The latest Twitter debate in the rap and R&B world is in: who created trap soul? Moreover, three answers seemed to dominate discussion, those being Drake, Bryson Tiller, and of course Kirko Bangz. In fact, a repost of the latter's 2011 hit "Drank in My Cup," claiming that it "invented" trap soul, is what started this whole discussion in the first place. While many pointed to Bangz as an originator, some championed Drizzy for innovating in the style with So Far Gone and only making it more defined as his career went on. Still, a lot of people could easily claim the title, too. After all, Tiller did name his breakout album after the sub-genre, which if you've never heard of before, is pretty self-explanatory.
Despite those popular picks, many other names came up in conversation. One was, surprisingly, Tory Lanez, which is valid even if he's more known for his legal troubles than his music nowadays. Another obvious contender for the crown is Future, who might just be one of the most influential artists across all genres. Since OVO was already on people's minds, many pointed to PARTYNEXTDOOR as an important figure in the movement, as well.
The Tweet That Sparked Discussion
Regardless of your take on its originator, it's clear that all of these artists either owe their sound to the movement or helped innovate it for even wider influence. Also, it creates an interesting debate on what elements of a career truly mark someone "creating" a genre. Kirko Bangz might have been the first to do it, from what many believe. Drake's been probably the most popular to do so, but he's played with so many other genres and influences, too. Is sticking to that sound and that sound only what makes you an innovator, or is it owed to pushing it to its highest commercial peaks?
With all these perspectives in mind, Twitter came through with some interesting takes on the matter. Since these artists all crafted significant careers in the 2010s that inspired millions, there's no true wrong answer. That being said, check out some of those takes below and chime in with your own analysis in the comments. As always, log back into HNHH for the latest great music from these artists and the trap soul genre.