quickly because the tracks could translate well on a laptop whereas sub-bass central tracks would sound empty).

So similarly, Trap has quickly spread online through social media and such like.  The way the genre has exploded is comparable with Dubstep and subsequently so is the debate by its listeners.

I've got to mention Harlem Shake here - you must of been living in a cave to have not heard about the viral sensation (if not, Google it, please). I thought Harlem Shake was a mad tune, months ago when it came out, and can't help but feel a bit annoyed it's kinda turned into a gimmick-gangnameffect-style track.  The craze has however done wonders for Bauuer with him now featuring at an array of festivals this year.  This track alone will bump Trap into the limelight, even if only for a while, and hopefully just do wonders for the genre.

I think the problem with the fast spread of Trap is that we'll be hit by hundreds of copycat producers and the genre will end up sounding like more of the same. To be honest you can already see it happening if you have a browse on soundcloud, but lets give the bandwagon time.

I say bring on the wave of new music.  Lets have more projects like TNGHT and such like who aren't scared of experimenting.  One doesn't have to replace the other, just mix it up a bit.