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 4:15 PM EDT

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

All Things Considered

Noah Caldwell

Patrick Jarenwattananon

Host of NPR Music's A Blog Supreme

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 host of NPR's All Things Considered.