2 chapters across the catalog
The origins of trap music as a genre are debated, with credit given to T.I., Gucci Mane, and producer Zaytoven for defining the sound. The signature 808 sub-bass and triplet hi-hats are identified as the core musical elements that distinguish trap from earlier genres like Crunk. The hosts contrast the positive messages of Outkast with the "blueprint" laid by Jay-Z, which romanticized the transition from drug dealing to music industry success.
Gucci Mane's early life is detailed, including his background as a scholarship student studying computer programming before being expelled for drug sales. His partnership with producer Zaytoven, who brought a Bay Area influence to the Atlanta sound, led to the hit "So Icy." The hosts highlight Gucci's entrepreneurial spirit in starting his own label, Straight Drop Records, and distributing CDs out of his car trunk.
