Lowend

Lowend is a subgenre of Milwaukee hip-hop that originated in Milwaukee in the 2020s. Defined by uptempo, metronome-like clapping rhythms, heavy bass, and snares, it was pioneered by artists such as

Characteristics#

Lowend is defined primarily by a steady, metronome-like rhythm of synthesized eighth note handclaps, as well as snares on the first and third counts of its beats, rumbling bass, fast tempos, and brief runtimes, typically not exceeding two minutes in length. Lowend beats are also known for being danceable and relatively minimalistic, while lyrics in lowend songs generally focus on partying, twerking, and cars. It takes influence from other hip-hop genres such as bounce, ratchet, hyphy, and twerk music.

History#

Following the local success of Detroit hip-hop-influenced Milwaukee rappers like Mari Boy Mula Mar, Chicken P, and MT Twins in the late 2010s and Milwaukee rapper Lakeyah’s signing to Quality Control in 2020, lowend first arose in the city’s lower east side, also known colloquially as the “lowends” for its street numbers being the lowest in the city. “Like Yhop” by Esco and Shawn P, which heavily utilizes a sample of Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Unwritten”, was released in March 2021 and became one of the first notable lowend songs. Lowend began receiving media attention in late 2022 and early 2023, with articles from Rolling Stone and on Pitchfork discussing its merits. By 2023, lowend artists became known for their extensive and rapid musical outputs. In early 2024, Nadine Smith wrote for The Fader that lowend had become “one of the most inventive and hyper-active rap scenes in the country”, while Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork called it “low-stakes, low-budget, high comedy dance rap” that was “heavily rooted it is in specific, hyperlocal Milwaukee sounds of the past”.

Genre family: 2020s in American music, 21st-century music genres, Hip-hop genres
Region: Wisconsin