Crybaby: The Artists Who Shaped Emo Rap

A revelatory examination of Emo Rap, from its inception to its incendiary ascent into the mainstream, including the critical artists that defined its sound and ethos, from Kid Cudi to Lil Peep, Lil Uzi Vert, XXXTentacion, and Juice WRLD.

When Kid Cudi dubbed himself the “lonely stoner,” the texture of contemporary hip-hop was forever changed. The young rapper droned over purple blips and skitters on “Day ‘N’ Nite,” unaware that he was terraforming the foundation of rap. As the decades wore o...