Episode 11: Why Trap?

                                                                                                                 Image: still from Wang Bing, 'Coal Money' (2008)

An attempt to think the popular emergence of trap music around the mid-2000s. Draws on Neil Smith's concept of the "revanchist city" in post-Fordism. Also thinks trap rap as a unique form of work music.

Tracklist (instrumentals for Ofcomm)
Rich Gang, Imma Ride (instrumental)

Chief Keef, Love Sosa (Instrumental)

Trinidad James, feat. T.I., Young Jeezy, BPM (Instrumental)

OJ da Juiceman, feat Gucci Mane, Make the Trap Say Aye (Instrumental)

Rick Ross, Trap Love (Instrumental)

Young Dolph, Preach (Instrumental)

Wacka Flocka Flame, Hard in da Paint (Instrumental)

Young Jeezy, Guess Who Back (Instrumental)

Chief Keef, Trap (Instrumental)

Young Thug, Stoner (Instrumental)

Nicki Minaj, Feat 2 Chainz, Beez in the Trap (instrumental)

5^th Ward JP feat Kirko Bangz, Too Many Bosses (Instrumental)

Gucci Mane, Lemonade (Instrumental)

Gucci Mane, I Think I’m in Love (Instrumental)

Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y, Uber (Instrumental)

Gucci Mane, Pyrex Pot (Instrumental)

Gucci Mane, Neva Had Shit (Instrumental)

Rich Gang, Take Kare (Instrumental)

Gorilla Zoe, What It Is (Instrumental)

DJ Drama feat. Jim Jones, Rick Ross, Young Buck, Willie the Kid, Young Jeezy & T.I., Taking Pictures (Instrumental)

Fetty Wap, Trap Queen (Instrumental)

Lil Wayne feat Young Jeezy & Rick Ross, Represent Street Dream (Instrumental)

Migos, Nawfside (Instrumental)

Bun B feat Young Jeezy & Scarface – Pushin’ (Instrumental)

Boyz in Da Hood, Dem Boyz (instrumental)

Big Kuntry feat. Young Dolph – Trap Mode (Instrumental)

Young Thug – Red Star (Instrumental)

Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan – Lifestyle (Instrumental)

Gucci Mane – Spit in Your Face (Instrumental)

Young Jeezy – Mr. 17.5 (Instrumental)

Gucci Mane – Trap House (Instrumental)

UGK – It’s Supposed to Bubble (Clean version)

References

Adam Krims, Music and Urban Geography, Routledge, 2007.

Robin Kelley, Yo Mama’s Disfunktional! Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America, Beacon Press, 1998.

Michael Jeffries, Thug Life: Race, Gender, and the Meaning of Hip-Hop, University of Chicago Press, 2010.

Noah Angell, “Everything Gucci: The Poetic and Political Economy of Gucci Mane”, lecture recorded at http://beingres.org/2015/11/04/everything-gucci/