Cloud rap feels like music floating through smoke, dreamy, hazy, and hypnotic. The first time I heard it, I knew it wasn’t like anything else in hip hop.
Have you ever listened to a song that instantly pulled you into another world? That’s the power of cloud rap. It isn’t just another subgenre!
The first cloud rap artists weren’t chasing charts; they were building something that felt otherworldly. Step into this sound and you hear not just music, but the online era that shaped it.
In the sections ahead, I’ll show you the origins, key artists, and playlists that keep cloud rap alive worldwide.
What is Cloud Rap?
Cloud rap began in the early 2010s through internet mixtapes from artists like Lil B and Main Attrakionz, with Clams Casino’s beats shaping its sonic foundation.
The sound is instantly recognizable for its dreamy, surreal production that feels floating and atmospheric.
Vocals are often reverb-heavy and paired with laid-back flows, creating a floating effect.
Lyrically, the genre leans toward themes of introspection, melancholy, and drug use, offering an almost meditative space within hip hop’s broader landscape.
Notable Cloud Rap Artists
If you came here to find out who defines cloud rap, here’s the list, with pioneers, mainstream stars, and underground talent.
The Pioneers
These early figures gave cloud rap its identity, mixing hazy beats and internet-first releases. Their music set the foundation for today’s underground and mainstream artists.
1. Lil B (“Based God”)
Lil B shaped internet rap with endless mixtapes, surreal lyrics, and free-flowing creativity. His style was raw but revolutionary, opening doors for unconventional approaches to hip hop.
Fans embraced his authenticity, while critics often misunderstood him. His most lasting impact is showing that rap could thrive outside traditional industry control and rules.
- Best-known track: “I’m God” (produced by Clams Casino)
- Award/Recognition: Widely regarded as an internet legend; credited with inspiring a generation of internet-born rappers.
2. Main Attrakionz
Main Attrakionz, a duo from Oakland, coined the term “cloud rap” and gave the sound its earliest framework. Working with producers like Clams Casino, they blended smoky, atmospheric beats with laid-back delivery.
Their work wasn’t widely commercial, but it was crucial in shaping the genre’s underground credibility and art. They remain respected pioneers in defining the style.
- Best-known track:“Perfect Skies”
- Award/Recognition: Recognized as the artists who coined and defined the term “cloud rap.”
3. A$AP Rocky
Rocky’s Live.Love.A$AP mixtape carried cloud rap into the mainstream. With stylish visuals and Clams Casino’s production, he transformed underground haze into chart-ready rap.
Rocky’s flow, fashion, and branding introduced cloud beauty to a much larger audience. While he evolved into different sounds later, his early catalog stands as a landmark in making cloud rap visible worldwide.
- Best-known track: “Peso”
- Award/Recognition:Winner: BET Hip Hop Award winner: Rookie of the Year (2011); Grammy nominee; mainstream breakthrough with Live.Love.A$AP.
4. Yung Lean & Sad Boys
From Sweden, Yung Lean and Sad Boys globalized cloud rap. Their mix of lo-fi visuals, internet imagery, and deadpan delivery gave the genre international reach. “Ginseng Strip 2002” spread virally, cementing Lean’s international underground acclaim.
Sad Boys built a strong online movement, proving that cloud rap was more than a U.S. underground trend; it became a worldwide subculture.
- Best-known track: “Ginseng Strip 2002”
- Award/Recognition: European underground acclaim; credited with popularizing cloud rap globally.
Mainstream-Connected Names
These rappers carried cloud rap’s sound into the mainstream, weaving hazy production into their music while balancing commercial success with underground influences.
5. Travis Scott
Travis Scott incorporated cloud rap’s dreamy layering into trap-heavy records, creating immersive atmospheres. His soundscapes, often cinematic, brought cloud-inspired moods to huge audiences and arena stages.
While rooted in trap, the influence of Clams Casino–style production is clear in his early mixtapes. He represents how cloud rap pushed its way into modern hip hop’s core.
- Best-known track: “Drugs You Should Try It”
- Award/Recognition: Winner – Billboard Music Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards; multiple Grammy nominations for genre-blending albums.
6. Playboi Carti
Playboi Carti thrives on repetition, hypnotic delivery, and vibe-driven beats tied to cloud rap’s DNA. His music prioritizes mood and atmosphere over technical lyrics, echoing the genre’s roots.
