The production of cloud rap music has been described as "hazy", often including "ethereal vocal samples" and the "aesthetics of bedroomelectronic producers". In a 2010 article, Walker Chambliss presumed that the term was invented by music writer Noz while interviewing rapper Lil B, but the interview in question did not actually include the phrase. Cloud rap artists have been noted to employ "chant-like" vocal samples, as to create a "surreal" effect. According to Nico Amarca of Highsnobiety, the genre was initially defined by the use of "nonsensical catchphrases and Twitter baits", as to parody and embrace internet culture, from which it was created. Amarca also believed Yung Lean to have changed cloud rap through his "melancholic, dreamy rapping". According to FACT, the genre describes "pretty much any lo-fi, hazy rap that makes its way to the net". Although the term "Cloud rap" has only existed since 2010, lo-fi production in Hip-hop can be traced as far back as underground Memphis Hip-hop from the 1990s. Producer Clams Casino has been credited as pioneering the cloud rap sound as early as 2010, but the general sound predates to 2006, with Viper's second album, Ready... and Willing - and especially his fifth from 2008, You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack. Phonk, which was popularized by SpaceGhostPurrp takes a lot from underground Memphis Hip-hop from the '90s which was first known to have lo-fi production in Hip-hop. The genre garnered mainstream attention when rapper A$AP Rocky debuted in 2011. Cloud rap has gotten popular on the "blogosphere", but its general interest has waned. ASAP Rocky's Live. Love. A$AP and Long.Live.A$AP have been described as cloud rap. Walker Chambliss, also known as Walkmasterflex, released 3 Years Ahead: The Cloud Rap Tape, which FACT described as defining for the genre.
Characteristics
The Characteristics of Cloud Rap is similar to lo-fi and chillwave type beats but strays from those styles with the emphasis on distorted, psychedelic samples and the inclusion of rap, which both lo-fi and chillwave traditionally lack. Cloud Rap lyrics usually revolve around themes of love and betrayal but this isn't always the case. What's unique about this subgenre is that is was internet born and its simplicity allows for amateur producers to create cloud rap beats. Cloud rap tempos can range between 80 to 160 BPM.
History
Cloud rap originated as in the late 2000s as a subgenre of southern rap and trap music that came out of Atlanta, Houston and Memphis. Cloud rap lyrics cover a wide range of topics and ideas such as sex and drugs in the lyrics of ASAP Rocky, while Swedish producer and rapper Yung Lean focuses on topics like depression and loneliness. Internet rapper Lil B may have been the first to coin the phrase "cloud rap".
Artist and producers
Notable artists of cloud rap include ASAP Rocky, especially his album Long. Live. ASAP. Playboi Carti, Main Attrakionz and Nacho Picasso have also been described as cloud rap artists because of the dreamy landscape beats in their music.
