EDM-Trap Killed the 808 [Editorial]

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Oct 25, 2012
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Category: Editorial

Disclaimer: This post is not about the Trap music (muzik?) with a history grounded in Southern hip hop- this is about EDM-Trap, and if I see anyone sounding off about Lex Luger in the comments, so help me…

 

I could literally go on for tens of minutes about how much I now detest Reggaeton‘s distinctive dembow thanks to it’s abhorrent over-use in the moombahton movement, but today I’m going to focus Trap. More specifically, the Flosstradamus, etc. EDM-Trap that most of you associate with the word. When this whole EDM-Trap thing started there was a lot of talk going around about the inherent racism behind a bunch of middle class white kids sitting in their bedrooms in some two-story house in the ‘burbs and re-purposing the elements of Trap music that had developed over time (for a very, very concise overview of its history, try this article) to make music for people to pop pills and wear neon shirts to. Since I’m from the UK and have little-to-no exposure to rap or hip hop, I thought nothing of it.

 

Fast-forward a few months and EDM-Trap has grown to a size that nobody really anticipated. The volume of bedroom producer EDM-Trap filling my inbox increases every day, but it wasn’t until I started listening to other styles of music again that I realized something shocking: I can’t listen to the venerable Roland TR-808 in any way, shape, or form.

 

This is a black and white photo of Kiera Knightley. It is unrelated to this post.

 

 

Let me give you an example.

 

A friend of mine recently sent me the Bandcamp page of a young producer from Belfast, Bear//Face. Now this kid is undeniably talented, but something just bugged me about his tracks and I couldn’t immediately put my finger on it. A flash went off in my head and it came to me. Any time I heard an 808 kick, clap, hi-hat, or what have you, I cringed. I just can’t listen to them any more, and what’s far more problematic is that when I listen to actual hip hop – new or old – that uses an 808 the same “This is Shitty EDM-Trap” center of my brain fires up. Now I may be overreacting a little, but I see this as a much bigger issue than the re-purposing of hip hop culture to make bangers. Not only are these elements of Trap being recycled, their worth is being completely eroded.

 

Am I going to throw my hands up in the air in frustration and vow never to listen to another EDM-Trap song again? Probably not. Am I going to condone Trap remixes of Who Let The Dogs Out? Absolutely not.

 

Agree? Disagree? Think I’m an idiot? Sound off in the comments or don’t. To quote Dillon Francis: “IDGAFOS”

 

- Ziad

 

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  • Grant

    Great article man! Definitely learned a few things and the Kiera Knightly photo was an excellent way to break up the post

  • Voltage

    It’s funny. I still like the sounds, despite this style being a little non-musical.
    Like that Baha Men remix. I didn’t like the source material, but I liked the production somewhat.

  • Froland

    3 years from now shitty trap will disappear and you’ll only be left with those few special tracks that still bring glory to the 808. Just imagine listening to old ass 1996 hip hop that was made by a ginger in his grandma’s basement – same sort of deal, the shitty tracks is what kills it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/cobra.kai.karate Joe Cornfield

    Is it “inherently racist” for middle class white people to make hip hop or hip hop influenced music? If only poor black people can make “genuine” hip hop, what about Alchemist, Beastie Boys, Kno, Nujabes, DJ Muggs, Clams Casino…the list goes on. Hip hop has never and will never be an exclusively black movement.

    @Froland Here are some iconic hip hop tracks produced by “a ginger in his grandma’s basement”:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF5T1AjV060
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALPH86ybA6U
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAlNrtcPCLw
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bueFTrwHFEs

    Yall hipsters need to stop hating and start being positive.

  • http://www.facebook.com/aaron.swagger Aaron Briggs

    So, how do you feel about guitars? I think they more overused than 808′s by a factor of 100. What about super-saw trance sounds? They haven’t changed in about 10 years. You don’t like trap, we get it. Listen to something else. Save your bleeding heart race baiting for people that give a shit, most of us that are into trap don’t give a fuck about race unilike you judgemental pricks.

  • http://www.facebook.com/aaron.swagger Aaron Briggs

    Exactly, this fucking Euro couldn’t be more ignorant of what is going on with this scene.

  • totem

    I’m offended that you used a picture of Dan Deacon for the ‘I Only Listen to Trap Music’ meme!! he’s a fantastic avant-garde producer that has nothing to do with trap…..here listen to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeeHGCPCvdM otherwise, a great article Ziad :P

  • Ziad

    I like trap, I don’t like bad music.

  • Ziad

    Haha, I didn’t know who the guy was actually. Found that meme on the internet.

