Yellow Claw is a leader in the trap world. The Dutch giants have big co-signs and they’re touring around the world at a globe-trotter’s pace. They released a new joint EP with Cesqeaux, Legends, on October 14 via Dim Mak, and smashed it with their fusion of hard dance, traditional dutch sound design, and hard-hitting 808s. It’s without question that Yellow Claw are the kings of the Dutch trap scene. As such, they’ve given us a look at the scene with their selection of essential Amsterdam trap tunes, and took some time out to speak to us about their sound and influences.
What is it about trap music that was initially so attractive to you guys?
Everything. From it being very versatile, to the BPM, to the possibility of switching from Hardstyle to Trap without changing tempo.
What kind of background/interest in hip-hop did you have before producing trap?
We are big fans of a lot of different stuff. Jim is really into Notorious B.I.G., Leo is more into Soulja Boy kinda stuff and Nils is into The Weeknd, The Dream, and Kanye stuff. All very different.
Who/what, if any, rappers are you looking to work with going forward?
We would love to work with those new guys like Yung Lean, Young Thug, Asap Ferq etc. Their style is so fresh and different.
These days the Amsterdam trap series is quite successful—where do you see the Amsterdam sound going in the future? Any Dutch names we should be looking out for?
Good question. We’re already seeing it translated in different genres—the sound, we mean. Look at Wiwek's Jungle Terror EP; it's that Amsterdam sound, but on a 128BPM thing. We, and a lot of our friends, will keep innovating the sound and the style that comes with it. Or else everything will just get boring, you know?
