Emo Rap is a combination of trap/rap’s instrumentation with lyrics inspired by genres such as alternative rock, midwest emo, emo pop, and pop punk (an example being “Alright” by Horse Head, which samples an acoustic version of “Empty Space” by The Story So Far). Although the genre features “emo” in its name, it doesn’t have much to do with the classic hardcore punk scene (although Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, a notable emo rap artist, was a former vocalist for the emo band Tiger’s Jaw). Over time, fans of both genres have come to appreciate both.

Emo rap gained prominence in the mid 2010s with artists such as BONES and groups such as GothBoiClique pioneering what would eventually become the genre’s recognizable sound. The most influential emo rap artists are Lil Peep, XXXTENTACION and Juice WRLD. Interestingly, in Sweden, a very similar but unrelated genre was beginning to form (cloud rap), thanks to Yung Lean’s Sad Boys collective.

Later on, in 2018, a new movement referred to as “sad rap” started gaining traction, lead by rappers Josh A & iamjakehill, convolk, and guardin, which integrated lyrics inspired by emo rap with an overall cleaner mixing style, along with a broader pop influence. Contemporary artists continuing to push the emo rap sound in new directions include fats'e and 93feetofsmoke, as well as many hyperpop artists who credit emo rap as a big inspiration.

Artists:

• Lil Peep
• Wicca Phase Springs Eternal
• Horse Head
• XXXTENTACION
• Josh A & iamjakehill

Groups:

• GothBoiClique
• Sad Boys