Fredo Santana

Have you heard of Mr. Fredo  Santana? I only heard of him from a local rapper advertising the supposed Halloween release of his upcoming album "Trappin' Ain't Dead" - except it got postponed. Fredo Santana is Chicago trap-star Chief Keef's older cousin, reppin' 300 day in and day out. I can definitely see his influence on young Keef.

In his most popular music video "Trap Life" he is seen in his natural habitat - the trap! "...." He's with his thug homies, casually cookin' up cocaine into crack, smokin' blunts, sippin' lean - you know the usual trap shenanigans. Fredo Santana is the quintessential trap artist - moreso than all of the popular ones. He actually lives in the trap - day in and day out - complete gangsta, and doesn't write the most intelligent lyrics ever. 

He's got great producers on his tapes, but somehow they managed to tear the quality to crap on a lot of his album. Renown producers like 808 Mafia, Young Chop, and Mike WiLL Made It. That might be a more of a mastering problem, putting too much gain on the limiter. They possibly did this as a stylistic element to make it seem as more of a "classic trap tape". Something that's hard to explain, you'll just have to listen to it. He also has big artists on his tape, like Soulja Boy, Chief Keef, and Future.

Throughout his mixtape "Fredo Kruger", random ad-libs are placed that say "THIS IS A TRAPAHOLICS MIXTAPE" and "Damn, son! Where'd you find this?" I think this just makes his whole trap tape seem way more amateur. This, along with the fishy quality of the tape and the terrible lyricists and rappers on the tape make the whole mixtape nearly unlistenable. I'll bump it a couple times, but more than that it'd give me a headache. This ain't no quality, classic trap tape by any means.

What Fredo does do good on is being the cliche trap artist that the world needs. He is one that sets the bar for mediocre trap music. I'll give him that. One of the biggest things about trap music is the image of the artist, and by all means is he a trap artist. He LIVES the trap life. All of his beats are very trappy, his lyrics are terrible and completely about living the trap life, and he ain't no phony. I think you can see that with his multiple facial tattoos including an upside-down cross in between his eyes, above his nose. I do respect him for sustaining the image and life of a trap-dude, but I can't say I do for more than that.

Fredo is the cliche trap artist that you think about when you hear trap. I don't know how he hasn't been arrested; he boasts about pushing kilos in every single one of his songs. Even his music video for "Trap Life", which has 1.6 million views, is of him and his "300" homies selling crack and smoking drugs. I envision Fredo's career quickly dying out from him being arrested, murdered, overdosing, or losing ambition to write a bar, as he's shown he hasn't written a good bar in his whole career. I'll make one exception "Me and Fredo got yo bi*** playin' hot potato". 

How A$AP Rocky's "Live.Love.A$AP" Redefined the Trap Game

A$AP Rocky released his debut mixtape Live.Love.A$AP two years ago on halloween. His singles "Peso" and "Purple Swag" blew up by creating low-budget viral videos filmed on the streets in Harlem, depicting the daily life of an A$AP member. Both videos had the same basic content - a crew of 20 A$AP members swagged out, walking down the streets, playing dice, smoking blunts and drinking 40's of Olde Englishe with a bad b**** or two or three.  

The producers on the tape include, Clams Casino, ASAP Ty Beats, DJ Burn One, and SpaceGhostPurrp. Production elements contain "chopped and screwed" vocals (electronically lowered voice influenced by Houston hip hop), slow tempos (influenced from Houston), many samples, and obvious trap elements were very prevalent throughout like deep 808's, emphasized hi hats, snares/claps, and on-beat rhythms. The tape carried a generally a darker tone than most Houston hip hop from the skewing of sampled vocals and chords/notes that were used in the beats. 

Rocky's vocal rhythm is something that makes him unique. Very emphasized rhythms whose lines parallel one after the other. This is an aspect of Rocky that he has kept for his career, heard in his album "Long Live A$AP".

Interestingly, a reason why A$AP's music is so unique is because he isn't from the south like most other trap artists. He's reps Harlem, New York and takes influence from Northeast rap as well - heard from his vocal content which is mostly about his life in Harlem, blowing up, and bad girls. His unique "swag" landed him a major record deal with Polo Grounds/RCA Records. During a press release, Rocky commented on his deal:

“I feel great about the new deal; I believe it was destined and with a label like Polo Grounds & RCA behind me I don’t see anything stopping us,” says A$AP Rocky. “I wanted go with the right partner that can help get a bigger platform to get me and my A$AP crew’s music and movement out. I expect to be in the same league as today’s most relevant artists, and there are just some things you can’t do on your own.  The plan is to not only release great music, culture, and style for myself and A$AP worldwide, but to also be the next major artist/exec in the business and make great business men out of my brothers.”

