The trap music genre has become a global phenomenon influencing the sound of music way beyond its original rap music roots. What sets the best trap beatmakers apart is their ability to create a signature sound and style that’s instantly recognizable. In this post, we run down our top ten trap beatmakers who have cemented their place with unique and influential styles.

1. Metro Boomin

  • Signature Sound: Metro Boomin has helped to shape the modern trap sound. His beats have an eerie, atmospheric and often melancholic feel. His signature sound blends minimalist melodies with heavy 808 basslines. this creates an intense, moody vibe that has proven popular amongst high profile artists. Unlike many of his fellow trap producers Metro Boomin happily embraces the sampling of old records. He has even recently started to experiment with AI-created samples.
  • Techniques: Metro Boomin is known for his use of space and restraint. His beats are alloud to breathe so the artists have room to shine. He uses dark, haunting synths often with a cinematic feel. He also occasionally samples 3rd party sources.
  • Signature Equipment: Roland TR-808, FL Studio, Omnisphere

2. Zaytoven

  • Signature Sound: Zaytoven’s beats are instantly recognizable as they have a bright, playful quality to them. Melodically, Zaytoven is highly influenced by classical and gospel music traditions. This can be heard in his signature piano riffs which he layers over trap drums, making for a unique blend of spirituality and street-savvy beats.
  • Techniques: Zaytoven is a classically trained musician and hence a wizard on the keys. His process involves improvising piano loops live in the studio. He will then build his beats up with additional instrumentation to create an organic, soulful feel.
  • Signature Equipment: Yamaha Motif keyboard, FL Studio

3. Southside (808 Mafia)

  • Signature Sound: Southside’s beats are known for their grittiness and hard-hitting energy. They feature a blend of aggressive 808s and menacing synthesizers. His signature sound falls very much in the street trap bracket. His beats command attention due to there raw and in-your-face booming and distorted basslines.
  • Techniques: A master of sound manipulation, Southside’s trademark 808’s are heavily processed with distortion and reverb to emphasize their power. He also uses a lot of layering, combining simple melodies with tension-filled soundscapes.
  • Signature Equipment: FL Studio, the Gross Beat plugin, Massive

4. Murda Beatz

  • Signature Sound: Murda Beatz specialises in highly melodic trap beats with lush chords and bright, intricate instrumentation. His sound can vary between laid-back vibes and high-energy bangers. This range demonstrates his versatility as a producer. His combination of smooth melodic grooves with hard in-your-face 808 basslines gives his beats a very distinctive sound.
  • Techniques: Murda uses extreme contrasting of hard-hitting 808s with smooth, melodic loops. His arrangements favour a minimalist approach that focuses on clean mixes and simple patterns. He always makes sure there is plenty of space for artists to shine.
  • Signature Equipment: FL Studio, Omnisphere

5. London on da Track

  • Signature Sound: London on da Track’s beats are known for their lush qualities. They lean towards a cinematic feel, drawing from orchestral elements like strings and piano. The contrast of rich orchestration and hard-edged trap rhythms make his sound bold and dramatic. Additionally, his beats always have a polished, clean feel to them. There is a strong emphasis on arrangement and structure. This makes them sound both grand as well as commercially appealing.
  • Techniques: London merges live instrumentation with trap drums and percussion. He often builds around piano loops or string sections, creating an emotional core. He then embellishes this melodic core by adding heavy 808s and crisp hi-hats to help drive the track.
  • Signature Equipment: FL Studio, Keyscape,

6. Tay Keith

  • Signature Sound: Tay Keith is synonymous for producing a more energetic, high-tempo style of trap. His sound is aggressive and unrelenting, designed to get crowds hyped with an infectious energy that resonates through the club. He combines rolling hi-hats with booming 808s to create dancefloor friendly bangers that have high-profile artists queuing up .
  • Techniques: Simple but effective melodies are looped over pounding drums. His clever interplay of hi-hats and syncopated rhythms is designed to keep the energy high. His basslines on the other hand are always full and dominating.
  • Signature Equipment: FL Studio, ElectraX plugin

7. TM88

  • Signature Sound: TM88’s signature sound is known for being experimental with a leaning towards dark, and eerie themes. He frequently uses haunting, high-pitched melodies to create a sense of tension. His unconventional sound design sees him blending distorted synths with unusual textures to give his beats an unsettling edge. TM88 is also a master at manipulating 808s. He will add heavy distortion and reverb to make his basslines hit as hard as possible. His innovative approach to rhythm, with off-kilter drum patterns, makes TN88 a highly original yet unpredictable beatmaker.
  • Techniques: TM88 uses tension-building techniques to great effect. Off-kilter rhythms and unusual sound choices go towards creating an unsettling vibe. Known for pushing boundaries with unconventional sound design, TM88 will experiment with the sort of textures that other producers might shy away from.
  • Signature Equipment: Serum, ElectraX

8. Wheezy

  • Signature Sound: Wheezy’s signature sound is best described as atmospheric and melodic. it generally features shimmering synth sounds and deep basslines to provide a dreamy, otherworldly musical backdrop. His beats are smooth and ethereal, blending melodic loops with a hard-hitting trap backbone.
  • Techniques: Wheezy is a master of layering sounds. He creates intricate patterns that evolve as the song progresses. He uses subtle effects and reverb to add depth, while his skillful drum programming ensures every beat he produces knocks hard.
  • Signature Equipment: Serum, Nexus

9. Honorable C.N.O.T.E.

  • Signature Sound: Honorable C.N.O.T.E.’s signature sound is dramatic and epic in nature. He uses a cinematic approach and orchestral elements to great effect. His sound pallet is stacked with Grandiose string sections, brass, and choir samples. live instrumentation also plays a large part giving his music an original and larger-than-life quality. In C.N.O.T.E.’s song arrangements, he uses dynamic transitions and build-ups. This helps to enhance the intensity and impact of his productions.
  • Techniques: C.N.O.T.E. uses a lot of layering to create thick, textured soundscapes. He frequently composes using choir samples, strings, brass and woodwind instruments.
  • Signature Equipment: Akai MPC Renassiance, NI Kontakt

10. Pi’erre Bourne

  • Signature Sound: Pi’erre Bourne’s beatmaking is characterized by its playful melodies and airy, atmospheric synths. This combination often creates a bright, upbeat feel which is not particularly common in trap. He frequently uses offbeat rhythms and percussive patterns. Pi’erre is synonymous with layering vocal samples and chopped melodies. His blend of tight trap drums and light synths create an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality that stands him apart from the darker tones typical in trap music.
  • Techniques: Pi’erre uses vocal samples and chopped-up melodies to create movement in his beats. His programming uses offbeat patterns and unorthodox arrangements.
  • Signature Equipment: Nexus, ElectraX

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