{{Short description|Hip-hop microgenre from the early 2020s}} {{Redirect|Jerk music|other uses|Jerk (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox music genre | name = Jerk | image = | etymology = | other_names = * Nu-jerk<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3"/> * jerk revival<ref>{{Cite web |title=9 key moments in the rise of U.K. rap's new underground |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/06/06/uk-rap-underground-timeline-key-artists-fakemink-yt |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref> | alt = | stylistic_origins = * Pluggnb * trap * plugg * lowend<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2024 |title=THE FACE's guide to the American rap underground |url=https://theface.com/music/underground-internet-rap-rage-carti-yeat-ambient-plugg-iokera-terror-jerk-krushclub-lumi-athena |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=The Face |language=en-gb}}</ref> * cloud rap * digicore<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2024 |title=THE FACE's guide to the American rap underground |url=https://theface.com/music/underground-internet-rap-rage-carti-yeat-ambient-plugg-iokera-terror-jerk-krushclub-lumi-athena |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=The Face |language=en-gb}}</ref> * jerk rap * hyphy | cultural_origins = {{Circa|2020}}; New York, United States | instruments = {{hlist|Digital audio workstation|drum machine|autotune|synthesizer|sampler}} | derivatives = Jugg | subgenrelist = | subgenres = * Hoodtrap<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2024 |title=THE FACE's guide to the American rap underground |url=https://theface.com/music/underground-internet-rap-rage-carti-yeat-ambient-plugg-iokera-terror-jerk-krushclub-lumi-athena |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=The Face |language=en-gb}}</ref> * vampjerk<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2024 |title=THE FACE's guide to the American rap underground |url=https://theface.com/music/underground-internet-rap-rage-carti-yeat-ambient-plugg-iokera-terror-jerk-krushclub-lumi-athena |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=The Face |language=en-gb}}</ref> | regional_scenes = United Kingdom | other_topics = {{hlist|Internet rap|microgenre|2k13 Hood EDM|underground rap|sigilkore|type beats}} | footnotes = }} '''Jerk''' is an Internet microgenre of hip-hop that emerged in New York City during the early 2020s, drawing inspiration from the original wave of jerk rap, known as jerkin' in the street dance culture, which initially gained popularity in the early 2010s.
The style had been originally pioneered by Xaviersobased and his collective 1c34, along with Californian producer Kashpaint. Artists such as St47ic and Phreshboyswag would be members of 1c34. Other notable artists in the scene include Islurwhenitalk, Nettspend, Yhapojj, Yuke, Fakemink, Maxon Margiela, YT and EsDeeKid.
The genre achieved particularly significant success within the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |title=9 key moments in the rise of U.K. rap's new underground |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/06/06/uk-rap-underground-timeline-key-artists-fakemink-yt |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref> where it was heavily present in the UK Underground scene.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=2025-12-15 |title=‘UK Ug’: How Gen Z Brits reinvented rap in 2025 |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/69279/1/uk-ug-gen-z-brits-reinvented-rap-2025-fakemink-esdeekid-jim-legxacy |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref>
== Characteristics == Writing for British magazine ''The Face'', music journalist Kieran Press-Reynolds described jerk as "fidgety rhythms, staggered snares and mangled vocals", and noted that a variety of jerk rappers "boast" but also showcase "a quirky and sensitive lyrical undercurrent [that] tends to lurk beneath the tough-guy facade".<ref name=":42" />
According to New York magazine ''The Fader'', although Xaviersobased and his collective 1c34 are credited with spearheading the jerk microgenre,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Garvey |first=Meaghan |title=Nettspend: BAD ASS F*CKING KID |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/nettspend-bad-ass-fcking-kid/ |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> he never listened to the original wave of jerk rap and is more inspired by Milwaukee hip-hop's lowend scene in his "percussion choices".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dandridge-Lemco |first=Ben |date=February 3, 2026 |title=xaviersobased keeps it going |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/milwaukee-rap-is-tiktok-dances-1234681440/ |website=The Fader}}</ref>
