Mumble rap, a term coined by Wiz Khalifa back in 2016, has stirred quite a controversy in the rap world. Also known as Soundcloud rap due to its widespread distribution over the platform of Soundcloud in the 2010s, its birth has been credited to rappers such as Future, Soulja Boy, and Chief Keef. Other prominent mumble rappers include Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, Lil Yachty, Tekashi69, Desiigner, and Lil Pump.
What is mumble rap you ask? Mumble Rap is a form of rap characterized with unclear-almost incomprehensible delivery of vocals over heavy bass and playful instrumentals. Contrasting significantly with the hip-hop genre it identifies with, it poses a new phase in the evolution of the genre.
To say that the genre is not very well received amongst the rappers of the 90s would be an understatement. Popular hip-hop personalities such as Eminem and J.Cole bash the mumble sound with their own songs, in their fight to preserve the sanctity of rap. The hip-hop legends of our time dub mumble rap brash and inorganic, lacking the lyrical genius and poetic style that is fundamental to the makings of any hip-hop track.
To them and others voicing their discontent, the coherency and articulation of meaning matters most in any song. And hence, for these notable figures in hip-hop, the essential elements of the hip-hop culture are lost in the same sounding repetitive meaningless beats following the same triplet pattern and using the same ad lib sound effects. They naturally then hold mumble rappers in contempt for producing songs lacking both self-identity and social awareness topping charts as soon as they are released.
Other critics of the genre blame the rapper’s laziness for producing ‘sloppy’ lyrics with no depth, and instead focusing on developing just a feel-good sound. Enjoying widespread commercial success in such a short period of time through such music with no apparent music discography to their name creates the most unfathomable and despicable thought for the older generation out there.
In addition to their music, frequent disgust from early MCs extends to the attention seeking antics used by young artists to stay relevant by ‘trolling’ their audiences. They are seen as distractions to the actual music produced by the artist – a music with just luster and no insight or substance.
The new blood in hip hop have cited various old rappers as inspiration-most of them constituting names who have come down on them with disparaging comments. The new wave claims to have adopted the genre but are putting their own twist on the outlook of music. Current artists focus more on harmonizing and creating a mood/sound rather than actively rapping. This younger generation of artists argues to change the rules of the game as we speak; assigning lyrical dexterity a backseat and putting melody and flow on the front. They focus entirely on developing tunes that are catchy and current-perfect for situations that demand the least amount of processing power by the audiences. It’s no wonder the mumble rap can be heard playing at every other club or house party.
Why do we call it mumble rap?
The term mumble rap which has come to be commonly used as a pejorative to degrade younger rappers, might not be an accurate depiction of the sub-genre to begin with. Supporters argue that the term casts a negative light on the evolution of music itself. They have shot the term as disrespectful and called out all opinions on the matter to be too subjective to be taken seriously.
The new generation of rappers have declared a moratorium on the term and call out critics for reducing their music to the sentiment of being just ‘lit’ or ‘turnt up’. Hate, therefore, spews on both sides of the generation as young rappers cast doubt over the styles used by hip-hop icons, frequently calling them overrated, old and washed up. They believe the term was born out of convenience for not really understanding what it truly means. Famous Mumble rappers such as Lil Yachty and Young Thug hardly mumble symbolizing the inconsistency of the meaning of mumble. The subcategorization of mumble rap hence doesn’t make sense.
Critics weigh in by saying that the term mumble rap is unnecessarily reductive and does not, in fact, refer to one specific type of rapping. They render that the term’s use solely conveys a gratuitous intergenerational conflict about musical taste. The term hence conveys less of how hip hop is defined in the modern age but rather more of what it signifies in current time. It oozes of the clash between the ages where the overt discomfort with new generation voices necessitates beating them at their own game via condescending labels.
The lack of control on how music is now produced, perceived and proliferated seem to strike a nerve with older talents. Young musicians have refused to conform and instead chosen to use their voices in eccentric, unparalleled ways, and against the hopes of their parents and forefathers. The objective of these young voices hence is not just about preserving the original form of rap but also to present a mirror image of today’s society. These players have honed their skill of creating a ‘good vibe’ and they believe in working smartly, rather than working hard, to capitalize on the growing demand and bank on the contemporary hype.
The future of mumble rap
Developing from an elaborate form of expression, reserving merit for lyrical skill and rhyming ability, hip-hop has seen tremendous change overtime. But hip-hop, as born in the early 80s in the Bronx, is not the only genre of music that has gone through a multi-stage process of revolution. The genres of rock and jazz have changed drastically since their inception in the 50s and 20s respectively. Some sub-genres were more popular than the others but all of them had a time and place in their vast histories.
The poster children for mumble rap might not stay as popular in the coming years, but like their predecessors, they will continue to top charts as long as there is a demand for their music. Before mumble rap was a hit, autotune was all the buzz in the music industry but the market quickly shifted and artists moved on to create other sensations. Today, autotune is used by respected artists not as a showcase of their artistry but as a stylistic choice on a couple of tracks. These artists don’t get bashed because they have already established their talents without the consumption of fads and frills.
The word RAP presents two ends of a spectrum-Rhythm and Poetry. Artists like Kendrick Lamar use poetry to define the genre but artists like Desiigner and Future extend more into the rhythm aspect. The beauty of music as an art form is that it is ever-evolving and changing. While there are stronger and weaker suits to every artist, the presence of such a variety and diversity of music associated with the hip-hop genre speaks volumes about its rich history. There are melodies and lyrics for every time and every person. As boundaries between subgenres continue to blur, the question of what constitutes authentic rap might be a one that is not relevant at all.
The need for mumble rap music perhaps sprung from people’s reluctance to hearing just instrumentals-a touch of meaningless vocalization perhaps provided the perfect concoction for creating a carefree vibe and a hustle-free mood. Although it is used majorly by young rappers as a technical choice of delivery to the discontentment of veterans, maybe sometime later it could be used as a stylistic choice to the nonchalance of every audience.