The reason this tape is so popular was because Rocky portrayed himself in a light that no one has seen in hip hop. His swag was different, style (clothing) different, and whole image different than that of southern hip hop. It was a breath of fresh air, and a reason for creative production inspiration. Live.Love.A$AP is an example of a widely successful experimental revolutionary tape that, in my opinion, is a masterpiece.

EDM - Where trap gets some influence

This post is gonna be a little different. In this post, I'm not going to talk about the trap I usually talk about - the hip-hop, southern culture influenced trap that is my favorite. Today, we're going to talk a little bit about EDM, a style that trap is heavily influenced by.

EDM stands for "Electronic Dance Music", a genre that quickly gained popularity in the past few years. Although the term "EDM" was first heard around 1985, that wasn't the type of EDM you think of when you hear someone say EDM. EDM really first started in the 80's and 90's with disco and analog (non-digital) synthesizers. If you take a listen to the EDM back then, you can hear some similarities.

Take a listen to this.

You can hear the similarities to modern-day EDM - syncopated and exaggerated timing, random synthesizer sounds, experimental mixing, sampling, southern "clicks", and of course the hi-hats!

Now-a-days EDM, specifically Trap EDM, uses virtually all digital synthesizers on computers. It is just way too easy to take a synthesizer on the computer and change it to sound however you'd like. No need to mess with analog anymore - it takes way too much time to set up, program, record, etc... Using MIDI keyboards (mini keyboards that plug directly in your computer) makes the EDM production world so much easier.

The EDM capital of the world is MIAMI, which hosts Ultra fest every year, a festival that is ONLY EDM. When you hear "clubbing" it's all EDM they're going to be playing. It gets everybody in the rave mood - EDM isn't supposed to be deep. It's supposed to be interesting - waiting for the bass drop, experimental sounds, crazy sampling - it's arguably the most versatile type of music because an EDM producer can add any sound they like. I've never heard two EDM songs that sound similar.

Significance of "Lean" in Trap Culture

Also known as Purple Drank, Sizzurp, Dirty Sprite, or Syrup, Lean is a mixed drink that was popularized by rappers from the "Dirty South", namely Houston, Texas, started in the early 90's. DJ Screw from Houston, Texas is most notably the man who made lean famous, who died in 2000 from a Lean OD. Pimp C, who also helped to popularize Lean, died in 2005 from a Lean OD as well. Lil Wayne is also notorious for always sippin' a styrofoam cup whenever and wherever. Now-a-days, Lean is still widely renown among the Trap/Southern Hip-Hop Culture of the US.

Lean is a mixture of the following formula:

Promethazine/Codeine Cough Syrup (only obtained by a Rx)

Original Sprite

"and jolly ranchers at the bottom!" - A$AP Rocky - Kissin Pink

All in a styrofoam cup -- double cup it to add some style! 

The Purple in "Purple Drank" comes from the Cough Syrup in the mixture. Codeine, an addictive, opioid substance, is responsible for the feeling associated with drinkin' lean. Effects include warm euphoria, mind slowing down, drowsiness, lethargy, and dissociative feeling from the body. 

There has been some controversy on what "lean" actually is. Swerve, commonly confused with lean, is Robotussin containing DXM. One rule: lean must contain Promethazine cough syrup with codeine.

This addictive substance has been glamorized by modern trap artists and rappers. Rappers condoning the use of a particularly addictive substance is controversial, and many kids look up to these rappers. They got millions in the bank, livin' the hottest lives, got the baddest chicks, and are drinkin' lean while doing it! Lil' Wayne was recently hospitalized due to a Lean OD, but he's still sippin'. Rappers like Lil' Wayne, Mac Miller, A$AP (Crew), 2 Chainz, and practically most rappers in the modern game glamorize lean as a lifestyle. 

