The 20 Best Trap Remixes of Non-EDM Tracks

2012 was undoubtedly the year of the trap. No longer a niche sound, trap endured a renaissance as producers far and wide tried their hand at the styl

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

2012 was undoubtedly the year of the trap.  No longer a niche sound, trap endured a renaissance as producers far and wide tried their hand at the style.  What better way to get into it by taking some of your favorites and using the basics to experiments?

Well, like with any new craze in this Internet age, more and more tried and failed to make anything good, but these 20 remixes are some of the absolute best out there, and use some awesome source material, including Etta James, Elvis Crespo, and Purity Ring.

Coolio - "Gangsta's Paradise (Candyland Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Coolio! What a throwback; generally I'd like to leave this tune where it was found (in the nostalgic '90s bin), but Candyland managed to turn this one into a real trap tune worthy of praise. Candyland raves out the original's signature melodies and choral hooks with glitch-y synths and upbeat energy. The funny thing about trap is despite its sometimes slow tempo, the energy can be infectious with the right mix, and this one is great example of that.

Jay-Z - "PSA (gLAdiator Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

"Allow me to re-introduce myself" might be one of the most iconic lines in all of rap history but gLAdiator wasn't scared off and instead made this one into a big room trap banger. Not big room in the same sense I might talk about a Swedish House Mafia track, but actually the way the song was designed and mixed. There's something about this track that gives it SIZE. Listen to it with some good headphones and really take note of this one and you'll begin to grasp its power. If you're not into that, just drop this on the loud speakers and you'll witness it in action.

Die Antwoord - "I Fink U Freeky (CRNKN ViP Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

CRNKN is one of those names that seems to always get people smiling. Taking the oddball South African group Die Antwoord's hit "I Fink U Freeky," CRNKN put this track through the trap machine a few times before coming out with the desired effect. The result is an exercise in cross-cultural blending. The hard dance melodies, heavy low-end and Die Antwoord flavor make this a real party starter. The first remix was great, but this one just turned it up another notch. CRNKN shows he's unafraid to take influences from wherever and do whatever it takes to make a hit, trap tropes be damned.

Chief Keef - "3Hunna (Gent & Jawns Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Chief Keef... where to begin? I won't even touch his career or what's been going on with him or why we even know who he is, but this remix is actually what gave me my first taste of the young Chicago rapper's flow. The Mad Decent-affiliated duo Gent & Jawns turned this one on it's head and made their own trap anthem. While the original is a slowed down, leaned-out call to action, the remix is a club-ready banger surely designed to get you amped up. Listen to this one and you won't need another Chief Keef remix.

Yung Joc - "Goin' Down (Milo & Otis Unoriginal Mix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Yung Joc's "Goin' Down" was one of those trap anthems that you just couldn't avoid when it came out in 2006. Joc's baritone delivery, southern drawl, and the song's upbeat energy made this a real winner, and it was sure to get the dancefloor going. Milo and Otis put their own "unoriginal" spin on it, giving this track a dope 2012 update. Much like many of the other remixes on this list, they haven't done too much to change it, leaving much of the original intact while re-arranging it, giving it a a nasty drop and keeping the focus where it needs to be: On Yung Joc's hooks.

Purity Ring - "Obedear (Chrome Wolves Bootleg)"

Not Available Interstitial

Taking a group like Purity Ring and trapping them out might seem like a weird choice, but when listening to their album Shrines, it's clear that this duo has already incorporated some of the sound themselves. Chrome Wolves took Purity Ring's single "Obedear" and just made it party ready. A dark and forboding track, Chrome Wolves has found the right mix of the original's evocative melodies and a smattering of new percussive elements.

Drake - "I'm On One (Sinjin Hawke Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Sinjin Hawke is a name you need to know. As a member of the highly regarded Pelican Fly label, Sinjin Hawke has made his name with his future bass tracks and his 2011 instrumental remix of Drake's "I'm On One" perfectly balances the taste of the original with a trap flavor fit for the headphones and the dancefloor. With psychedelic and fluttering melodies, this version is straight spellbinding. It's pretty special that Sinjin has been able to take such a massive song and remix it without the rap vocals and still turn out something as strong as this. Some might find it boring, but sit back and relax and just appreciate the sound design and you'll start to understand why this one is on this list.

