Laugh, cringe, and vibe to the internet's wildest audio memes. 96–139 BPM.
Meme music is a genre originating from internet culture around 2010, characterized by humorous, viral, and often remixed audio clips. It spans a wide BPM range (96-139) and uses various instruments, with tracks like 'Never Gonna Give You Up' and 'All Star' becoming iconic. The genre thrives on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where users create and share short, catchy, and often absurd audio memes.
The defining artists of Meme — the names that shaped the sound. Tap to hear on Spotify.
The classic anthems and current essentials that define Meme.
Meme music is sonically diverse, ranging from distorted bass drops to chip-tune melodies. It often features abrupt tempo changes, pitch-shifted vocals, and samples from popular culture. The rhythm can be anything from a steady 4/4 beat to chaotic breakbeats, depending on the meme.
Common characteristics include short, loopable segments, comedic timing, and a focus on catchiness over complexity. The genre frequently employs irony, with serious musical elements juxtaposed against absurd lyrics or sounds.
Meme music emerged around 2010 with the rise of internet culture, particularly on platforms like YouTube and 4chan. Early examples include 'Rickrolling' (2007) and 'Numa Numa' (2004), but the genre solidified with the proliferation of remixes and mashups.
Throughout the 2010s, meme music evolved with the advent of Vine, TikTok, and soundboards, leading to a vast array of subgenres like 'Meme Rap' and 'Weirdcore'. The genre is characterized by its rapid spread through social media and its ability to adapt to current trends.
Culturally, meme music reflects the internet's collective humor and creativity, often serving as a form of social commentary or inside joke. It has influenced mainstream music, with artists like Lil Nas X and Ylvis achieving viral success through meme-like tracks.
How Meme is built — drum pattern, swing, and the sounds you need.
When producing meme music, focus on creating short, repeatable loops that are easy to remix. Use a BPM between 96 and 139, but don't be afraid to vary tempo for comedic effect. Drum patterns are often simple, with heavy use of kicks and snares on the beat, but swing can be added for a more laid-back feel.
Typical samples include movie quotes, viral sound bites, and video game effects. Use pitch-shifting, time-stretching, and heavy compression to create a distorted, internet-era sound. Layering multiple memes or mashups is common. Tools like FL Studio and Ableton are popular, along with free resources like YouTube to MP3 converters for sourcing samples.
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