"I got codeine in my cup! You bet your ass I'm sippin" - Mac Miller - Loud

Put it all in a styrofoam cup and enjoy. The codeine is mainly responsible for the euphoric feeling after drinking lean. Promethazine causes motor skill impairment, lethargy, extreme drowsiness, as well as a disassociative feeling from all other parts of the body, specifically the stomach and digestive system. If it doesn't have promethazine w/ Codeine, it isn't real sizzurp. 

Lean music in trap usually tries to emulate the slowed down feeling they get - bpm is usually 70-110bpm in these songs, most trap songs are around 130-150bpm. These songs are more experimental, less "in-your-face", more singing, transformed lower voices.

From a young dude's perspective on the stance of lean in trap music, the lust for lean definitely outweighs the controversy that it deserves. Many kids look up to these rappers' success, and attempt to emulate their style and sip lean, potentially getting addicted to the substance. Though I don't fully agree on sippin' lean all day, I love what it has done to the creative side of trap culture, and some of my favorite songs are solely inspired by sippin' lean. 

Elements of Trap

(Lex Luger, a famous Trap producer)

Trap music is my favorite type of Hip Hop. The way most trap hip-hop songs are produced are very similar in instrument selection, structure, and substance.

Trap-Hop originates from the "Dirty South" from the likes of Pimp C, Young Jeezy, T.I., UGK, Three Six Mafia, and Gucci Mane in the early 2000's. Trap originates from Southern Hip-Hop, or "Crunk" music. Trap used to be literally about life in "the trap", drug dealing, and the struggle to rise out of the trap. It is the only way these people knew how to live - deal drugs and be a part of gangs. Since around 2011, trap evolved to be more of a part of pop culture, and less about the real struggle of being in the trap. Trap really blew up a few years ago.

Producers like Lex Luger, 808 Mafia, Southside, Young Chop and Mike Will Made It revolutionized trap production to be catchy for most people who listen to it. These producers use sped-up hi hats, 808 sub-bass drums, synthesizers, orchestral instruments (horn section, violin section), and hard-compressed electronic snares. Production variety in trap is what I love about trap. There are countless ways to make a trap banger.

Structure revolves around the chorus, and verses leading up to the chorus. Bass-drops to add anticipation, and does not usually have a bridge. Sometimes rappers in the verses, and singers in the chorus.

Vocals in trap are usually about how "I am better than you". The song "Started from the Bottom" by Drake is pretty much the epitomy of what trap is about. Or gang stuff. Or about getting the ladies. Or anything you want it to be. Usually not very sophisticated, however.

The unique thing about trap is there is no limit to instrument selection in the production process. I can't think of any instrument that a trap song hasn't included. 

Trap Lord Drops!

The long-awaited trap tape from one of A$AP's main crew members, A$AP Ferg, was finally released on August 20th after being delayed for 6 months. Featuring popular singles such as "Shabba" and "Work", many popular trap artists like A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Schoolboy Q, Waka, and Trinidad James spit on Ferg's first studio album.

Although the name of this album is "Trap Lord", Ferg states that "I feel like it’s not just me that represents “Trap Lord.” I feel like A$AP Rocky is a “Trap Lord.” I feel like Nast is a “Trap Lord.” Wale just posted a picture on his Instagram wearing a Trap Lord sweatshirt. DJ Enuff be sending me pictures of his sons wearing Trap Lord stuff. You gonna see a lot of different new faces that represent the brand—not only the brand, but where we come from. A Trap Lord is basically the struggle to do better. It’s almost like the theme of Always Strive And Prosper (A$AP). Trap don’t necessarily mean you selling drugs. You could be selling clothes, watches, fake watches, gold teeth, hats—anything. You just trapping. And you a Lord of it."

"Trap Lord" can be characterized from its trap-style beats, obviously. Slowed down tempo, with deep subsonic electronic bass, triplet hi-hat electronic drums, synthesizers, extremely emphasized rhythms, anticipating bass drops, and  "hard" vocals about the struggle of the thug-life pretty much sums up what the basic modern trap sound is.

Before this album, Ferg only featured on songs. He has never released an album, tape, or demo for anything to listen to; that means this album is a must-listen. Ferg devoted all his heart into this record, and will be an influential classic down the road.

I find it too easy to "crunk" (a common type of dance to trap music, basically bangin' your head, moving your arms simultaneously up and down, and swaying back and forth) to this record.  Ferg made sure to carry on the legacy of A$AP with Trap Lord.