Forget K. Dot, J. Cole, and Drake for a second — who is your Soundcloud “Big Three?” Are you more into the emo rap sounds of Juice WRLD, Uzi, or XXXTENTACION? Or do you prefer more of a story mixed into the trap sound, like with 21 Savage, Trippie Redd, or $uicideboy$? Before TikTok, SoundCloud had the potential to make an underground rapper go viral, turning an unknown name into a household name.
The platform gave those who succeeded on it an edge, bypassing traditional industry gatekeepers (like labels) by utilizing its easy upload system, DIY promotion, and wide reach.
Below, we’re looking back at the biggest rappers from that era of the internet, and there’s a conversation to be made about SoundCloud’s “Big Three” from when the platform had a chokehold on music and artist discovery.
Juice WRLD — 38 billion streams
The late rapper has had plenty of hits on SoundCloud, including “All Girls Are The Same,” “rich and blind :(“ and of course “Lucid Dreams.” Juice WRLD had an honest POV on love, loneliness, and addiction while providing a safe space for his fans as well. Gaining popularity on SoundCloud, he not only brought in impressive streaming numbers but earned his place as a pioneer of “emo rap.”
“Juice WRLD’s legacy is the most phenomenal legacy we’ve ever seen in Chicago. My little brother is now the most highest-paid Chicago artist, top five most streamed ever. I’m getting chills just talking about it. My little brother lost his life so we’re just gonna celebrate it,” G Herbo said at the 2nd Annual Juice WRLD Day.
XXXTENTACION — 34 billion streams
The Florida rapper made a big impact before his tragic passing in June 2018. Some of his biggest songs include “i don’t want to do this anymore,” “Fuck Love,” and “A GHETTO CHRISTMAS CAROL” (perfect to play as you put up the tree). The artist blended lo-fi sounds with the “emo rap” Juice WRLD was known for, creating his own unique space for fans to mosh or cry to his music. Despite his controversies, he still has a strong fanbase to this day that celebrates his music and legacy.
“While X’s music can feel incomplete judging by the length of some of these tracks, I think it’s a clever ploy to capitalize on replay value. The hooks are contagiously catchy and the beats compliment them similarly. Out of all the soundcloud rappers to blow up, you can tell there was something a little special in this one,” AOTY user AffanAhmad said about his 2018 album “?”
21 Savage — 32 billion streams
Whether riding with Metro Boomin, standing alongside Drake, or solo dolo, 21 Savage is making Atlanta proud. His must-hear songs on the platform include “Glock in My Lap,” “Dip Dip,” and “Red Opps.” He took the gritty street rap style of other pioneers like Jeezy, T.I., and Gucci Mane and added his own modern production and influential lyrics, earning him the status of a SoundCloud GOAT.
The only rapper on this year’s Time100 list of most influential people, his fanbase is not the only ones who are riding behind the British-born and Southern-raised artist.
“21 maintains an authenticity that resonates deeply. His approach to rap is refreshingly genuine; he speaks to us in a relatable way, effortlessly navigating the complexities of the genre. Whether he tackles weighty subjects or offers moments of levity, his delivery remains compelling,” Burna Boy said in his Time100 profile on “The Slaughter King.”
Lil Uzi Vert — 30 billion streams
Time to bust out your best shoulder moves with Uzi, whose biggest SoundCloud songs include “The Way Life Goes (feat. Oh Wonder), “XO Tour Llif3,” and “Buy It.” They became the most followed artist on SoundCloud in 2016 due to their punk rap style, killer fashion sense, and quirky personality.
Their recent project might not have hit like previous albums, but Uzi is still beloved by both hip-hop’s biggest fans and artists (even following a similar path like them).
“Just as Dr. Dre bent and damn near broke the rules of rap for the greater good in the early stages of his career, Lil Uzi Vert is crusading to do the same,” HipHopDX said in their review on 2020’s Eternal Atake.
$uicideboy$ — 16 billion streams
The Louisiana duo made their impact on SoundCloud throughout the years with songs like “1000 BLUNTS,” “KILL YOURSELF (Part III),” “…AND TO THOSE I LOVE, THANKS FOR STICKING AROUND.” While they’ve made waves on the platform, the $uicideboy$ don’t think they get the credit they deserve.
“I feel like we’re not thrown into the SoundCloud rap genre. I feel like we should be because we had a big part in it. I feel like when people throw out the SoundCloud term they’re really more focusing on the mumble rap, whatever the hell that is. But I would like to be included more in the SoundCloud rap list because there’s sort of a renaissance going on with this digital age…,” Ruby da Cherry said in a 2018 interview with Complex.
They have a sound reminiscent of horrorcore rappers of the past, like Insane Clown Posse, while discussing edgier topics like mental health and sex that resonates with fans.
Trippie Redd — 16 billion streams
The rapper helped put Ohio on the map when it came to emo rap and rage trap. Some of his biggest SoundCloud hits include “Miss the Rage” with Playboi Carti, “Love Scars/You hurt me,” and “Love Scars 3.” His dark music, speaking about love, pain, addiction, and hatred, inspired other SoundCloud rappers in the game, like XXXTENTACION, and brought on a new wave of fans more intrigued by his softer melodies than the thumping heavier tracks the platform was associated with.
Discussing his 2018 album Life’s A Trip, AOTY user jordymusic said that “the tracks on the record offer a great variation in mood and tempo and Trippie is just as intriguing in his soulful melancholy singing as he is in his lyrically savvy and upbeat rapping. LIFE’S A TRIP offers a coherent collection varying from emotional downbeat rhythms to high velocity bangers and Trippie deserves credit for his consistency throughout.”
Playboi Carti — 16 billion streams
Carti’s music goes beyond just milly rocking to “Magnolia.” Some of his biggest songs on the platform are a bit older, like “Broke Boi,” “love hurts” with Travis Scott, and “Fetti.” His catchy ad-libs, memorable lyrics (yes, “jump out the house” is still stuck in our head), and dark vamp aesthetic earned him a loyal fanbase (that is always ready to drag him over music delays).
“Carti is meant to be played in the background at parties or when you’re just trying to vibe, which is why it’s not lyrically impressive, because you’re not supposed to pay attention to the lyrics. Carti’s content relies on the hype rage beats, and his energetic vocals which are usually said in a call and response type of manner similar to Crunk and Hyphy music in the early 2000’s. These combined together make super addictive and hype music despite not being that lyrical,” Reddit user Intelligent_Dumba**_ said in a 2022 post.
