- Maker: Zach Timmons
- Genre: Podcast
- Level: Graduate
- Program: Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media
- Course: WRIT 5340: Studies in Multimodality and Digital Media
- Instructor: Dr. Eric Mason
- Semester Created: Fall 2024
Description
In this introductory episode of “TRAP”, I discuss the origins of trap music, focusing on its pioneers– TI, Young Jeezy, and Gucci Mane– and dissecting its evolution from 2003 through 2013. We spend time listening to some of these artists’ biggest hits, as well as some of the lesser-known cuts from their albums. I also shed light on some of the producers who helped curate the sound, as well as DJs in the mixtape and blog era that helped bring a new wave of artists to the forefront. This episode exists to increase musical literacy and awareness amongst younger fans.
Reflection
I was inspired to do this “podcast” episode after numerous conversations with co-workers. Despite being only 5-6 years older than most of them, many of them had not heard of some of the artists or albums I would mention. Some of them also don’t remember life before playlists and have little to no memories of mixtapes, CDs, Limewire or the other sites that predated digital streaming platforms (DSPs). As a result, I took it upon myself to bring everyone the history of the trap genre specifically, noting its pioneers, the producers and DJs who helped curate the sound, and how it affected music consumption and the culture as a whole. In this episode, I alternate between listening sessions and commentary, looking to breakdown and condense 10 years of history into an hour-long listen. I hope you find new songs, albums and mixtapes that you enjoy, and remember — good music has no expiration date.
-Zach Timmons
