Hyperpop is a loosely-defined electronic music movement and online cultural phenomenon that originated in the United Kingdom during the early 2010s and gained mainstream popularity in the early 2020s. It is characterized by a maximalist and deconstructed approach to pop music, blending avant-garde sensibilities with elements of electronic, hip-hop, and dance music. The movement is closely associated with a vibrant and often LGBTQ+-centric internet subculture.

Rather than a single, monolithic style, Hyperpop is best understood as an umbrella term for a collection of distinct but often overlapping sonic and visual aesthetics. This page serves as a historical overview of the movement and a hub for the various aesthetics that flourish within it.

The sonic and aesthetic foundations of Hyperpop were established in the early 2010s by producer A. G. Cook and his London-based record label and art collective, PC Music . Artists associated with the label, such as Cook, SOPHIE, and Hannah Diamond, pioneered a surreal and exaggerated take on pop music that would become known as "Bubblegum Bass." This early sound was defined by high-pitched, processed vocals, bright synths, and experimental electronic textures, paired with a glossy, futuristic visual style that played with themes of consumerism and internet culture.

The term "Hyperpop" was officially coined and popularized in August 2019, when a Spotify editor created a playlist of that name to categorize the music of artists like A. G. Cook and 100 gecs. The playlist's success helped to solidify Hyperpop as a recognized genre. The movement's popularity exploded in the early 2020s, largely through the social media platform TikTok, where its high-energy and often chaotic sound became the backdrop for numerous viral trends.

The Hyperpop movement is not a single aesthetic but a constellation of several distinct visual styles and genres. The following are some of the key aesthetics from the movement.

The PC Music aesthetic is the foundational style of the Hyperpop movement. Emerging in the early 2010s, it is defined by a clean, glossy, and hyper-real visual language that draws inspiration from corporate branding, advertising, and Y2K-era futurism. Its sound, often called Bubblegum Bass , is a deconstructed take on pop music, featuring high-pitched vocals and bright, experimental synth production.

Glitchcore is a visual aesthetic and musical microgenre that gained popularity on TikTok in the early 2020s. It is characterized by a chaotic, over-saturated, and visually "glitchy" look, often incorporating elements of early internet graphics, anime, and meme culture. Musically, it is associated with a more distorted and aggressive form of Hyperpop, pioneered by artists like 100 gecs.

Scenecore is a 2020s revival and reinterpretation of the 2000s Scene subculture, filtered through the lens of Hyperpop. The aesthetic blends some of the visual motifs of original Scene fashion (such as bright colors and checkered patterns) with the sounds and internet-native culture of Hyperpop. It often incorporates samples from video games and anime and utilizes edgier lyrical themes.

HexD is a microgenre characterized by heavily bit-crushed, often sped-up and pitched-up vocals, and highly compressed production. Visually, it employs a low-quality, DIY aesthetic that draws on video game and 2000s nostalgia, frequently using imagery from anime.

Sigilkore is an experimental trap subgenre that evolved alongside HexD in the SoundCloud underground. It is defined by a dark, brooding, and lo-fi atmosphere, with a maximalist visual style that incorporates demonic symbology, deep web imagery, and other occult elements.

Krushclub is a microgenre popular on TikTok that combines the energetic, rhythmic patterns of Jersey Club with the bit-crushed vocals and lo-fi production of HexD. Its visuals often feature monochrome pixelated imagery, stars, and hearts, reminiscent of Y2K and old web aesthetics.