Mumble rap (sometimes referred to as SoundCloud rap) is a loosely defined[3]microgenre[5] of hip hop that largely spread via the online audio distribution platform SoundCloud in the 2010s.[6] The term implies "mumbling", or unclear or incoherent vocal delivery used by artists, and it has been used to describe rappers who do not share the rap genre's traditional emphasis on meaningful lyricism,[7] choosing instead to emphasize other aspects of delivery like melody, mood, and tone.
While "mumble rap" originated as derogatory term,[8][9] some have reappropriated the label,[10] with various critics and artists defending the style as a new phase in the evolution of hip hop.[11][12][13]