Christian Smith, performing as Crankdat, emerged as a pivotal figure in the post-2015 American bass scene. Originally gaining viral traction through high-energy remixes (most notably his 're-crank' of Fetty Wap's 'Trap Queen'), he quickly established a signature sound characterized by aggressive metallic sound design and melodic future bass sensibilities.
His career arc represents the transition from a prolific remixer to a respected original producer and visual artist, exemplified by his 'Gearworld' concept which integrates his own 3D animations into live performances. Critically, he is noted for his technical proficiency in sound design, often utilizing hyper-compressed, staccato bass hits and bright, layered synth stacks. He occupies a space between the 'brostep' aggression of artists like Excision and the melodic accessibility of NGHTMRE or Slander. His influence is felt in the 'festival trap' and 'melodic dubstep' spheres, where he is credited with maintaining a high level of production polish while pushing the boundaries of sonic intensity.
Shares trap (subgenres); maximalist, digital_clarity, compressed_loud (production style)
Shares trap (subgenres); festival, basement_show, urban_night (atmosphere)
Shares trap (subgenres); energetic, triumphant, confident (moods)
Shares trap (subgenres); festival, basement_show, urban_night (atmosphere)
Shares trap (subgenres); maximalist, digital_clarity, compressed_loud (production style)
Shares trap (subgenres); festival, basement_show, urban_night (atmosphere)
Shares trap (subgenres); maximalist, digital_clarity, compressed_loud (production style)
Shares trap (subgenres); festival, basement_show, urban_night (atmosphere)
Shares metallic, maximalist, trap, triumphant (signature)
Shares running, maximalist, trap, euphoric (atmosphere)
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