Carti became a cultural force for younger audiences, pushing the sound into new-wave rap while keeping its dreamy feel intact.
- Best-known track: “Long Time”
- Award/Recognition: Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Artist of the Year (2024) – Winner, Best Rap Song (2025) for “Carnival”- Grammy nominee
7. Lil Uzi Vert
Lil Uzi Vert blends emotional lyrics with cloud-inspired production, making songs that feel both vulnerable and energetic.
His melodic flows, paired with atmospheric beats, resonate with fans who connect to mood-driven rap. Uzi’s catalog shows how cloud rap influenced mainstream trap while adding melodic accessibility.
- Best-known track: “XO TOUR Llif3”
- Award/Recognition: Billboard Music Award winner – Top Rap Song (2018) for “XO TOUR Llif3”; Grammy nominee.
Underground & Emerging Artists (2020s Onward)
These artists keep cloud rap alive today, experimenting with hazy production, emotional themes, and internet culture while pushing the genre forward in underground and global scenes.
8. Bladee
Bladee, a key figure in Sweden’s Drain Gang, reshaped cloud rap into something futuristic and surreal. His music leans heavily on abstract lyrics, airy production, and internet-inspired visuals.
Often working with Whitearmor, his style emphasizes mood over structure. Bladee’s global underground fan base proves how cloud rap can evolve while staying true to its dreamlike roots.
- Best-known track: “Be Nice 2 Me”
- Award/Recognition: Cult status in global underground; influential figure in experimental cloud rap.
9. Ecco2k
Ecco2k stands out for his ethereal vocals and experimental approach, which elevate cloud rap into new territory. His projects combine futuristic visuals, soft delivery, and atmospheric beats.
Working closely with Drain Gang, he blurs boundaries between rap, electronic, and art-driven sound. Though niche, his music influences many underground fans who value creativity over convention, giving cloud rap a modern and forward-looking identity.
- Best-known track: “Peroxide”
- Award/Recognition: Recognition within experimental hip hop and alternative art scenes.
10. Thaiboy Digital (Drain Gang)
As a Thai-born rapper and Drain Gang member, Thaiboy Digital brings a global voice to cloud rap. His multilingual flows and cultural diversity distinguish his sound, blending hazy production with personal storytelling.
He represents the genre’s adaptability, showing how cloud rap thrives across different regions and audiences. His presence underscores the importance of the internet in making music borderless.
- Best-known track: “Legendary Member”
- Award/Recognition: Underground recognition as part of Drain Gang; respected for internationalizing the genre.
11. Cold Hart
Cold Hart, a member of GothBoiClique, merges the moody atmosphere of emo rap with cloud rap’s signature dreamlike beats. His music captures both heartfelt emotion and internet-era pleasing, often collaborating with Lil Peep.
Cold Hart’s catalog bridges two important underground movements, making him a crucial figure in shaping SoundCloud rap. His songs embody raw feelings while floating on cloudy production.
- Best-known track: “Me and You”
- Award/Recognition: Credited for merging emo rap and cloud rap; underground acclaim.
12. Wifisfuneral
Wifisfuneral blends lyrical sharpness with cloud rap’s hazy beats, offering a balance of traditional rap skills and atmospheric production.
Rising on SoundCloud, he quickly gained attention for his technical delivery paired with moody instrumentals.
His versatility allows him to move between aggressive flows and cloudy vibes, appealing to underground fans who value both skill and mood.
- Best-known track: “Kill Your Ego”
- Award/Recognition: XXL Freshman Class 2018 selection; recognized for underground impact.
13. Ghostemane
Ghostemane fuses heavy aggression with cloud rap’s atmospheric undertones, bridging genres like trap metal and lo-fi rap. His catalog often uses dark, industrial energy while maintaining dreamy textures.
This mix creates music that resonates with fans of both harsh and ambient sounds. He’s a clear example of how cloud rap’s influence expands beyond its usual borders into extreme subgenres.
- Best-known track: “Mercury: Retrograde”
- Award/Recognition: International underground recognition; loyal alternative rap audience.
14. Night Lovell
Canadian rapper Night Lovell built his reputation with deep vocals layered over atmospheric beats. His sound is darker than many peers, but it still pulls heavily from cloud rap’s dreamy influence.
With his commanding voice and heavy production, Lovell carved out a unique corner of the underground, appealing to fans who enjoy moody, intense rap that still feels airy.
