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

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.

Copyright 2026 NPR

Kat Lonsdorf is reporter for NPR, often covering national security and international stories. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Juana Summers is a host of NPR's All Things Considered.
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