American Rapstar Blu-ray Screenshots (Patreon)

From Chris: Fascinating and well-made 2021 documentary picked up by Utopia  (apparently a sub-label from Vinegar Syndrome) about influential  SoundCloud rappers of the past decade. Names like Lil Pump, Lil Peep,  Lil Xan, Bhad Bhabie, Smokepurpp are featured. Documents how much the  music industry has changed since even the 2000s and how streaming has  shaped the genre. Bhad Bhabie apparently has earned over $50 million  through OnlyFans as of 2022 and gives surprisingly lucid insight into  her life for a girl barely out of her teens. The genre has completely  changed over the last 10-15 years, some would say trap music is a  de-evolution of the music.

NY Times music  critic Jon Caramanica provides most of the context for the music and its  evolution, though the rampant substance abuse in the field (several of  the featured rappers have already died of overdoses) receives a ton of  focus. Not unexpected when major record labels sign these kids as young  as 12 to 7 figure music deals. Mostly coming from Florida's poorer  areas, one 12-year-old bought his mom a house and she quit her job when  he hit it big.