- Best-known track: “Dark Light”
- Award/Recognition: Canadian underground acclaim; respected for blending dark rap and cloud elements.
15. Shinigami
Shinigami is part of the new internet-born wave of rappers who lean on anime-inspired visuals, raw emotion, and cloudy production. His lyrics often explore isolation and digital identity, resonating with online communities.
By mixing lo-fi beats with themes drawn from internet culture, he captures a younger audience who seek music that feels personal yet connected to global underground scenes.
- Best-known track: “i think i’m gonna die alone”
- Award/Recognition: Cult online following; recognized voice in the new wave of underground rap.
Starter Playlist Recommendations
These tracks and albums serve as an entry point, letting you hear cloud rap’s sound, mood, and cultural impact instantly.
Songs to Understand Cloud Rap
20 words: These songs highlight the genre’s dreamy beats, emotional tones, and internet roots, perfect for understanding cloud rap’s identity.
- “I’m God” – Clams Casino
- “Peso” – A$AP Rocky
- “Ginseng Strip 2002” – Yung Lean
- “Star Shopping” – Lil Peep
- “…And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around” – $uicideboy$
Essential Albums to Begin With
These albums show the foundation and growth of cloud rap, blending hazy beats with raw emotion and internet-driven artistry.
- Live.Love.A$AP – A$AP Rocky
- Unknown Death 2002 – Yung Lean
- Instrumentals – Clams Casino
Cloud Rap vs Other Genres
Understanding how cloud rap differs from nearby styles helps clarify its sound and why listeners often group it with other internet genres.
| Genre | How It Differs from Cloud Rap |
|---|---|
| Lo-Fi Hip Hop | Softer, background-focused, often for studying or relaxing. Cloud rap keeps rap-driven lyrics central. |
| Trap | Harder, aggressive beats dominate. Cloud rap leans toward dreamy, floating atmospheres. |
| Emo Rap | More confessional and emotional in lyrics. Shares overlap with cloud rap’s mood-driven approach. |
This comparison shows cloud rap’s unique place, blending hazy moods with rap elements, while influencing and borrowing from nearby subgenres.
Internet Culture and Cloud Rap’s Visual Style
During the Tumblr era, artists leaned into vaporwave style, anime references, and surreal imagery that reflected the genre’s surreal and art-inspired style.
DIY music videos filmed with low budgets but heavy creativity became a hallmark, often matching the hazy, floating beats.
Album covers and visuals carried surreal or distorted elements that reinforced the atmosphere.
Meme culture and online communities played a central role, spreading tracks virally and creating a grassroots network that kept the genre alive globally.
Global Reach and Influence
Cloud rap quickly expanded beyond its American roots, carried by the internet’s global reach and online communities that embraced the genre’s floating production style.
While its origins are tied to the U.S., artists worldwide adapted it to their own cultural backdrops.
- Yung Lean brought the style to Europe, sparking the Sad Boys movement.
- Russian and Japanese underground scenes adopted its dreamy beats and vibes.
- Latin America’s SoundCloud wave integrated cloud rap into local internet-driven hip hop movements.
This spread shows how cloud rap thrives as a borderless, internet-born genre.
Cloud Rap in Today’s Music
Cloud rap continues to thrive, especially in the underground, where groups like Drain Gang and artists such as Night Lovell and fakemink keep the sound alive.
At the same time, its dreamy production and hazy atmosphere influenced mainstream performers like Travis Scott and Playboi Carti, who integrated elements of the style into chart-topping projects.
Beyond individual names, cloud rap’s biggest legacy is how it reshaped internet-driven music. It laid the foundation for emo rap, lo-fi hip hop, and broader “internet rap,” proving its lasting cultural impact well beyond its 2010s beginnings.
Conclusion
Cloud rap showed us that hip hop can be more than hard beats and rapid flows; it reshaped internet-driven music, inspired lo-fi hip hop and emo rap, and proved how powerful atmosphere can be in shaping rap’s future.
I’ve shared its origins, the pioneers who built it, and the artists who continue to keep it alive today. Now it’s your turn to take what you’ve read and really listen for those cloudy textures that make the genre unique.
What I’ve found is that cloud rap isn’t just sound, it’s atmosphere. If you’re curious to find more, check out my other blogs on hip hop, music culture, and underground movements; you’ll find plenty worth hearing.
