Trap Takes Over! Flosstradamus and DJ Sliink Run Shit at Grand Central Miami

DJ Sliink of New Jersey has been churning out fashionably-tinny beats as long as any of the other new superstars in the game. So, like, this past year. The whole craze caught fire back in January with Flosstradamus's now-legendary remix of Major Lazer's "Original Don." Almost immediately, the fusion of contemporary hip-hop beats with electro-house melodies stole the limelight from moombahton, the previously hippest thing to feed through your headphones.

The epic, show-stopping sets from Sliink and Floss on Friday, the sheer intensity of the night, and the intoxicating energy of the place were meaningful moments for the Miami trap scene. It was easily one of the craziest parties we've ever seen at Grand Central. But just last year, these same acts wouldn't have had anywhere near the same hype or drawing power.

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But why is this happening now? Why is it so overwhelmingly cool? Even though dubstep brought a lot of people together, trap seems to be even more universally appealing.

We're living in a culture that worships hedonism and not giving a fuck. We're angry and we're horny and we're looking for a party, a fight, or both. Trap music encompasses all of that frustration, boils it down into one banging beat and tells us that it's OK to twerk it out.

Flosstradamus didn't start out making trap music, and they surely won't end their careers with it. They've already begun to incorporate various styles and genres into their "certified hood classics." A bit of hardstyle sampling has gotten them into some trouble with their latest free EP and its most controversial track, "Drak Knight," which they dropped as an encore at Grand Central. But even that negative press can't stop the heat of what's happening in the streets.

Because the streets are finally running things. The streets are where we're all coming together and finding our common ground. We the people are the streets, and we're running the trap without looking back.

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