What is mumble rap? 25 essential songs from Future, Migos and more (2024)

Future has become the leader of the mumble rap movement, becoming one of LeBron James' favorite artists. (AP)

Troy L. Smith, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Future, Young Thug, Playboi Carti, Migos and Lil Uzi Vert. If you’ve heard those names over the past year, it’s because they’re at the forefront of rap’s hottest movement.

Some call it EDM rap or melodic rap. But you probably know it best as mumble rap, a genre characterized by melodic flows and lyrics that are mostly indecipherable.

A recent show at Blossom Music Center featuring Future and Migos put the genre on full display in Northeast Ohio. Even LeBron James and his teammates were on hand to check it out.

Mumble rap has drawn criticism from rap purists. But it’s all the rage with young people who stream music like it's their job. Whether you’re a fan or someone simply trying to understand the craze, here are the 25 most essential mumble rap songs.

25. Future - 'F*** Up Some Commas'

2015 was the year of Future. A three song suite anchored by “F*** Up Some Commas” elevated him to superstar status, setting the stage for one of the top hip-hop careers of the last few years.

24. 21 Savage & Metro Boomin' feat. Future - 'X'

21 Savage unfairly gets classified a mumble rapper, when in fact, he’s a decent lyricist. But on “X,” Savage embraces the trap sub genre with help from mainstay producer Metro Boomin’ and an appearance from Future.

23. Lil Yachty feat. Quavo, Skippa da Flippa & Young Thug - 'Minnesota (Remix)'

For the remix to his song “Minnesota,” Lil Yachty calls on Young Thug to extend the song’s mumble on a finishing verse that puts it over the top.

22. Chief Keef - 'Kobe'

Ask Chief Keef his favorite songs and it won’t take long for b-ball anthem “Kobe,” a track that’s been copied by other rappers trying to draw the parallel with rapping and balling.

21. Gucci Mane - 'Pillz'

Though it would take a few more years for Gucci Mane to break into the mainstream, he was already much appreciated on the underground trap scene thanks to an epic introduction on the drug anthem “Pillz.”

20. Rich Homie Quan - 'Type of Way'

After his debut single “Difference” flopped, Rich Homie Quan scored his breakthrough with “Type of Way,” the perfect showcase for his whimpering moans over a tightly wound Yung Carter beat.

19. Chance the Rapper feat. Young Thug and Lil Yachty - 'Mixtape'

When one of the top lyricists in the game joins forces with Young Thug and Lil Yachty for a full-blown mumble rap anthem on his Grammy-winning album, you take notice.

18. Lil Yachty - '1Night'

Chances are if you’re over the age of 25, you have no idea why people are into Lil Yachty. But it’s songs like “1Night” where’s his endearing wordplay, though indecipherable at times, shines through.

17. Travis Scott feat. Kendrick Lamar - 'Goosebumps'

Travis Scott goes far beyond a mumble rapper. He’s one of the best artists in hip-hop today. But on his hit “Goosebumps,” both he and Kendrick Lamar channel their inner Lil Wayne, for a song that’s easily one of the best tracks of 2017 thus far.

16. Playboi Carti - 'Woke Up Like This'

It’s a bold move for any new artist to claim so many other people are biting their style. But Playboi Carti earns his stripes, with help from Lil Uzi Vert, on “Woke Up Like This,” a catchy song built on an electronic beat that truly redefines the genre.

15. Lil Uzi Vert - 'XO Tour Llif3'

Lil Uzi burst onto the hip-hop scene with 2016’s “Money Longer.” But he really made his mark with one of this year’s most stunning rap songs in “XO Tour Llife3,” a song that had both hip-hop heads and emo kids going nuts.

14. Fetty Wap - 'Trap Queen'

It’s easy to forget how big of a hit “Trap Queen” was. Fetty Wap’s song made it all the way to No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a gateway song for those hesitant about mumble rap.

13. Bankroll Fresh - 'Hot Boy'

Co-signed early on by Gucci Mane, Bankroll Fresh (originally known as Yung Fresh) was on his way to becoming one of the best young stars in rap, leading the Bankroll Mafia as one of the best crews in the game. Sadly, he was shot and killed in 2016.

12. Young Thug - 'Stoner'

Perhaps there’s never been a more appropriate introduction to a mumble rapper than Young Thug’s “Stoner.” Who is this guy and where did he come from? “Stoner” pretty much explained it all and set the stage for perhaps the hottest career in the genre in the moment.

11. T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne - 'Can't Believe It'

The mainstream rap verse that changed everything was Lil Wayne’s appearance on T-Pain’s “Can’t Believe It” where Wayne, during the peak of his career, mumbles through the songs melody and somehow cementing it as a hit.

10. Future - 'Tony Montana'

Future knows how to make an impact. His first official single “Tony Montana” hit like a sledgehammer with an inescapable hook that was blaring from car speakers for quite some time.

9. Jamie xx feat. Young Thug and Popcaan - 'I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)'

Rarely does mumble rap get to dominate the pop charts. But that’s what happened when Jamie xx called upon Young Thug for his brilliant and soulful anthem “I know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times),” which took on a life of its own in late 2015.

8. D.R.A.M. feat. Lil Yachty - 'Broccoli'

Who knows where Big Baby D.R.A.M. will be in 10 years. But his mark has been made with the fantastic song of “Broccoli” a song that took over the charts and introduced the mainstream world to Lil Yachty.

7. Travis Scott feat. Young Thug - 'Pick Up the Phone'

This is what you hope for when two young titans of hip-hop join forces. On “Pick Up the Phone,” Travis Scott and Young Thug take turns getting in the zone over a hypnotic beat that became all the rage on the hip-hop blogs.

6. Chief Keef - 'Love Sosa'

Chief Keef’s anthem “I Don’t Like” was everywhere in 2012. But it was the song that followed that became his trademark tune. “Love Sosa” and its epic bass and snares (courtesy of Young Chop) was highly influential for today’s crop of artists.

5. Gucci Mane - 'Lemonade'

Gucci Mane deserves all the credit for establishing a blueprint for mumble rap, even though that’s not was he was trying to do. He was just doing him and his best song “Lemonade” is still something to marvel at for a rapper that carved out his own niche at a time when southern rap was getting over saturated.

4. Rich Gang - 'Lifestyle'

Rich Gang is essentially a Young Money supergroup created by Birdman. But the group became a household name with “Lifestyle,” a song completely owned by Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan. The catchy track, produced by London on da Track, is often the go to reference for many fans when sighting what exactly this whole mumble rap thing is.

3. Desiigner - 'Panda'

Yes, Desiigner is somewhat of a Future knockoff. But he crafted the biggest mumble rap song to date with “Panda.” In fact, “Panda” was probably the biggest song of 2016. Whether you liked it or not, it was everywhere, showcasing the rise of a new star.

2. Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert - 'Bad and Boujee'

Everything changed for “Bad and Boujee” when Donald Glover gave Migos that shoutout at the Golden Globes. But even before then the song was approaching legendary status. Everything about it is what’s right with hip-hop these days, from the swaggering lyrics to Metro Boomin’s smooth production.

1. Future - 'March Madness'

Who else could top a mumble rap list than its biggest star Future. “March Madness” is, by no means, Future’s highest charting hit. But it is his trademark song and LeBron James’ favorite thing to sing-a-long to. “March Madness” is mumble rap madness.