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The birth of trap music and the rise of southern hip-hop

NPR | By Noah Caldwell,
Patrick Jarenwattananon, Kat Lonsdorf, Juana Summers
Published August 10, 2023 at 3:15 PM CDT
T.I.'s 2003 album, Trap Muzik, gave a name to a specific flavor of Atlanta rap that reflected the city's street culture.
Vivien Killilea
T.I.'s 2003 album, Trap Muzik, gave a name to a specific flavor of Atlanta rap that reflected the city's street culture.

In 2003, T.I. and other Atlanta rappers created new subgenre of rap: trap music. Twenty years later, its influence is everywhere.

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Noah Caldwell
Patrick Jarenwattananon
Kat Lonsdorf
Kat Lonsdorf is reporter for NPR, often covering national security and international stories. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Juana Summers
Juana Summers is a co-host of NPR's All Things Considered, alongside Ailsa Chang, Ari Shapiro and Mary Louise Kelly. She joined All Things Considered in June 2022.