Rae Sremmurd

Rae Sremmurd is an American hip-hop duo consisting of brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi. As of 2025, they remain active, releasing their fourth studio album Sremm 4 Life in 2023 and continuing to tour. The duo is known for their energetic trap anthems and melodic hooks, having sold over 10 billion streams globally. Their breakthrough came with the 2016 single "Black Beatles," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and sparked the viral Mannequin Challenge. Swae Lee has also found massive solo success with "Sunflower" (with Post Malone), while Slim Jxmmi has pursued side projects. The duo's sound blends hip-hop with pop sensibilities, and their live shows are characterized by high energy and crowd participation. Fans, known as the SremmFam, remain loyal and active on social media.[edit]

The story of Rae Sremmurd begins in Tupelo, Mississippi, where brothers Khalif (Swae Lee) and Aaquil (Slim Jxmmi) Brown grew up. After their mother passed away, the brothers moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to pursue music. They initially performed as a quartet with friends Lil Pantz and BoBo Swae, but the group eventually narrowed to the duo. In 2013, they caught the attention of producer Mike Will Made It, who signed them to his newly formed EarDrummers Records, an imprint of Interscope. The duo's name is "Ear Drummers" spelled backwards, a nod to their mentor's production tag. They debuted in August 2014 with the single "No Flex Zone," which became a regional hit and eventually climbed the national charts. The follow-up "No Type" broke into the top 20 of the Hot 100, setting the stage for their debut album SremmLife in January 2015. The album's success, including the hit "Throw Sum Mo" with Nicki Minaj and Young Thug, established them as a major force in hip-hop.[edit]

Rae Sremmurd's music is rooted in trap and Southern hip-hop, characterized by booming 808s, catchy ad-libs, and call-and-response choruses. Their early work, on singles like "No Flex Zone" and "No Type," is raw and minimal, driven by Swae Lee's melodic delivery and Slim Jxmmi's aggressive verses. With SremmLife 2 (2016), they expanded into more pop-oriented territory, culminating in the chart-topping "Black Beatles," which featured a smoother, more polished production. Their third album, SR3MM (2018), was an ambitious triple disc that showcased each brother's solo style: Swae Lee's solo disc leaned into R&B and pop, while Slim Jxmmi's project stayed closer to hardcore trap. The collaborative disc blended both approaches. Sremm 4 Life (2023) saw a return to their party-focused roots, with uptempo bangers and lighter, carefree lyrics. Lyrically, the duo focuses on themes of wealth, partying, relationships, and bravado, often delivered with humor and charisma.[edit]

Rae Sremmurd's most significant cultural contribution came in late 2016 when "Black Beatles" became the soundtrack to the Mannequin Challenge, a viral internet trend where people froze in place like mannequins while cameras moved around them. The challenge was adopted by celebrities, athletes, and politicians, propelling the song to number one and making the duo household names. The trend was a defining moment of 2016 internet culture. Beyond that, the duo helped popularize the melodic trap style that dominated late-2010s hip-hop, influencing a wave of artists who blended singing with rapping. Swae Lee's solo work, especially "Sunflower" from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, became a generational hit and further cemented his melodic influence. The duo also broke ground for Mississippi-born rappers, putting Tupelo on the hip-hop map. Their success as a brother act has been compared to other sibling duos in music history.[edit]

The Rae Sremmurd fanbase is known as the SremmFam, a name that appears on social media and in fan interactions. There is no official lightstick or designated fan color, but fans often use the hashtag #SremmFam to connect online. A notable fan tradition is recreating the Mannequin Challenge to "Black Beatles," which became a participatory phenomenon. The duo maintains a close relationship with fans through Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, frequently reposting fan content. Concertgoers are known for high-energy participation, jumping and singing along to every hook. The SremmFam is particularly active during album release cycles and tour announcements, driving streaming numbers and social media trends.[edit]

1. The name Rae Sremmurd is "Ear Drummers" spelled backwards, a tribute to producer Mike Will Made It's production tag. 2. Swae Lee's solo hit "Sunflower" with Post Malone spent 33 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the best-selling song of 2019 in the US. 3. The brothers moved to Atlanta after their mother's death to pursue music. 4. Slim Jxmmi is the older brother by 18 months. 5. The duo has been involved in legal disputes over contracts with Mike Will Made It, but remain on good terms.[edit]