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Description
New Jazz is a contemporary subgenre of trap music that emerged from the underground SoundCloud scene. Despite its name, it is distinct from the 'Nu Jazz' of the 1990s. It is characterized by colorful, repetitive synthesizer melodies, often utilizing jazz-influenced 7th and 9th chords, paired with 'wonky' or off-kilter 808 basslines and bouncy, complex trap drum patterns. The sound is often described as psychedelic, playful, and experimental, bridging the gap between the aggression of Rage beats and the melodic sensibilities of Pluggnb.
History
The genre known as 'New Jazz' (distinct from the electronic jazz fusion of the 90s) originated around 2021-2022 within the online underground hip-hop and SoundCloud communities.
It was pioneered and popularized largely by the rapper Lunchbox and the producer Amir pr0d. Seeking to evolve the sound of contemporary trap beyond the saturated 'Rage' and 'Pluggnb' sounds, these artists began experimenting with jazz music theory—specifically 7th and 9th chords—applied to synthetic instrumentation.
The term 'New Jazz' was initially coined by Lunchbox, partly as a playful descriptor for his fresh sound which treated his vocals like a saxophone solo weaving through the beat. The style quickly gained traction on platforms like TikTok and SoundCloud, influencing a wave of producers to adopt the 'wonky' basslines and bright, video-game-esque melodies that define the genre today.
How to make a track in this genre
To compose New Jazz, start with a tempo between 130 and 140 BPM.
For the melody, use electric piano or bright synth VSTs (like Arturia Analog Lab or Purity) to lay down chord progressions rich in 7th and 9th chords, giving it that 'jazzy' harmonic complexity. Create repetitive, hypnotic lead melodies that sit on top of these chords.
The drums should be bouncy and intricate; use sharp claps or snares (often placed slightly off-grid or with unique patterns) and busy hi-hat rolls.
The defining feature is the bass: use a short, punchy, and 'wonky' 808 that often slides or plays unexpected notes within the scale, creating a sense of controlled chaos.
Vocals are typically delivered with a laid-back, flow-heavy style, often chopped or heavily processed to act as an additional instrument.
