The Internet’s Most Chaotic Music Genre
Hyperpop—maximalist electronic genre mixing bubblegum pop, EDM, hip-hop, punk, emo—emerged 2017-2019 from PC Music label (A. G. Cook, SOPHIE, Danny L Harle) and popularized via Spotify’s “Hyperpop” playlist (August 2019). 100 gecs became face of movement: deliberately abrasive, meme-friendly, TikTok-viral chaos.
PC Music Origins & SOPHIE’s Influence
PC Music (London label, 2013) created deconstructed pop: exaggerated Auto-Tune, chipmunk vocals, candy-coated maximalism. A. G. Cook’s production for Charli XCX (Pop 2, Charli) brought hyperpop to mainstream consciousness. SOPHIE’s OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES (2018) Grammy nomination legitimized experimental pop’s artistry—tragic 2021 death (age 34) ended trans icon’s pioneering career.
Charli XCX, Kim Petras, Arca, Dorian Electra embraced hyperpop aesthetics. Spotify’s “Hyperpop” playlist curator Vivian Host popularized term August 2019, though artists often rejected label—preferring genre-less creativity.
100 gecs: Hyperpop’s Viral Chaos
Dylan Brady and Laura Les formed 100 gecs 2015, releasing 1000 gecs May 2019. “Money Machine” epitomized hyperpop’s maximalism: screamed vocals, sludgy bass, ska horns, dubstep drops, all in 2 minutes. Music video’s chaotic absurdism (dildo bats, inflatable costumes, meme energy) made 100 gecs TikTok darlings.
“Stupid Horse” became meme template—sped-up, slowed-down, remixed endlessly. 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues (remix album, 2020) recruited Fall Out Boy, Rico Nasty, Charli XCX, proving hyperpop’s crossover appeal. 100 gecs sold out tours despite critics calling music “unlistenable,” “annoying,” “offensive to ears.”
Cultural Impact & Backlash
Hyperpop thrived on divisiveness—fans embraced chaos, detractors dismissed as noise. TikTok’s algorithmic discovery made hyperpop unavoidable 2020-2021: sped-up vocals, glitchy effects, maximalist production becoming mainstream pop trends (Olivia Rodrigo’s “brutal,” Billie Eilish production).
March 2023: Spotify discontinued “Hyperpop” playlist, declaring genre “served its purpose.” Movement fragmented—some artists embraced “post-hyperpop,” others rejected categorization entirely. 100 gecs’ 10,000 gecs (2023) leaned into pop-punk, emo, nu-metal—abandoning hyperpop label while retaining chaotic energy.
Legacy
Hyperpop normalized:
- Maximalist production: More is more, rejecting minimalist trends
- Genre-less experimentation: Mixing pop, punk, EDM, hip-hop freely
- LGBTQ+ visibility: Trans/non-binary artists (SOPHIE, Laura Les) leading avant-garde
- Internet-native aesthetics: Meme culture, TikTok virality, deliberate “cringe”
Whether “hyperpop” persists as genre or becomes historical footnote, its influence remains—2020s pop embracing chaos, maximalism, genre collision SOPHIE, Charli XCX, 100 gecs pioneered.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperpop https://pitchfork.com/ https://www.theguardian.com/