  • Ziad

    I don’t think that only African Americans from the ghetto can make hip-hop, I just find amusing to see so many people who aren’t “about that life” (many of whom have never listened to rap or hip hop apart from Kanye West) making what are essentially rap tunes with a drop. Neither side is really wrong and I think people should be free to express themselves in any way they want, the point of this article – which I think many people have missed – is that it makes me upset to observe how quickly that sound has been washed out and the ramifications for other styles that also rely on the 808. Hope that clears things up and I appreciate the well-worded discussion :)

  • Ziad

    Okay, sometimes I like the occasional Katy Perry remix so I guess I like some bad tunes.

  • Lukestarr

    And zero dogs were let out that day.

  • http://www.facebook.com/adamphhirsch Adam Hirsch

    I get where you’re coming from here, but wouldn’t you agree that well composed music is well composed music? So you’re saying a well composed beat using an 808 package will just automatically suck to you now? I get your point. you are getting a lot of shitty “EDM trap” music sent to your inbox from less experienced producers and it sounds like over hyped garbage..

    That doesn’t mean that there isn’t awesome 808 bass music out there that is composed by experienced producers. Maybe check out Wedidit collective, Body High, Raw Records, MOD, 710 recs and so many other underground labels. The ones that were doing it before the trap boom hit and every bedroom producer was making it (but aren’t down south gangsters either). And the ones that are making music to make great tunes, and are part of a more underground type culture. AND not making music for “kids in neon shirts to pop pills to”.

    You write for a music blog, you should know better than anyone that digging in the deepest darkest corners of the internet is where you find the best material. I get where you’re coming from (and that you are voicing your personal opinion), but it just seems like you don’t really know that much about all the other artists out there and you need to dig down a little deeper in the genre. Making you about as inexperienced w/ the genre as the kids that are sending you shitty music and the ones you are complaining about.

    Am i right?

  • http://www.grizzlby.tumblr.com grizzlby

    I’m not sure I grasp the difference between saying “808 = bad trap” and “Amen Break = bad DnB”

  • Squabbles

    four things:

    1) Though this article is trolling at its finest, the US of A (or the UK for your matter) is quite a free country and you definitely have a right to say what you say. that being said…….

    2) WHAT EXACTLY IS THE POINT OF THIS ARTICLE TO THE READER? in the words of dillon francis “IDGAFOS” whether you like trap music or not!!! there is absolutely no need to inform me that because you listen to a lot of blog submissions, you no longer care for trap-style 808 beats.

    3) what again was wrong with bear//face?? from my listen he sounds like a very talented producer who could draw comparisons to the likes of Shlohmo.

    4) “EDM-Trap” as it is affectionately referred to, has gained so much sudden popularity as a subdued form of dubstep that is more dance friendly. yes it does have roots in southern hip-hop, but IMO people have gotten a little tired and overwhelmed with the IN YOUR FACE aspect of dubstep, but still want something that’s 140bpm to dance to in the clubs. and its the “white kids from the burbs” who are usually producing dubstep, so once again I do not see a problem.

    keep expressing yourself dude, its what keeps creativity alive. just try to refrain from using a blog as a mouthpiece to hate on other people/music/genres. praise in public, punish in private.

  • Ziad Ramley

    Properly worded criticisms like this, I appreciate. I guess it’s more of an observation than an editorial. After listening to an un-arguably talented producer like bear face I found it odd that I just wasn’t impressed, and after I listened through a few more times and thought about why I realized it was because I was so de-sensitized or tuned to ignore the iconic 808 sounds. This post was a verbalization of that thought and kind of a way for me to see if other people felt the same.

  • Ziad Ramley

    Oh, there’s 100% a lot of very impressive, unique music based around 808′s that I can’t ignore. If you filter Salacious Sound’s posts by genre and look at everything labeled “Trap” you’ll find that most of it is sourced by me, haha. Talented producers know how to find that good balance,this article is more about the fact that less talented ones and the over-use of 808′s is undermining the work of others since we’re all getting de-sensitized to it. A year ago when I pressed ‘play’ on a song and I heard that distinctive 808 kick I’d think “awww, yeee” and smile to myself. Now it’s more of a “oh… I hope this isn’t as bad as ______”.

  • Ziad Ramley

    And as always, I appreciate thought out, well-worded criticism so thank you for your response :)

  • Ziad Ramley
  • Mitch

    I guess I just feel sorry for you. There is SOOOOOO much amazing music that features 808 sounds, pretty much 90% of the current UK Bass movement, to let any type of shittily produced music ruin that for you is pretty tragic!