Keeping Up With Hip-Hop Trends: From Boom Bap to Drill, the Game Keeps Evolving

King Of Hearts V
Jun 13
2 min read

hip hop band mural with instruments waiting to be used. — Commemorating Hip-Hop Culture

WavRoot Editorial | wavroot.com/blog

Man… hip-hop ain't what it used to be — and that’s not a bad thing. If you’ve been around long enough, you know this culture moves fast. One minute it’s cassette

tapes and Timberlands, next thing you know, it’s all 808s and TikTok challenges.

But here’s the truth: every style, every wave, has its place. And if you’re a producer or artist trying to keep up — you gotta know what lane you're in and how each one came to be.

Old School: The Foundation

Not just a trend in Hip-Hop. This was the birth of it all. Think Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Slick Rick — back when hip-hop was still proving itself. It was raw, simple, but powerful.Heavy on: Storytelling, breakbeats, scratchin’.Vibe: Party starters with a message underneath. Still hits if you know how to listen.

Boom Bap: Now Trending in Hip-Hop

Now this right here? This was the golden era. ‘90s New York energy — Mobb Deep, Biggie, Nas, Gang Starr. Those dusty snares, soul samples, and real lyrics. If you know, you know.Sound: Kicks that thump, snares that snap.Mood: Gritty. Honest. Unapologetically hip-hop.

Trap: From Hustler to Rapper

Trap took over in the 2000s and never looked back. Built in Atlanta, grown worldwide. It’s more than music — it’s emotion in every hi-hat. Whether you relate or not, you feel it.Sound: Heavy 808s, dark synths, catchy flows.Purpose: Pain, struggle, ambition… all wrapped in melody.

Drill: The New Voice

Drill came in hot — first in Chicago, then the UK and NYC put their stamp on it. It’s raw. It's real. It's today’s version of street storytelling.Sound: Sliding bass, haunting melodies, fast flows Energy: Unfiltered. Intense. Reflective of what’s really going on.

So What’s the Move?

Don’t get stuck in just one sound. Respect the old, study the new, and build your own thing from it. That’s how the legends did it. Hip-hop never sits still — and neither should you.

If you’re making music & not keeping up with Hip-Hop trends, you’re missing the point.

WavRoot is Here for All That

Whether you’re flipping boom bap samples or building drill packs — WavRoot gives you the space to create, sell, and build a name while owning your work.

Jump in at WavRoot.com — this platform’s built for creators who actually care about the craft.