Gorillaz - "Clint Eastwood (Owen Bones Useless Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

I've been following this bass scene for quite some time now and Owen Bones is one of the names I've been really keeping an eye on. He's absolutely still a work in progress, but his "useless" remix of "Clint Eastwood" is just damn good. Owen Bones is still defining his sound as a whole, but this remix is already making the rounds to DJs everywhere. His originals aren't as strong (although "Trill God's Reprise" is a personal favorite), but this tasteful remix of the Gorillaz classic is a must have for any trap fan, and it's a glimpse of his true potential. This is the kind of remix that will work in about any setting. It doesn't take away from the original and it adds another dimension to the track.

Chippy Nonstop - "Money Dance (Ryan Marks Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

As the trap sound continues to expand, our definition of what makes a great trap tune expands accordingly. yet no matter where trap goes, there will always be room for stripper anthems like this. While the original is dreadful, Ryan Marks (aka one half of LOUDPVCK) manages to turn this into the perfect lapdance soundtrack. Mesmerizing as ever, "do the money dance" is as catchy as it gets and it's all we need. Now Chippy Nonstop is a horrible rapper, but we can at least thank her for this because without her source material, we wouldn't have this awesome remix.

Frank Ocean - "Pyramids (DJ Sliink Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Frank Ocean's ten minute opus "Pyramids" is truly magnificent. As it moves through multiple movements, the Odd Future crooner sings of a timeless story, filled to the brim with endless symbolism, metaphors and the result is truly art. That said, due to it's epic nature it isn't the most club ready and that's where Brick Bandits' own DJ Sliink comes in and fills the void.

The best remixes won't use the stems to make a whole new song, but instead really just re-arrange and re-structure, giving the song a new dimension. It's easy to want to use a song's popularity to launch your own sound with heavy sampling (which is not remixing, but often confused), but Sliink does it right here leaving the beautiful melodies and energy. Sexy and slow, Sliink has one of the only quality remixes of this great track.

Waka Flocka - "Rooster In My Rari (TNGHT Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Waka Waka Waka! No not Fozzie Bear, but Waka Flocka. Brick Squad rapper Waka Flocka Flame might be the posterboy for what many people will say is "wrong" with rap today, but the fact is he's got a certain knack for getting a crowd going with his ridiculous lyrics and delivery. His brash and in-your-face style makes him the perfect challenge for an act like TNGHT.

Dropping the original sound all together, TNGHT turns this into a menacing beat and Waka's style fits perfectly; A&R reps knew this, too, because they picked this up as an official remix for the single. With Waka's undeniable trap roots, he'll always be a primo choice of trap remixers everywhere, but few truly understand what makes Waka work like TNGHT does. I'd honestly like to see TNGHT get with Waka in the studio and make some originals, because if they're anything like this, we'll want to hear more from Waka (as shocking as that might be!).

Kendrick Lamar - "Swimming Pools (Bird Peterson Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

One of the most oft-remixed songs of the last six months, Kendrick Lamar's "Swimming Pools" is an earnest tale of one man's struggles with liquor and his conflicted views on the party life. The original is one of the highlights of the magnificient good kid, m.A.A.d city album and remixing this one has been a tough call for many producers. Many have tried, most have failed. Bird Peterson is one of the only to do so and live to tell about it.

While keeping the original flavor, Bird gives this one a trap structure and pretty much leaves it at that. The original is already a bona fide beast and the minimal changes work to this track's advantage. So after this track, why are we still hearing more remixes of "Swimming Pools?" Seriously, just stop, you can't and won't beat this one.

Etta James - "At Last (BLEEP BLOOP Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

"At Last" is one of my favorite songs of all time and so it was hard to swallow seeing this remix pop up on my SoundCloud stream way back when. I almost didn't even give this one a chance because of how strongly I feel about the original, but I'm glad I did. BLEEP BLOOP doesn't beat out the original (and that's not even possible), but he does give it his own personal trap flavor and the result is surprisingly soothing. Vocal morphs, melodic counterpoint, Etta James' angelic voice is still the focal point here as it should be. Big points to BLEEP BLOOP for even trying this and it's great to see trap producers taking big risks like this and we're more than happy to have this in our collection.

