Cloud rap is a subgenre of hip-hop characterized by ethereal, lo-fi production, reverb-drenched vocals, and dreamy atmospheres. Pioneered by artists like Lil B, Clams Casino, A$AP Rocky, and Yung Lean in the early 2010s, cloud rap blended internet culture, vaporwave aesthetics, and experimental production.
Based God & Clams Casino
Lil B (The Based God) pioneered cloud rap’s stream-of-consciousness lyricism and positive internet persona. Producer Clams Casino created the genre’s signature sound with hazy, ambient beats for Lil B and A$AP Rocky. A$AP Rocky’s Live.Love.A$AP (2011) brought cloud rap to mainstream hip-hop.
Sad Boys & Yung Lean
Swedish rapper Yung Lean and his Sad Boys collective introduced European melancholy to cloud rap, blending vaporwave, internet irony, and emotional vulnerability. Tracks like “Ginseng Strip 2002” and “Kyoto” became cult classics, influencing emo rap and SoundCloud rap.
Legacy & Influence
Cloud rap’s dreamy production influenced mainstream hip-hop (Travis Scott, Kid Cudi) and emo rap (Lil Peep, Juice WRLD). The genre’s internet-first distribution and DIY aesthetics anticipated SoundCloud rap’s dominance. By the late 2010s, cloud rap’s sound had been absorbed into broader hip-hop trends.
Sources:
- Clams Casino production: https://pitchfork.com/
- Yung Lean interviews: https://www.thefader.com/