EDM Pop Rap

tagStarted 2009Peak 2011-2015Last big hit 2019

Rap verses and shout-hooks dropped onto big-room EDM: four-on-the-floor kicks, synth builds, festival drops and sidechained pulse. Energy-maximal and chant-driven, marrying club-DJ production to a rapper's cadence. Choruses are anthemic and euphoric, engineered for arenas and radio crossover at the height of the dance-music boom.

History

The post-2009 EDM explosion pulled rappers into club production: Pitbull built a career on dance-rap anthems, while Flo Rida and LMFAO scored global No. 1s blending rap chants with house synths. Will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas' 'I Gotta Feeling' (2009) crystallized the formula. Cross-listed with Dance-Pop / Club Pop.

Defining artists

PitbullSpotify YouTube
Flo RidaSpotify YouTube
LMFAOSpotify YouTube
will.i.amSpotify YouTube
Black Eyed PeasSpotify YouTube
NellySpotify YouTube

Essential listening

Give Me Everything — Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & NayerSpotify YouTube
Good Feeling — Flo RidaSpotify YouTube
Party Rock Anthem — LMFAOSpotify YouTube
I Gotta Feeling — Black Eyed PeasSpotify YouTube
Scream & Shout — will.i.am & Britney SpearsSpotify YouTube
Timber — Pitbull ft. KeshaSpotify YouTube

← Explore Pop

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_rap
https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/
https://www.allmusic.com/style/dance-pop-ma0000002521