Ludacris - "How Low (Caspa Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

In true Caspa fashion, this take on Luda's wildly popular track "How Low", and given it his Predator treatment. Using his signature sound as established on dubstep smashes like "Terminator," Caspa gives this one a serious lean; get this on the right sound system and it sounds like residents of Planet Nibiru are finally contacting us.

Caspa uses the booty banging original, but wisely let's his bass do the talking. While I personally can't stand the hook (which sounds liek Alvin and the Chimpmunks sang it), the bass on this track is so menacing that I'll gladly suffer through it. This is the kind of crossover track that could destroy a Top 40 club and still keep Caspa junkies and bass heads perfectly happy. This remix will no doubt give you your fix and make that ass clap like a round of applause. And it will definitely make the booties bounce!

Sleigh Bells - "Demons (Diplo Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Only Diplo would think to remix a band like Sleigh Bells, and you know what? That's probably a good thing. "Demons" is an ominous one that came out of leftfield with it's haunting melodies and ghostly vibes. I'm listening to this track and at once I'm overcome with a feeling of foreboding danger and at the same damn time, I can't help myself from bobbing and swaying to this beat. As the second half of the remix comes around we find a serious bubbling section and it just dances in every which direction before returning the ghoulish halloweeen-esque sounds. Let's just leave this one where it is and let "Demons" be. Diplo done did it again.

Frank Ocean - "Pyramids (Kastle Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

After originally premiering on Skream & Benga's BBC Radio 1 show, Kastle's remix of the Frank Ocean opus "Pyramids" has been all the rage. Outside of Sliink's version, this is the only other version that is even worth mentioning. Kastle gives this a chopped and screwed feeling that so many have tried to do, but he actually makes it work. Maybe it's because I've never leaned and I'm not from the dirty south, but I've never really enjoyed that vocal effect until I heard it on this remix. Kastle is a talented producer and this is the kind of remix that has me checking all of his social media accounts and making sure I know when his next track is out. The remix is ethereal, spacy, and an example of sonic bliss.

Elvis Crespo - "Suavemente (Kennedy Jones Trap Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

As the anthem for the latest Holy Ship!!, this track has become a hot one quick. Kennedy Jones took the original merengue classic and just made a real heater. It's an odd choice for remixing, but it's the kind of risk-taking that will continue to push the trap sound forward. Elvis Crespo's classic was a great choice for a remix and Kennedy Jones gets major points for bringing in a world sound like merengue instead of another Kendrick Lamar song or Kanye track. We've heard enough of those and while some are great, Kennedy knew that by taking something like "Suavemente" he could make a real creative statement.

Frank Ocean - "Thinkin Bout You (Ryan Hemsworth Bootleg)"

Not Available Interstitial

Ryan Hemsworth is one of the most buzzed about names right now in the beat scene and with this bootleg, it's no wonder why. Rather than taking the trap sound to get it turnt up, Ryan takes the tender original and keeps it there with his own lovey dovey style. Frank's beautiful singing is still centerstage here and Ryan gives it a more psychedelic feeling than original with flangers and risers. Atmospheric pads for days, Hemsworth carefully cultivated his sound with this one while still keeping the magic of the original. Few can remix a Frank Ocean track and still keep the beauty, and Ryan Hemsworth is in that group.

Pharoahe Monch - "Simon Says (ETC!ETC! & Brillz Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

Pharoahe Monch's "Simon Says" is an iconic song, no doubt. That opening riff is signature and it's a classic. ETC!ETC! & Brillz were undaunted by that though and still managed to turn out the only QUALITY remix of this. Chopped-up samples, stutter effects, and a booming low-end, these two have made some magic here. Months after its release, this bootleg still making it's way into every huge trap set out there. If you're only going to play a handful of trap in your DJ sets, you'd be remiss not to include this one. Even diehard Pharoahe Monch fans are getting down to this and we know old heads can be hard to please.

Kanye West - "Mercy (RL Grime & Salva Remix)"

Not Available Interstitial

RL Grime & Salva could have just retired after this one remix. It takes some cajones to remix a track as huge as "Mercy," but to their credit they pretty much outdid the original. A track already shaded by the dirty south sound, the remix beefs up the bass and douses it in a hypnotic flavor that is undeniably sexy. These two haven't made any other remixes together and there have been other attemps at this track, but this one is hands down the best. A track like this could find it's way into bass sets for years to come and we're always going to love this one.

Latest in Music