Trap music first emerged in the Southern U.S. during the early '90s. Atlanta gets most of the credit for it, as ATL rappers like T.I., Gucci Mane, and Young Jeezy helped define it.
It took inspiration from the distinct hip-hop sound in the Southeast at the time, which was made up of hard-hitting 808s and rapid-fire hi-hats. It was named "trap" as a nod to the streets where drug dealing and other illicit activities were prevalent. These instances are also recurring themes in most of the lyrics.
Fast forward to around 2012, and a darker, more atmospheric version of trap started to take form. This was the birth of dark trap, a subgenre that took from the typical trap structure and tied in ominous, haunting sounds and themes.
Unlike its more mainstream counterpart, dark trap is eerie and almost cinematic. It's meant to be hypnotic, unsettling, and melancholic compared to traditional trap music.
In this guide, we want to take a deeper look at where it came from, how it became such a phenomenon, and a few popular dark trap artists that we recommend looking into if you want to get into the dark trap scene.
The Elements of Dark Trap Music
Dark trap is often much more intense than regular trap music. The best way to describe it is like something out of a modern horror film.
As I said before, it's eerie and cinematic. The instrumental beds in most dark trap songs are made up of deep, ambient soundscapes with minor chord layers that make them feel tense and mysterious.
Distorted synth lines, evolving pads, and thick, ambient chords are pretty common in the modern trap sound, and this subgenre of trap music takes it to the next level. Overall, it's a twisted version of the regular trap world.
While pads and ambient synths are common, like in the Cloudymane track above, dark trap music is also known for its heavy use of distorted 808s. Rather than the clean 808s we hear a lot in the modern trap sound, these 808s are gritty and distorted to complement the often menacing energy of the instrumental beds they're under.
Check out the bass on the Freddie Dredd track below:
Glitch effects are another key element. They're often used for adding texture and unpredictability, placed as either random or strategic moments throughout the instrumental track. Sometimes, dark trap music producers will also add ambient samples, sometimes pulled from movies or eerie sound libraries, to curate a specific vibe:
In terms of tempo, dark trap is pretty similar to standard trap, in that it hovers between 130 and 150 BPM. Some artists will slow things down to allow more time for their bass and stretched samples to breathe. Often, the slower the tempo, the moodier the track.
Drum elements are also pretty much what you'd expect, including stuttering, syncopated hi-hats, hard-hitting kicks, and punchy trap snares.
Lyrically, dark trap music can vary. Some of the most popular dark trap songs explore introspective, melancholic, and often horror-inspired topics from the streets.
Influential Dark Trap Artists and Tracks
This subgenre of trap music has now been around for more than a decade, and while many artists have had their go at making dark trap music, there are a few early pioneers that really helped shape the sound we know today.
Gameface, for example, was one of the first producers to dive deep into the ominous atmosphere that now defines the genre. "Karakorum," for example, brought together haunting Arabic vocals over heavy bass and distorted 808s, laying the foundation for what would become a signature sound of dark trap.
BLVCK is another key figure in the dark trap music movement. Their track "HORROR" was released almost a decade ago to date.
This track screams dark trap, with its use of eerie church bells, screechy samples and synths, and horror textures and samples strewn throughout. It's chaotic and unsettling, much like the other songs that came out of the dark trap scene early on.
I also recommend checking out BVNDITS for a more cinematic dark trap sound:
While the artists above contributed to the genre’s early growth, mainstream artists didn't start popping up until many years later.
Nowadays, $uicideboy$ is arguably one of the most popular dark trap artists in the industry. The duo formed in New Orleans back in 2013, and with their array of abrasive, self-produced Soundcloud releases, these trap rappers began pushing dark trap to a wider audience.
With gritty lyricism, eerie, ambient production, and a unique vocal style, they've earned themselves a massive following.
The duo's biggest track to date is "Antarctica," which samples Deadmau5's "I Remember." Though the legality of the sampling was controversial at first, it propelled them to mainstream fame.
Ghostemane is a another one of the big dark trap artists right now.
Known for blending metal and rap with dark trap influences, he has played a significant role in bringing the genre to the forefront. His raw, aggressive style, can be heard in tracks like "Mercury: Retrograde," which made him one of the most prominent figures in the dark trap scene.
The track is lined to the brim with FX, which is a departure from what you'd typically hear in modern hip-hop mixes. It's heavily distorted, processed, and "messy" from a traditionalist standpoint.
