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trap pesado

Trap Pesado

Brazil · 2010s
IntenseDarkDancingEpicSad

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Description

Trap pesado is a Brazilian substyle of trap characterized by hard‑hitting, saturated 808s, clipped kicks, and ominous, minor‑key melodies. It emphasizes density and impact: dark pads or detuned synth leads sit under tight snare rolls and rapid, syncopated hi‑hats, while bass slides and distortion push the low end to the front.

Lyrically it leans toward street realism, braggadocio, and nightlife imagery, often reflecting Brazil’s contemporary urban scenes. Compared with more melodic or plug‑influenced variants, trap pesado favors an aggressive, weighty mix and a colder, grittier mood designed for both club sound systems and headphone impact.


Sources: Spotify, Wikipedia, Discogs, RYM, MB, user feedback and other online sources

History

Origins (early–mid 2010s)

Brazil’s trap ecosystem grew in parallel with U.S. trap, but local producers quickly pushed toward a heavier aesthetic—boosting 808 saturation, tighter sidechain, and darker timbres. São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro crews drew on the energy of Brazilian funk’s sound‑system culture while adapting Southern U.S. trap drum language.

Consolidation (late 2010s)

Independent labels, YouTube channels, and producer collectives normalized the “pesado” mix approach: sub‑bass slides, clipped kicks, and gritty melodies became signatures. The approach contrasted with melodic or emo‑tinged currents, carving out a lane for club‑oriented, high‑impact beats and assertive flows.

2020s: Scene building and regional flavors

Streaming acceleration and beat marketplaces helped standardize production templates (140–150 BPM double‑time feel, modular drum kits, and heavy master loudness). Regional scenes (RJ, SP, Northeast) added local slang and cadences, and collaborations with funk and drill acts blurred lines while keeping the hallmark weight and darkness of trap pesado intact.

How to make a track in this genre

Tempo, groove, and drums
•   Work around 140–150 BPM with a double‑time/half‑time trap feel. •   Build hi‑hat patterns with rapid 1/16ths, 1/32 note bursts, triplet stutters, and syncopated open‑hat accents. •   Use tight, cracking snares (often layered with a clap) on beats 3 (half‑time feel), plus ghost notes and rolls for momentum.
Low end and sound design
•   Prioritize an 808 with long tails, pitch slides, and controlled but aggressive saturation. Clip the kick/808 bus subtly to achieve the characteristic “weight.” •   Sidechain hats and melodic layers to the kick/808 so the low end dominates without masking. •   Choose dark timbres: detuned bells, minor‑key pads, chromatic runs, eerie leads, or filtered choirs. Keep arrangements sparse to let the bass breathe.
Harmony and melody
•   Write in minor keys (Aeolian, Phrygian colors) with short, looping motifs (4–8 bars). Use tension notes (b2, b6) and dissonant intervals for menace. •   Add occasional risers, reverse cymbals, and tape‑stop FX to mark transitions without overcrowding.
Vocals and lyrics
•   Flows are assertive and percussive; leave space for 808 punches. Record with close, dry vocals, then add light slap delay and short plate for presence. •   Themes often include street narratives, status/flex, nightlife, and local slang—delivered with a confident, sometimes confrontational tone.
Mixing and loudness
•   Aim for a forward, loud master (but keep transients intact). Use multiband saturation on the low‑mid to enhance perceived weight. •   Carve 200–400 Hz mud; notch conflicting hat harshness (7–10 kHz) while preserving bite. •   Reference on small speakers and club systems to ensure the 808 reads clearly at multiple volumes.

Best playlists

The Sound of Trap Pesado
The Sound of Trap Pesado
Every Noise at Once
Trap Pesado
Trap Pesado
Chosic
Trap Pesado Mix
Trap Pesado Mix
Spotify
Best of Trap Pesado
Best of Trap Pesado
volt.fm

