The Rise of Lil Uzi Vert: A Pioneer of Mumble Rappers

Lil Uzi Vert is a name that has become synonymous with the mumble rap movement, which swept through the music industry in the 2010s like a storm. The World, his debut album, was released in 2016 and marked a turning point in hip-hop's evolution. With its nine songs clocking in at just under 34 minutes, this brief project contained enough structural ideas and emotional baggage to become totalizing, as Uzi himself soon would be.

'Money Longer' became nearly inescapable in many corners of the rap world, and 'You Was Right' served as proof of concept for Uzi's ability to twist private confessions into rallying cries. Lil Uzi Vert, born Symere Woods, is an American hip-hop recording artist and songwriter who has made a name for himself by pushing the boundaries of traditional rap.

The World captures the rapper at his most assured, bringing massive beats like 'Money Longer' to heel, making even the most unwieldy sounds seem natural canvases for his swaggering worldview. Issued when he was only 21, Lil Uzi Vert vs. is a testament to the artist's innovative spirit and willingness to take risks.

Uzi kept that disruptive streak without ever appearing beholden to what had come before. It's perhaps fitting, then, that Uzi was brought into the major label fold by Don Cannon, the legendary producer and mixtape DJ from Atlanta whose offices were raided in 2007 as part of a RICO investigation into music piracy.

Raised in Philadelphia on the Southern hip-hop that dominated radio and television during his youth (with plenty of rock records thrown into the equation), Uzi developed a sound that strayed from Northeastern hyperformalism but kept him more tethered to a 4/4 grid than contemporaries like Young Thug. Few artists are better avatars for this phenomenon than Lil Uzi Vert, who embodies the story of hip-hop in the 2010s – a story of fragmentation and reassembly-regional, local, and micro scenes splintering again and again until they reach their most specific endpoint, only to be surveyed by other rappers and synthesized into styles that feel wholly new.

In conclusion, Lil Uzi Vert is more than just a mumble rapper; he's a pioneer who has helped shape the sound of contemporary hip-hop. His innovative approach to music production and his ability to connect with audiences have cemented his place as one of the most influential artists of the 2010s.

Lil uzi vert mumble rappers