Now, of course, we can't go without mentioning Night Lovell. His track, "Joan of Arc," which he made in collaboration with $uicideboy$, is one of the hardest, haziest, and most menacing tracks I've ever had the pleasure of hearing.
One of his older tracks, "Dark Light," is also worth listening to if you want to take a deeper dive into the history of dark trap music.
Production Techniques: The Dark Trap Sound
Dark trap music is all about the atmosphere, and that begins with sound design.
Sound Design
In most dark trap tracks, you'll hear atmospheric pads, reversed samples, and ambient textures, which act as the foundation. These are the elements that help build that haunting and eerie atmosphere we've discussed thus far.
So, where do you find these kinds of sounds?
Well, you can start by taking pads or ambient textures from sampling platforms and stretching or pitching them down, then drowning them in large reverbs. Reversed samples are also pretty common, as they can make a beat feel unsettling or almost disorienting.
From there, you can explore using ambient sounds, such as wind, distant voices, or horror FX. Many dark trap music producers will weave these sounds into the background to give their tracks depth or a more cinematic feel. I like them as ear candy, especially in more repetitive beats.
Drums
In terms of drum programming, dark trap tends to follow traditional trap rhythms. The kicks are heavy and punchy, and producers will often use distortion to make them hit harder and feel more aggressive.
You'll also hear the same snappy, 808-style snares, which provide that sharp, crackling sound.
Hi-hats are typically fast and rapid. 8th and 16-note rhythms are common, with rolls and stutters throughout.
Bass
Bass is part of what defines the dark trap genre.
808s are a big part of it, though rather than the clean, subby 808s you might hear on radio-ready rap music, these are often large, resonant, and distorted, creating a growling, rumbling, speaker-shaking effect for impact.
The bass sounds are often made more interesting with pitch-shifting, modulation, and saturation. Some producers will even layer multiple 808s and adjust the attack, release, and distortion settings on each to essentially comp together the best portion of each sample or sound.
The whole goal is to stray away from the traditional 808 tone.
Effects
Effects processing is where things really get interesting.
Reverb is a must in dark trap production. It's used to create space and atmosphere, and is often applied to just about everything at some level or another. This can include pads, vocals, or drums. The idea is to create a sense of vastness.
Delay, while not as common as reverb, can be helpful when trying to make samples or melodies sound more eerie. It's also used for vocal throws and FX.
What DAWs are Best for Making Dark Trap?
As for the DAWs and tools that work best for dark trap production, most producers lean toward FL Studio, Ableton Live, or Logic Pro, as they're flexible and easy to use.
I'm particularly a fan of Ableton Live, as I love the stock samples and effects. It's super easy to lay arrange in as well, thanks to the Arrangement View.
While you can do a lot of your work with samples, I also recommend getting some VST plugins to experiment with. Some of the VSTs I use most often for trap music include:
These offer an endless array of synths, atmospheric pads, cinematic sounds, and FX.
As for specialized effects plugins, I recommend checking out:
- Soundtoys Decapitator (phenomenal analog distortion)
- FabFilter Saturn (creative multiband saturator)
- Cableguys Shaperbox 3 (unique rhythmic effects plugin)
Cultural Impact and Community
YouTube has played a massive role in promoting the genre, with channels like DARKTRAP and Legion of Trap creating spaces where fans and producers can share their favorite tracks, discover new music, and collaborate on projects.
These channels often curate mixes of underground artists, giving exposure to those who may not have the resources or connections to reach wider audiences.
TikTok and Instagram have also contributed to the genre's rise, especially through viral memes and "aesthetic" style videos. TikTok, in particular, has helped dark trap songs find mainstream success, with tracks being used as soundtracks for various trends and dances.
Visually, dark trap is often associated with horror and gothic imagery.
Many of the album covers, music videos, and promotional artwork frequently feature dark, moody visuals with distorted faces, blood-red skies, and urban decay. This aesthetic has become a hallmark of the genre.
Final Thoughts - The Future of Dark Trap Music
Dark trap, as a subgenre of trap music, has evolved far beyond its underground roots, leaving a dark, significant mark on the modern music scene. Originally defined by its haunted, gritty sound and heavy use of synthesized drums, bass, and ambient effects; dark trap continues to influence not only artists within the genre but also those from similar genres, like hip-hop and electronic music.
As with any genre, the best way to explore is to listen! So take a day and enjoy sinking into the edge of darkness.