==History== === Origins === {{See also|Jerkin'|Jewelxxet}}[[File:Xaviersobased_(2-2-23).jpg|thumb|246x246px|Xaviersobased performing at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn, NY on February 2nd, 2023]] In 2021, New York rapper Xaviersobased formed the collective 1c34,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press-Reynolds |first=Kieran |title=xaviersobased: with 2 |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/xaviersobased-with-2/ |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":42" /><ref name=":5" /> who reimagined the sound of jerk rap into a completely different style, adapting its framework to fit the evolving aesthetics of underground rap.<ref name=":42" /><ref name=":5" /> They are credited with spearheading and popularizing the movement which was then further developed by Californian producer kashpaint.<ref name=":42" /> This new style of jerk rap blended elements of cloud rap, digicore, lowend and plugg.<ref name=":42" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Xaviersobased and OsamaSon share #BASEDSLiME EP |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/04/28/xaviersobased-osamason-basedslime-ep-shitshow-music-video |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Pierre |first=Alphonse |date=May 22, 2025 |title=On the New York Knicks and New York Hip-Hop |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/on-the-new-york-knicks-and-new-york-hip-hop/ |access-date=August 23, 2025 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>
Writing for ''The Face'', music critic Kieran Press-Reynolds labelled tracks such as Xaviersobased's "Patchmade" (2022),<ref name=":12" /> Phreshboyswag's "Inspire" (2023),<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2025-09-01|title=The Wrong Underground|url=https://sammysworld.org/the-wrong-underground/|access-date=2026-04-04|website=Sammy's World|language=en-US|last=Hyland|first=Samuel}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Hofer|first=Ethan|date=2025-07-21|title=Fakemink to Phreshboyswag: Are These 5 Artists The Future of U.K. Rap?|url=https://www.trillmag.com/entertainment/music/the-next-generation-of-u-k-rap-is-here/|access-date=2026-04-04|website=Trill|language=en-US}}</ref> and Nettspend's "Shine N Peace" (2023) as "jerk anthems".<ref name=":42" /> Artists such as Yhapojj,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Allison |date=May 20, 2024 |title=YhapoJJ: P.S. Fuck You Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/yhapojj-ps-fuck-you/ |website=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierre |first=Alphonse |date=2023-10-27 |title=Listen to YT's “The One (Just Got My Degree)”: The Ones |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/yt-the-one-new-song-listen/ |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> ksuuvi,<ref name=":4" /> Bloody!,<ref name=":3" /> idkcap,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Noel |first=Jude |title=Bloody!: So Wavy Luciano |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bloody-so-wavy-luciano/ |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> percosits,<ref name=":3" /> Tenkay,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listen to Tenkay's “Tattoo”: New Rap Music Today {{!}} Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/tenkay-tattoo-new-song-listen/}}</ref> Nettspend<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Dash |title=Mutant Academy: Keep Holly Alive |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mutant-academy-keep-holly-alive/ |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barlas |first=Jon |date=March 18, 2025 |title=Nettspend drops "impact" featuring xaviersobased |url=https://ourgenerationmusic.com/new-music-spotlight/nettspend-impact-xaviersobased-rolling-loud/ |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=Our Generation Music |language=en-US}}</ref> and Feardorian<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Medithi |first=Vivian |title=Polo Perks / FearDorian / AyooLii: A Dog's Chance |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/polo-perks-feardorian-ayoolii-a-dogs-chance/ |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> further contributed to the movement.<ref name=":2" /> "Underground heroes" like Duwap Kaine later drew influence from the style, releasing the album ''DuwapSoBased'' in 2023.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2024 |title=THE FACE's guide to the American rap underground |url=https://theface.com/music/underground-internet-rap-rage-carti-yeat-ambient-plugg-iokera-terror-jerk-krushclub-lumi-athena |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=The Face |language=en-gb}}</ref> Artists Islurwhenitalk and Subiibabii were credited with pioneering the "vampjerk" style, which drew from the microgenre of hip-hop music sigilkore.<ref name=":42" />''<ref name=":0" />''
=== Regional scenes === {{Main|UK underground rap}}
While rooted in the US, the jerk scene gained further momentum in the UK underground rap scene, with the movement being regarded as a "new UK rap revolution".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=February 28, 2025 |title=9 underground artists leading the UK's rap revolution |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/66191/1/dazed-uk-rappers-cover-spring-2025-victory-lap-yt-niko-b-bxks-jim-legxacy-kwes-e |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierre |first=Alphonse |date=March 21, 2025 |title=Y2K Nostalgia Is Everywhere, and UK Rappers Can't Get Enough of It |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/y2k-nostalgia-is-everywhere-and-uk-rappers-cant-get-enough-of-it/ |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> The British jerk scene saw wider popularity in 2024, being spearheaded by artists like Fakemink<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Madden |first=Emma |title=fakemink: “Givenchy” |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/fakemink-givenchy/ |access-date=June 29, 2025 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=fakemink Is The Hottest DIY Artist In The World Right Now |url=https://dmy.co/features/fakemink-is-the-hottest-diy-artist-in-the-world-right-now |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=dmy.co |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=July 8, 2025 |title=The rise of Fakemink in 5 tracks |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/68204/1/londons-saviour-the-rise-of-fakemink-in-5-tracks-makka-blow-me |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=A |first=Aron |date=2023-03-30 |title=Who Is Fakemink? The UK Rapper Winning Co-Signs From Drake, Playboi Carti, Frank Ocean & More |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/953474-fakemink-who-is-everything-to-know-hip-hop-news |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> as well as YT<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Selenou |first=Serge |title=YT: OI! |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/yt-oi/ |access-date=June 29, 2025 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=9 key moments in the rise of U.K. rap's new underground |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/06/06/uk-rap-underground-timeline-key-artists-fakemink-yt |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=100 Best Songs of 2024 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-songs-2024/ |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> with his singles "Black and Tan" and "Prada or Celine".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rap Blog: YT and Lancey Foux count up foreign currency |url=https://www.thefader.com/2024/06/21/rap-blog-yt-and-lancey-foux-count-up-foreign-currency |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Kyann-Sian |date=April 2, 2025 |title=YT – 'Oi!' review: underground rap star makes his biggest bid for mainstream success yet |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/yt-oi-review-3851183 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> These releases were followed by further contributions in the genre by artists such as Jim Legxacy,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ihaza |first=Jeff |date=2025-07-24 |title=Jim Legxacy Delivers a Brilliant Snapshot of Black British Culture |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/jim-legxacy-black-british-music-review-1235392724/ |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=Rolling Stone Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> EsDeeKid,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-20 |title=EsDeeKid - Rebel |url=https://theneedledrop.com/album-reviews/esdeekid-rebel-album-review/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=The Needle Drop |language=en}}</ref> Len and Fimiguerrero.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=March 7, 2025 |title=5 highlights from Plaqueboymax's UK underground livestream |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/66317/1/5-highlights-from-plaqueboymaxs-uk-underground-livestream-yt-jim-legxacy-kwes-e |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=25 UK Rappers To Watch In 2025 |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/joseph-jp-patterson/25-uk-rappers-to-watch-in-2025 |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=Complex |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Press-Reynolds |first=Kieran |title=Fimiguerrero / Len / Lancey Foux: CONGLOMERATE |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/fimiguerrero-len-lancey-foux-conglomerate/ |access-date=June 29, 2025 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Influence == Writing for ''Dazed'' magazine, music journalist Solomon Pace-McCarick noted rapper Cortisa Star as drawing influences from jerk in her production choices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pace-McCarick |date=2024-12-18 |title=Cortisa Star: How Adventure Time inspired the rapper's viral sound |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/65718/1/how-adventure-time-inspired-cortisa-stars-viral-sound |access-date=2026-04-30 |website=Dazed |language=en|first=Solomon}}</ref>
== Related genres ==
=== Jugg rap === {{distinguish|Scam rap}} '''Jugg rap''' (also known as '''Jugg''') is a microgenre that draws from the "twitchy snare rhythms" of jerk.''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Press-Reynolds |first=Kieran |date=2025-12-17 |title=The Top Five Musical Rabbit Holes of 2025 |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/the-top-five-musical-rabbit-holes-of-2025/ |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>'' While writing for ''Pitchfork'', music critic Kieran Press-Reynolds stated that the style's "breakout smash" was the song "everyday is the same" by rapper ocelot, who drew inspiration from rapper Islurwhenitalk "a sigilkore deity who pioneered this sort of ultra-twitchy, rhythmic meltdown that's as much dance music as rap"''.<ref name=":0" />'' Artists such as ss3bby, xannaholik, fauxf6r and Heymylan, on top of the collective 25r3set, have also been noted as influential in the development of the genre. The style is characterized by "sequences of sound effects and sidechained bass that swallows everything".''<ref name=":0" />'' The term "FXspam" has also been used on SoundCloud to describe the scene for its use of "degraded samples".''<ref name=":0" />''
== See also == * Internet rap * Hyperpop
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Hip-hop}} {{Hyperpop and digicore}}
Category:Counterculture of the 2020s Category:Microgenres Category:21st-century music genres Category:Hip-hop genres Category:Nostalgia Category:2010s in music Category:Internet music genres Category:Internet rap genres