Dabbin Fever

Released on Christmas Eve in 2015, Dabbin Fever serves as a definitive document of the 'dab' craze that swept through hip-hop culture in the mid-2010s. While Rich the Kid had already established himself as a prolific mixtape artist, this project solidified his role as a central figure in the Atlanta trap ecosystem. The album features a heavy emphasis on the 'plugg' sound - a subgenre of trap known for its airy, video-game-inspired melodies and sparse but heavy percussion. Sonically, the album is a bridge between the gritty trap of the early 2010s and the more polished, pop-adjacent rap that would dominate the late 2010s. It features significant collaborations that highlight the interconnectedness of the Atlanta scene at the time, particularly with members of Migos and the Slaughter Gang. Critical reception at the time of release noted the album's infectious energy and its success in capturing a specific cultural zeitgeist, even if it didn't reinvent the wheel lyrically.