The Rise of Meme Music and Techno

A look at how the rise of meme music and techno has taken the internet by storm, and how these genres are changing the music industry.

The Origins of Meme Music

The first use of the word “meme” was in 1976 by Richard Dawkins in his book The Selfish Gene. He used the word to describe a unit of culture that is transmitted from one generation to another. The word didn’t gain much traction until the early 2000s when it became associated with internet culture.

The birth of Vine

In 2013, a new app called Vine was born. The app allowed users to create and share 6-second videos. These videos could be funny, heartwarming, or even just average everyday moments. But one thing was for sure, they were all incredibly short.

This brevity is what would come to define Vine, and would ultimately lead to the rise of meme music. Because the videos were so short, users had to get creative in order to make them entertaining. This often meant using popular songs and sound bites as the audio for their Vines.

One of the most popular songs that Vine users latched onto was a track called “Goochie Goochi” by French electronic musician Madeon. The song’s distinctive melodies and catchiness made it perfect for 6-second loops, and it quickly became a Vine sensation.

Before long, other artists began to take notice of the power of Vine, and started releasing their own music specifically tailored for the app. This new genre of music came to be known as “meme music” or “Vine music”, and it has since taken over the internet by storm.

While meme music may have started out as something goofy and fun, it has since evolved into its own unique genre of music, complete with its own devoted fanbase. So whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that meme music is here to stay.

The birth of Soundcloud

The origins of meme music can be traced back to the early 2010s with the rise of Soundcloud. Soundcloud was a game-changer for the music industry, giving artists a platform to share their music directly with fans and giving rise to a new generation of DIY musicians. One of the most popular genres to emerge from Soundcloud was electronic dance music (EDM).

EDM quickly gained popularity with young people all over the world, and it wasn’t long before it became the soundtrack for meme culture. One of the earliest and most popular examples of this is the Harlem Shake, a dance move that went viral in 2013 accompanied by a song by Baauer. The meme music phenomenon had officially begun.

Over the next few years, more and more songs associated with memes would become hits, including “Gangnam Style” by PSY, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by Silento, and “PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)” by Pikotaro. In 2016, one of the most famous memes of all time, Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO TOUR Llif3,” went viral and cemented his place in meme history.

Today, meme music shows no signs of slowing down. In 2018, one of the biggest hits was “This Is America” by Childish Gambino, which spawned countless memes and parodies. With no end in sight, it seems safe to say that meme music is here to stay.

The Evolution of Meme Music

In the early days of the internet, memes were just a way to make people laugh. But as the internet has evolved, so have memes. These days, memes are often used to convey complex political messages or to make social commentary. And some memes have even become songs. This phenomenon is known as meme music, and it’s a growing trend in the music industry.

The rise of Lil Yachty

Lil Yachty is one of the most recent additions to the world of memes. He is a rapper from Atlanta, Georgia, who first rose to prominence after the release of his mixtape Lil Boat in 2016. His style of music is often described as “mumble rap,” due to his tendency to mumble his lyrics, and he has been credited with popularizing the use of auto-tune in rap music.

Lil Yachty’s music often features samples from other songs, particularly those from the 1990s. His hit song “Broccoli” samples the 1992 track “Freedom” by Whodini. He has also sampled tracks by Outkast, Soulja Boy, and Lil B.

While some have criticized Lil Yachty for his use of auto-tune and mumbling, others have praised him for his creative approach to music. In particular, his willingness to sample old songs and put a new spin on them has been lauded by many.

Lil Yachty’s success has led to a resurgence in popularity for so-called “meme music.” This type of music often relies heavily on internet culture for its inspiration and typically features heavy use of auto-tune and other effects. In many ways, it can be seen as a continuation of the “trap” subgenre of hip-hop that emerged in the early 2010s.

While some may view meme music as a simple gimmick, there is no denying that it has had a significant impact on the music industry in recent years. With its rise in popularity, it seems likely that we will only be hearing more meme music in the future.

The rise of Bhad Bhabie

Bhad Bhabie, also known as the “Cash Me Outside” girl, is one of the most popular meme-based rappers in the world. She first rose to fame after appearing on the Dr. Phil show in 2016, and has since released two mixtapes and multiple singles. Her music is often based around internet culture and trends, and she has been credited with helping to popularize the “mumble rap” subgenre.

The Future of Meme Music

Meme music, also known as “Soundcloud rap”, is a subgenre of hip hop that emerged on the online audio distribution platform SoundCloud in the 2010s. The genre is defined by its aggressive, often dark or depressive lyrical content and minimalist production, which frequently incorporates trap beats, sampling, and lo-fi effects. It has been described as a “digital subculture” and a “cultural phenomenon”.

The rise of Techno

Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the late 1980s. It is characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat and often features synthesizers, drum machines, and vocoders.

Techno began to rise in popularity in the early 1990s, particularly in Europe. In 1992, the first official techno music festival, Mayday, was held in Germany. The following year, the first techno club, Tanit, opened in Ibiza, Spain.

In the mid-1990s, techno experienced a brief decline in popularity. However, it resurfaced in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the help of the Internet. By this time, techno had evolved into various subgenres, such as minimal techno and tech trance.

Today, techno is one of the most popular genres of electronic dance music. It continues to evolve and is frequently used in film and television soundtracks.