By Jay’Mi Vazquez
Managing Editor
During the explosion of SoundCloud rap in the mid-to-late 2010s, few creators captured the energy of the movement quite like the YouTube channel CUFBOYS.
While the era produced icons like Lil Peep, XXXTentacion and Lil Skies, it was CUFBOYS, led by Cameron Haller, who gave fans a bridge between artists and audience.
Through reaction videos, artist interviews and personal vlogs, CUFBOYS did not just document the SoundCloud generation; the channel helped define how it was experienced.
At its peak, CUFBOYS’ YouTube channel was a cultural meeting point.
Cameron and his mother, affectionately known online as “Mom,” became internet staples through their genuine reaction videos.
Unlike the polished, click-chasing reaction content that would later flood the platform, their videos stood out for their authenticity.
When Cameron’s mom teared up listening to Lil Peep’s “Awful Things,” it showcased the love for music. At the time, that video alone encapsulated how emotionally raw the SoundCloud movement was.
What made CUFBOYS great was their timing and understanding of culture.
The SoundCloud rap wave was a raw, DIY movement: young artists recording in bedrooms, posting tracks without labels and cultivating communities online.
CUFBOYS mirrored that same energy.
Cameron was not a detached journalist or a critic; he was a fan and sometimes even a friend to the artists.
His relationship with Lil Skies, for example, led to early behind-the-scenes content that gave viewers rare looks at a rising star before he broke into the mainstream.
Beyond the music, CUFBOYS also captured the emotional reality of an era shaped by loss.
The deaths of Lil Peep, Juice WRLD and XXXTentacion left deep scars on the SoundCloud community.
CUFBOYS’ heartfelt tributes and reflections provided a space for grieving fans to process those tragedies together.
It is easy to underestimate the channel’s’ impact now, when reaction and commentary channels are everywhere. But CUFBOYS helped pioneer that format in the context of modern rap culture.
The channel humanized artists who were often dismissed by mainstream critics as “mumble rappers.” They showed that behind the face tattoos and distorted 808s were kids with true musical talent.
In doing so, the channel legitimized an entire wave of music that would go on to influence pop, fashion and internet culture at large.
Even years later, old CUFBOYS videos still circulate online, with comments from fans reminiscing about the golden days of soundcloud rap. For many, those clips serve as digital capsules.
The SoundCloud era was short lived, and likely will never be replicated, but content creators like Haller are the reason why its influence still lingers.
