The History of Crunk Music

When people talk about Atlanta’s influence, they’re typically referring to the last 15 years or so — right around the time that the Blog era produced the current generation of stars we know today, such as The Migos and Future.

The trends that prove this cultural influence often fall into this era, too— and rightfully so. Atlanta and the South have been on top for years (I sense a shift, but that’s another story for another time).

Nevertheless, this piece is about the era of Atlanta that preceded the Atlanta we know today. In terms of the city’s contributions to culture and the overall sound of Hip-hop, this particular era produced Atlanta’s signature version, much like New York with what we now call Boom Bap. Of course, the sound I’m talking about is…

CRUNK MUSIC.

If Bass music is the South’s heritage, its child, Crunk music, is undoubtedly its legacy. And quite honestly, you don’t get the corporate dollars you do in Atlanta without its foundation. Crunk was the sound that showed Atlanta was a Cultural juggernaut gearing up for a takeover.

To this day, some songs from the Crunk music era are still banned from clubs because they can incite a riot. Literally.

But that was the magic of this period, and we gotta talk about it.

THE ORIGINS

While Atlanta is often credited with creating Crunk music, much of what became the Crunk sound was built on a foundation laid by various Southern states—a legacy that many Atlanta artists readily acknowledge.

Crunk was actually a slang term used in the South for the better part of a decade before it was ever heard on a record or even used as the moniker for a subgenre of music.

The word itself was used in cities like Memphis, which is incredibly instrumental in shaping the overall sound of Crunk. Artists like DJ Spanish Fly are widely recognized as one of the forefathers of Crunk, often incorporating elements that would endure into the early 2000s, when Crunk reached its peak.

Moreover, Memphis group Three 6 Mafia had a song named “Tear Da Club Up,” which is one of the earliest Crunk records that helped stamp out the sound regionally.

“Tear Da Club Up” represented an energy that allowed people to express themselves in a new way in clubs and party settings. And, as mentioned earlier, it made people literally want to tear the club up.

Digging deeper into the roots of Crunk, Hip-hop historians like Charlie Braxton (seen below) say that the Crunk sound can also be traced back to regional sounds of New Orleans and Miami — the former giving us Bounce music and the latter providing Miami Bass, both of which added to the sonic foundations of Crunk.

With these foundations in mind, Crunk music found its permanent home commercially in Atlanta’s club scene — eventually becoming a descriptor for a group of rappers whose music had the city on lock for almost a decade.

THE SOUND

“I Don’t Give a Fuck” is a punk song… “Bia Bia” is a punk song… “Who U Wit” is a punk song” - Lil Jon

Crunk incorporates various traditions and sounds from Black culture, from call-and-response to the punchy, trunk-rattling sound of Miami and Atlanta Bass music.

When discussing this era and its sound, there are a handful of artists who, to this day, still hold a special place in the hearts of Atlantans and those fortunate enough to have experienced clubbing during this era.

Below are some of the most prominent artists synonymous with Crunk Music and a few gems that defined their sound:

I. LIL JON & THE EAST SIDE BOYZ

Lil Jon is widely recognized as the forefather of Crunk, having provided much of the sound for the sub-gen’s most recognizable songs.

Moreover, according to Lil Jon in an interview about Crunk Music, the sound is inspired by skateboarding and Punk Music — both close cousins to Hip-hop culture and rap music, dating back to the early 1990s.

In the early 2000s, he formed a group with Big Sam and Lil Bo’, and together, their sound helped define much of what the Crunk sound of Atlanta became. Their debut album featured the song “Who U Wit?” which many say is responsible for bringing Crunk mainstream:

If you were to expand your purview and ask the world what the biggest Crunk records were, they wouldn’t likely reference the deep cut above. They’ll likely mention these two records:

I. Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz: Get Low

II. Usher: Yeah! (Prod. By Lil Jon)

Fun fact: Apparently, Lil Jon used to bring the exact model of speakers used in nightclubs into the studio while mixing his records to ensure that the records would hit just as hard in the club as they did in the studio.

II. LIL SCRAPPY

If Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz are the Kings of Crunk, then Lil Scrappy is undoubtedly The Prince (also the moniker he uses commercially).

Many records that defined the Crunk sound originated from Lil Scrappy and his work with Lil Jon.

Songs like “Head Bussa” are standouts in Scrappy’s catalog. However, his biggest commercial song (still capable of causing a fight in the club) is “No Problem.”

III. Ying Yang Twins

Their name says it all — some Crunk songs were all about turning up and maybe even getting into a fight or two. Ying Yang brought the energy, but it was in the form of dance.

Much of their sound came from Mr. Collipark & Lil Jon — two Bounce music veterans who became synonymous with the Atlanta sound. From there, they cranked out Crunk hits that defined an era of Atlanta Club music.

HONORABLE MENTION(S)

There are also artists out there who don’t necessarily box themselves into the label of Crunk but have records that fit deeply with that movement (because it’s Club music in general). Pastor Troy is a good example — he really put on for the South with his sound but doesn’t necessarily define himself as a crunk artist.

That said, there is one group/record I'll highlight as a personal favorite…

“Damn!” from The YoungBloodz is one of a few Lil Jon-produced records that have stood the test of time as one of the Crunkest records to come out of Atlanta in the early 2000s.

THE IMPACT ON CULTURE

In its heyday, the Crunk era had a profound impact on culture across various sectors. The word itself made its way into Webster’s dictionary, and references to the genre have appeared in culture in multiple ways.

I. Film & TV

If you watch ‘Hip-Hop Evolution' on Netflix, they’ll refer to the fact that Crunk was so impactful that songs like 'Get Low' made it into Pop Culture; even the people singing it were oblivious to what they were saying.

That song, in particular, ended up in numerous movies like The Proposal with Sandra Bullock, while Usher’s “Yeah!” and a few other songs from this era, reached an audience larger than its intended listeners.

Crunk was so embedded in American Pop Culture that Lil Jon became inseparable from the genre.

His sound became the driving force of the music, and with that, Lil Jon’s likeness became American Cannon — so much so that Chappelle made multiple skits about him during the height of the Chappelle Show. To date, they are still some of the biggest skits from the show.

II. Crunk Juice

Lil Jon’s identity as the king of Crunk also translated into a soft drink that was quite popular called “Crunk Juice.”

This was a stroke of marketing genius, as Crunk Juice is also the name of one of his most successful albums, which features “Get Low” as one of its singles.

CRUNK’S LEGACY

Even after the Crunk era’s influence waned and music trends shifted in a new direction, the vibe persisted in hip-hop, albeit in ways that differed from the original sound.

Atlanta artists like Waka Flocka are widely regarded as the next vanguard of Crunk music, following the Lil Jon era and entering the 2010s.

When you focus on the current era of hip-hop music, artists like Memphis rapper Duke Deuce have helped coined the phrase “Crunk Ain’t Dead,” — which is also one of his hit records (A full circle moment considering Crunk’s origins).

EPILOGUE

With everything above in mind, it’s worth saying that the Crunk sound is alive in the Rage rap and Drill we hear today. While the sound leans more into the punk roots of the subgenre in a more overt way, it’s still very much a “tear da club up” type of music.

Today’s club music doesn’t quite hit the same way as the prior generations, but everything changes, right?

Do yourself a favor and refresh yourself with the sound—it might be just what you need, whether you’re on your way to the gym or getting hyped for a presentation.

One.