Thank You Hyperpop

 *This is a pretty opinionated piece, I am not a historian, simply an bystander of the changing of times.* 

Nowadays, more people than ever are creating, "scenes" are facing numerous revivals, mainly in the respects of heavier genres like screamo, deathcore, and whatever other sub-types have been circulating the internet. This is all bound in a form of rebellion, intense expression, and perhaps a facade of sorts. If you look back a decade, there didn't seem to be as many young people making music as there are now. But, It would be just not true to claim it started here, though it did all start on the internet.

Now, we can credit the ease of pirating DAW's and the majority of society owning computers to the access young folks have to create music, but it's much more than that. 

Hyperpop- When most people hear the term in 2025, well, I guess it depends who you ask. Most would probably say Charli XCX and other "party-oriented" artists like Slayyter and Ayesha Erotica, the more chronically online would say d0lly, Osquinn, early xaviersobased, and other folks involved in like collectives. Actually, maybe that's too far back. I believe the one commonplace would be 100 Gecs. Regardless, it's a semi-vast genre that is hard to really define if you weren't heavily online in 2019-2021 (well, we all were).

In 2019, 100 Gecs would release "1000 Gecs", a record that stands the test of time, while also sounding pretty dated, just because it held such strong importance at the time. Things aren't really reflective of the sound that 100 Gecs had... I wish, though! But, the horrors. While they weren't the "first", they were the first to present such a divisive, wildly experimental approach to music to a wide audience. It was met with strong critical acclaim, but as I remember, you either loved it or hated it. I, for one, HATED it when I first heard it. It took some time, I just didn't grow up on nightcore, so the pitched up vocals really threw me off (and, I was a shithead hater). It was catchy, it was crazy, it was accepting. The boom of this sound was something telling to a strong musical future.

 With the start of COVID, everyone was inside, with more time than ever. 

Those damn hats.

Covid presented opportunity; More time to explore the depths of the world-wide web, less time to express yourself in person, no time to be judged face-to-face. In a way, everyone was free whilst being stuck in the quarters of their home. Now, there is a LOT more to say in regards to this, for one, I believe it has made too many people disturbingly comfortable than ever (make with that what you will, no need for me to go on a side-tangent). Anyways, this era can be reflected on those Wish.com bunny hats, huge eyeliner, platform shoes (with nowhere to go), amongst other things. I would like to say I was NOT! involved in that mess, I had my own mess going on. Though, I can relate to the chronic-onlineness. Obnoxious behavior plagued the internet and the guise of "expression" clouded many (ONCE AGAIN, ASIDE THE POINT). Within all that obnoxiousness, we had music! We will always have music. 

IYKYK...

Right before I dropped out Junior year, A good friend of mine, one of the only (if not, the only) person that I shared musical commonplace with shared a track with me: bad idea by Osquinn. Right after, COVID hit, but more focus on the song for now; this song was unlike anything I had heard at the time. As a former devout bystander of the underground, I was familiar with most, I believe at the time I was mainly into collectives like Drain gang (forever), Anti-world (alternative rap, with the yelling... Sybyr was the most prevalent member. I have since outgrown this), Spidergang (A time piece for sure, I'll never go back), just to name a few. But the Osquinn track had something different; a prevalent adolescent sound; a playful, "digicore", bass boosted beat, and obnoxious lyrics (in the best way). It definitely was reminiscent of internet culture of the time. In the generation of nightcore, bladee, angsty rap, and older brothers listening to trap music, my faith of creative progression was restored (I suppose).

I feel like part of writing about this is intellectualizing my love for juvenile music; but I wouldn't like it if it wasn't good... so whatever.

Anyways, a lot of these new artists emerging in the underground were young, shockingly young. Osquinn was 15 when the afformentioned track came out, making music since age 12. Glaive's EP "Cypress Grove" was released when he was only 15, and honestly? I still think it's a good record. D0lly was 16 when she started making music, with tracks like "idonthaveacareintheworld" and "ithinkimdoingbetter" being ones I still frequent. There's plenty more names, but those are off the dome. Most of these artists have since matured their sound and experimented with other genres. Though, at the time it was beautiful to see the mesh of all these niche genres being blended together to create something delightfully inaccessible. 

I won't really get into aspects like internet beef, pedophiles, and whatever else curses the underground... IT'S ABOUT THE MUSIC! Therefore, I'll be moving on, there isn't really a ton to say. The music was cool, the culture was neat, and so on... 

Fast forward to now. After the guileless, riveting scene slowly dying off, and reincarnating into the "indie sleaze" revival (let it die.. i'm sorry), I look back and reflect at how we have gotten here since. Artists like 2hollis, Fakemink, and Snow Strippers incorporate these bass-heavy, playful rhythms and pitched up vocals to their music. The childlike aspects of the music go hand in hand with the ignorance of current terrors, similar to hyperpop in the COVID era. Recession music, whatever they call it.

My point moreso goes to state that now, we have children in DIY running the scene, now that it has became OK to be outside, and the circulation of music via apps like Tiktok has made finding a "scene" or a circle easier than ever. I have my qualms, but I find it awesome that kids have passion, and a desire to revive something they were too young to experience. Maybe it'll happen with hyperpop one day. Once again, I am not entirely crediting this movement, but expressing that I think it was a humble (yet boastful) beginning of something much larger.

SUGGESTED LISTENS (mostly individual tracks because albums weren't really prevalent) Also. apologies because I am not really into the rateyourmusic stuff, I have never enjoyed Charli XCX or Dorian Electra. So, my opinion may be waved by, as this is all rooted in nostalgia for times that have since passed me by.

 Caterpillar - David Shawty (2021)

Honestly, I think this fits in and is one of the only albums of its kind from this time period. It's ridiculous, obnoxious, and sometimes melancholic. It's got the pitched up vocals, and the chaotic beats. I shamefully really enjoy a lot of his music, but I think it is good. He has since fallen off. I have thought about writing about him as I believe he was ahead of the curve. I think he is not a great person, though, but anyways.

FAV TRACK - orange marker/leapfrog 

 Xaviersobased - Who Are You? (2022)

This was the first actual album I heard by xaviersobased, after enjoying singles I heard on soundcloud. Known for his experimental rap and being the forefront of the underground, his earlier work goes unnoticed. The first track on the record was one of my top tracks of 2023, if I'm remembering correctly. It's a bit much, it's fun, it's different, especially for him 

FAV TRACK - lol wtf i would've never expected holy shit 

Glaive - Cypress Grove (2020)

Ok, it honestly has aged a bit rough, I guess, but what can you expect from a project made by a 15 year old? I think the beats are solid, the choruses are earworms, and I can credit it to a really rough time in my life. I was 17 listening to "hey hi hyd" on repeat fighting for my life. If you listen, just don't judge me. It's a strong release though. I think it's good when you want to relive teenage tragedy.

 FAV TRACK - hey hi hyd

• ithinkimdoingbettter - d0llywood1
• dancer - nosgov
• attitude - ericdoa, kurtains, blackwinterwells, wido, quinn, chach
• GERM - David Shawty ft. BBY GOYARD
• Final Destination - BBY GOYARD
• okimcool - quinn
• savior - exodus1900 ft. saturn 

thxxx for reading!