Rap Metal

Rap Metal burst onto the scene in the late 1980s, primarily in the United States, when it became fashionable to mix aggressive guitar riffs with lyrical acrobatics, because why not be loud and clever at the same time? It often sounds like someone has replaced the traditional rock vocalist with a hyperactive poet who's just had one too many energy drinks, seamlessly blending rapping with heavy instrumentals that can make you feel invigorated or slightly unhinged. This genre’s popularity in the late 90s proved that you could scream as much as you liked, as long as you had a solid beat and a flair for the dramatic—it's like a headbanging poetry slam, really.