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boom bap

A hip-hop subgenre and production style featuring heavy, sampled drum breaks (the "boom" of the kick, the "bap" of the snare).

buːm bæpDocumented since 1980s1980sGen Xhistorical264 viewsLast reviewed Sep 6, 2026+ Add a definition
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Born ~1980 · no dated citations yet
1980BornToday, 2026

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US
#1·Apr 26, 2026US

A hip-hop subgenre and production style featuring heavy, sampled drum breaks (the "boom" of the kick, the "bap" of the snare). Foundational 1990s East Coast sound. Key producers: DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor.

"Pure boom-bap revival on this album."
Origin: Onomatopoeic; coined in 1980s NYC hip-hop to describe Marley Marl's production style; canonized as the East Coast 90s sound.
Cluster: authority_figure
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Global
#2·May 2, 2026Global

A style/subgenre of hip hop characterized by hard-hitting drums, usually containing the kick drum/snare drum/hi-hat combination rather than claps, snaps, TR-808 bass drums, cowbells, shakers, and various other percussion sounds used for rhythm.

See it in action
  • “DJ Premier suggested that boom bap existed before the production of "It's Yours".”

For parents

Boom bap means: A style/subgenre of hip hop characterized by hard-hitting drums, usually containing the kick drum/snare drum/hi-hat combination rather than claps, snaps, TR-808 bass drums, cowbells, shakers, and. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

boom bap means: A style/subgenre of hip hop characterized by hard-hitting drums, usually containing the kick drum/snare drum/hi-hat combination rather than claps, snaps, TR-808 bass drums,. Register: neutral, standard English. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

Heard in the wild
  • “2. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_Bap_Project#cite_ref-2)Thill, Scott (August 3, 2005). ["Boom Bap Project on Rap's Formulas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140811130424/http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2008/04/boom-bap-project-raps-formulas). _[XLR8R](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR8R "XLR8R")_.”

  • “"Pro Create"<br> <br>Released: February 28, 2013 | | | _**Boom Bap & Blues**_ is the first collaborative studio album by American singer-songwriter [Jared Evan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Evan "Jared Evan") and producer [Statik Selektah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statik_Selektah "Statik Selektah").”

  • “DJ Premier suggested that boom bap existed before the production of "It's Yours".”

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