trip hop
what it is
trip hop is downtempo electronic music that emerged from england's hip hop and house scenes in the mid 1990s, especially around bristol. it replaced american rap's lyrical focus with atmospheric sounds, jazz samples, and a melancholy mood influenced by post punk.
what it sounds like
moody, slow beats layered with scratchy vinyl samples, abstract textures, and shadowy basslines. it feels cinematic and nocturnal, like walking through a city at 3am, often built from old jazz records chopped into new shapes.
where it came from
it grew out of bristol in the early 90s when producers like massive attack, portishead, and tricky mixed hip hop production techniques with the darker, moodier side of uk club music and post punk. the genre's name came from critics, though many of the artists rejected it.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make trip hop a playlist
turn these 31 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is trip hop?
trip hop is downtempo electronic music that emerged from england's hip hop and house scenes in the mid 1990s, especially around bristol. it replaced american rap's lyrical focus with atmospheric sounds, jazz samples, and a melancholy mood influenced by post punk. moody, slow beats layered with scratchy vinyl samples, abstract textures, and shadowy basslines. it feels cinematic and nocturnal, like walking through a city at 3am, often built from old jazz records chopped into new shapes.
Where did trip hop come from?
it grew out of bristol in the early 90s when producers like massive attack, portishead, and tricky mixed hip hop production techniques with the darker, moodier side of uk club music and post punk. the genre's name came from critics, though many of the artists rejected it.
What are good trip hop albums to start with?
Try D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L by Panchiko, The OOZ by King Krule, Beat by Bowery Electric, and Who Can You Trust? by Morcheeba.
Who are some women making trip hop?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/trip-hop/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making trip hop, from mainstream to underground.
artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-19