Defined by uptempo, metronome-like clapping rhythms, heavy bass, and snares, lowend emerged in the early 2020s out of Milwaukee's lower east side and was pioneered by artists such as Certified Trapper and AyooLii.
[1] The genre found wider national success through the virality of J.P.'s songs "Juicey Ahhh" and "Bad Bitty" on TikTok in 2023 and 2024, respectively, by which point it had begun receiving attention from music-focused media outlets such as Pitchfork.
Lowend is defined primarily by a steady, metronome-like rhythm of synthesized eighth note handclaps, as well as snares on the first and third counts of its beats, rumbling bass, fast tempos, and brief runtimes, typically not exceeding two minutes in length.
His 2024 lowend song "Bad Bitty" was described by Piet Levy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as "the biggest hit from a Milwaukee-based rapper since 2001, and possibly ever" and preceded his signing to Roc Nation.
Other lowend artists, including SteveDaStoner, 414BigFrank, and AyooLii, all of whom became popular on TikTok through dance and comedy videos, and women rappers such as Myaap, Lonni Monae, and Yonaa have also been considered instrumental to its rise.