Crunkcore (also known as crunk punk[2] and scrunk[3]) is a musical fusion genre characterized by the combination of musical elements from crunk, post-hardcore, heavy metal, pop, electronic and dance music.[4][5] The genre often features screamed vocals, hip hop beats, and sexually provocative lyrics.[4][5][6][7] The genre developed from members of the scene subculture during the mid 2000s.[8] Notable crunkcore artists include Brokencyde, Millionaires, Dot Dot Curve, and Blood on the Dance Floor.

History and characteristics

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According to MasterClass, crunkcore originated by fusing "post-hardcore punk and hip hop into an aggressive, party-hearty sound in the mid-2000s." The genre took influence from various subgenres related to post-hardcore (screamo and emo) and heavy metal (metalcore and nu metal). Other genres to influence crunkcore acts include rap rock, electropop, dance-pop, techno, and funk.[8] Writer and musician Jessica Hopper claims that Panic! at the Disco's fusion of emo and electronic elements influenced the development of crunkcore in the mid-2000s.[4] While crunkcore is typically characterized by the use of screamed vocals, some crunkcore artists do not scream. For instance, Warped Tour co-creator and CEO Kevin Lyman calls the group 3OH!3 "the real tipping point for scrunk", and said that "though 3OH!3 doesn't incorporate the blood-curdling screams of many scrunk acts, they were the first emo-influenced act to depart from traditional instruments in favor of pre-programmed beats", while still retaining many of the stylistic elements of emo.[4] The Millionaires, who do not use screamed vocals, are also crunkcore.[4]

The Phoenix described crunkcore as "a combination of minimalist Southern hip-hop, auto-tune croons, techno breakdowns, barked vocals, and party-till-you-puke poetics".[4] Inland Empire Magazine described the genre as combining "post-hardcore and heavy metal licks with crunk."[9]

Culture and criticism

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The Boston Phoenix has mentioned criticism of the style, saying that "the idea that a handful of kids would remix lowest-common-denominator screamo with crunk beats, misappropriated gangsterisms, and the extreme garishness of emo fashion was sure to incite hate-filled diatribes".[4] Amy Sciarretto of Noisecreep noted that crunkcore is "oft maligned as the nu metal of this generation."[10] The group Brokencyde in particular has been singled out, with John McDonnell of The Guardian reviewing their music unfavorably.[3] AbsolutePunk founder Jason Tate said that the level of backlash against Brokencyde is more than he has seen for any single act in the ten years. According to Tate, "they're just that bad, and they epitomize everything that music (and human beings) should not be."[4] Brokencyde member Mikl has acknowledged the criticism leveled at them, but stated, "We don't care what people say ... All these critics are trying to bring us down, and yet we're selling a lot of copies of our music and that's because of our dedicated fans."[4] Writer Jessica Hopper also has criticized the group, but acknowledged its appeal to teenagers, stating "brokeNCYDE just completely references anything that might be a contemporary pop culture reference, or anything that a teenage person is into.... You kind of get everything at once."[4] 3OH!3 drew similar controversy in 2015 by releasing a single titled "My Dick".[11]

References

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  1. ^ Chaudhury, Aliya (14 April 2021). "Why hyperpop owes its existence to heavy metal". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 14 October 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  2. ^ Jeffries, David. "Brokencyde biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  3. ^ a b McDonnell, John (22 July 2008). "Screamo meets crunk? Welcome to Scrunk!". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gail, Leor (14 July 2009). "Scrunk happens: We're not fans, but the kids seem to like it". Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  5. ^ a b Cooper, Ryan. "Crunkcore". About.com. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  6. ^ Coquillette, Cici (27 April 2009). "In Defense of Screamo crunk". Student Life. Washington University Student Media. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  7. ^ Lampiris, Steve (14 April 2009). "Latest music genre unlikely to get many listeners 'crunk'". The Badger Herald. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Crunkcore Music Guide: A Brief History of Crunkcore - 2021 - MasterClass". Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Collapse the wavelength, embrace the new reality". Sputnikmusic. mx. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  10. ^ Sciarretto, Amy (8 November 2010). "Brokencyde's Mikl Thinks Crunkcore Will Be Around in Five Years". Noisecreep. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  11. ^ "3OH!3 Are Back to Revive Crunkcore to Horror of Everyone on Planet | I Probably Hate Your Band". Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.