Cloud rap is a subgenre of rap that has several sonic characteristics of trap music and is known for its hazy, dreamlike and relaxed production style. Rapper Lil B and producer Clams Casino have been identified as the early pioneers of the style. The term "cloud rap" is derived from its internet origins and ethereal style.
Jonatan Aron Leandoer Håstad, known professionally as Yung Lean, is a Swedish rapper, singer and songwriter. Widely cited as one of the most influential figures in the early cloud rap era, Yung Lean rose to prominence in 2013 with his song "Ginseng Strip 2002", which went viral on YouTube. Later that same year, he released his debut mixtape, Unknown Death 2002, and the following year, he released his debut studio album, Unknown Memory.
Swedish rapper Yung Lean, has released seven studio albums, six EPs and three mixtapes.
Cold is a mixtape by American electronic musician James Ferraro, recorded in New York City and released in March 2013 on the Hippos in Tanks label. The press release stated that Cold is about "human drama" that is a part of a nihilistic period, as well as "the repetition and consumption of hedonism that cannot represent or replace one night of love." Described by one journalist as a pastiche of contemporary R&B and hip-hop, Cold contains elements of two-step, dubstep, techno and lounge music styles. Reviews of the mixtape were very favorable in general, common praises including its production and the use of Ferraro's own vocals.
Inhale C-4 $$$$$ is a mixtape by American electronic musician James Ferraro under the alias BEBETUNE$, released for free on December 14, 2011. Parodying the tropes of contemporary American hip hop music and its culture, it marks the first time in Ferraro's career that he approached such a style. Reviews of the mixtape were mostly positive, and it appeared in the top 20 of Tiny Mix Tapes' list of the best releases of 2012.
Benjamin Reichwald, known professionally as Bladee, is a Swedish rapper, singer, record producer, designer, and member of the artistic collective Drain Gang. Reichwald has released music through the Stockholm record label Year0001 since his debut mixtape Gluee in 2014. In addition to his music, Reichwald creates visual art, which frequently appears as cover art for his releases. Reichwald also serves as the creative director for Yung Lean's clothing line Sadboys Gear.
Eversince is the debut studio album by Swedish rapper and Drain Gang member Bladee. It was released on May 25, 2016 by YEAR0001. The album contains elements of hip hop, R&B, gothic rock, new wave music, and electronic music.
Drain Gang is a Swedish music collective. Consisting of Bladee, Ecco2k, Thaiboy Digital and producer Whitearmor, the group rose to one of the top Swedish music collectives in the mid-late 2010s. They are known for their frequent collaborations with fellow Swedish rapper Yung Lean and producer Gud.
Thanapat Bunleang, better known by his stage name Thaiboy Digital, is a Thai rapper, singer, producer, and fashion designer. Born in Khon Kaen, Thailand, Bunleang moved to Stockholm, Sweden at the age of eight, and is now based in Bangkok. In addition to his solo work, Bunleang is a member of the group Drain Gang.
Zak Arogundade Gaterud, known professionally as Ecco2K, is a Swedish designer, visual artist, singer, and rapper. He founded Drain Gang with childhood friends Bladee, Thaiboy Digital and Whitearmor in 2013. Having experience with graphics software since he was 5, Arogundade founded the band Krossad with Bladee, his then-classmate, in 2004. Three years later, he founded his first fashion brand, Alaska, and later joined the Swedish shoe brand Eytys. Over the next decade, Ecco2K appeared on albums with Drain Gang and directed music videos before releasing his debut solo studio album, E, in 2019. He went on to release EP PXE in 2021 and Crest in 2022, the latter with Bladee. Arogundade is known as a private and secretive person, and has incorporated queer themes in his work.
Jeremy Biddle, known professionally as Yung Bleu or Bleu, is an American rapper and singer. He is best known for his 2020 single "You're Mines Still", which peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 after it was remixed by Canadian rapper Drake.
Stardust is the fourth mixtape by Swedish rapper Yung Lean. It was released on 8 April 2022 by the label World Affairs, a sub-label of YEAR0001.
Adamn Killa is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He is noted for his collaborations with rappers of the YEAR0001 collective Yung Lean, Bladee & Thaiboy Digital, as well as his experimental approach to hip hop.
Crest is a collaborative studio album by Swedish musicians Bladee and Ecco2K, released on 17 March 2022 through Year0001. It was recorded in Sweden with producer Whitearmor, close to the recording location of the film The Seventh Seal (1957). Crest is a progressive pop album featuring Auto-Tune vocals with lyrics addressing themes of love and friendship, and multiple references to Christianity and heaven. The track "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" was released as a single in 2020. Crest was considered one of the best albums of the year by The Fader and Anthony Fantano and one of the best progressive pop albums of the year by Pitchfork.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2024.
E is the debut studio album by Swedish-British singer Ecco2K. A surprise album, it was released on 27 November 2019 through Year0001. Previously known for his work on other people's projects, Ecco2K began working on the album after leaving his day job at Eytys. It was recorded across multiple cities and executive-produced by Gud and Whitearmor. Musically, multiple reviewers noted the album's contrast with Ecco2K's previous works, in addition to its futuristic sound and personal lyrical themes. Reviewers described E as bringing Ecco2K into the spotlight, and The Fader said it was a "standout release" for 2019.
Ludwig Rosenberg, professionally known as Whitearmor, is a Swedish music producer, multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer and songwriter. He is best known for being a member of the Swedish music group and artist collective Drain Gang. His musical style has been described as softly textured and fluid.
Psykos is a collaborative studio album by Swedish musicians Bladee and Yung Lean. A surprise album, it was released on 13 March 2024 through World Affairs. Recorded in Thailand and Sweden, the album was entirely produced by Palmistry and SilentSky. HotNewHipHop highlighted songs "Golden God" and "Enemy", while Paper highlighted "Ghosts".
6 Kiss is the second full-length solo mixtape by American rapper Lil B. At 20 years old, he released the album on December 22, 2009. It follows the release of his first solo mixtape I’m Thraxx that was released on September 24, 2009. The album cover was illustrated by Benjamin Marra which depicts Lil B shirtless with a halo on his head. Clams Casino is the primary producer of the album.
Life's a Gamble is the fourth studio album by American rapper Rich the Kid, scheduled to be released on July 19, 2024, independently through RTK and Gamma. The album is executively produced by Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign; both also provide confirmed guest appearances alongside Peso Pluma, Offset, Rob49, French Montana, Chief Keef, Bia, the late Takeoff, Quavo, and Playboi Carti. It follows Rich's collaborative mixtape with Lil Wayne, Trust Fund Babies (2021), as well as his third studio album, Boss Man (2020).