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in this genre
Influenced by
Trap
Trap is a subgenre of hip hop that emerged from the Southern United States, defined by half-time grooves, ominous minor-key melodies, and the heavy use of 808 sub-bass. The style is characterized by rapid, syncopated hi-hat rolls, crisp rimshot/clap on the backbeat, and cinematic textures that convey tension and grit. Lyrically, it centers on street economies, survival, ambition, and introspection, with ad-libs used as percussive punctuation. Production is typically minimal but hard-hitting: layered 808s, sparse piano or bell motifs, dark pads, and occasional orchestral or choir samples. Vocals range from gravelly, staccato deliveries to melodic, Auto-Tuned flows, often using triplet cadences.
Drill
Drill is a subgenre of hip hop that emerged on Chicago’s South Side in the early 2010s. It is defined by stark, menacing production; booming 808 sub‑bass with frequent pitch slides; skittering hi‑hats; and sparse, minor‑key melodies built from pianos, synth pads, strings, bells, or eerie soundscapes. Vocals are typically deadpan or urgent, with ad‑libs punctuating lines. Lyrically, drill foregrounds raw street reportage—survival, trauma, crews, and contested territory—often delivered with bleak realism. Tempos in original Chicago drill tend to sit around 60–75 BPM (often felt in double‑time), while later UK and New York scenes adopt 130–145 BPM grids with off‑kilter snare placement and distinctive sliding 808 patterns. The overall aesthetic prioritizes weighty low end, rhythmic tension, and an uncompromising mood.
Phonk
Phonk is a dark, sample-heavy microgenre of hip hop and trap that resurrects the gritty aesthetics of 1990s Memphis rap. It blends chopped-and-screwed vocals, ominous minor-key loops, lo‑fi textures, and overdriven 808s to create a woozy, menacing atmosphere. While early phonk leaned on slowed vocal samples and cassette‑era grit, a later offshoot known as drift phonk foregrounded hard‑clipping 808 bass and bright cowbell patterns at faster tempos, becoming synonymous with car/drift videos and social media virality. Across its variants, phonk is united by retro Southern rap DNA, tape‑worn sonics, and an underground, DIY producer culture.
Southern Hip Hop
Southern hip hop is a regional style of hip hop that arose across the American South and is defined by heavy 808 bass, syncopated drum programming, and a distinctive Southern drawl and slang. It blends club-ready rhythms with storytelling about regional pride, street realities, and everyday hustle. Sonically, it ranges from the minimalist, chant-driven energy of New Orleans bounce to the eerie, lo-fi darkness of early Memphis tapes and the syrupy, slowed textures of Houston’s chopped-and-screwed technique. In Atlanta, it incubated trap’s rolling hi-hats and sub-bass, while Miami pushed party-forward, bass-saturated tracks. The genre emphasizes powerful low end, catchy hooks, and call-and-response energy, and it fostered a strong independent label culture (No Limit, Cash Money) that shaped the modern rap business.
Funk Brasileiro
Funk brasileiro (also known internationally as baile funk) is an urban dance music from Brazil that grew out of Rio de Janeiro’s favela party culture. It took the skeletal templates of Miami bass and electro, then reimagined them with Portuguese lyrics, crowd‑shouting hooks, and Afro‑Brazilian rhythmic ideas. The sound is defined by booming 808 sub‑bass, punchy drum programming, and chant‑like vocals designed for participation on the dance floor. While early tracks typically sat around 130–140 BPM with the iconic tamborzão groove, later waves popularized 150 BPM energy and an even more percussive, hard‑hitting feel. Lyrically it ranges from party anthems and romantic “melody” cuts to street reportage and social commentary. Over time it branched into many substyles—proibidão, ostentação, 150 BPM/mandelão, automotivo, and pop‑crossover hybrids—while influencing global pop, rap, and club music.
Has influenced
Trap Carioca
Trap carioca is a Rio de Janeiro–rooted branch of Brazilian trap that fuses the half‑time 808 power of U.S. trap with the swing, percussion accents, and party ethos of funk carioca. Built on booming 808 sub‑bass, triplet hi‑hats, and minor‑key loops, it often layers or references the tamborzão and other baile funk drum idioms, local slang, and narratives of favela life, hustle, style, and romance. The result is a gritty yet polished sound that can slide between cold, nocturnal menace and swaggering dance energy, reflecting Rio’s street reality and club culture.
Scream Rap
Scream rap is a high-intensity rap style defined by screamed, shouted, or harsh-vocal delivery over trap-leaning beats. Rather than relying on metal-style guitars, it typically keeps a hip-hop rhythmic core—808s, rattling hi‑hats, and booming sub-bass—while pushing vocals and drums into aggressive saturation and intentional clipping. The result is a cathartic, visceral sound that fuses the emotional volatility of screamo and hardcore punk with the swagger, rhythm, and production grammar of contemporary rap. Lyrical themes often center on rage, alienation, mental health, and internet-era nihilism, but also on boastful energy designed for moshpits and explosive live shows.

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