Drill music

Drill music, also known as drill rap or simply drill, is a subgenre of hip-hop music that originated in Chicago in the early 2010s. It is sonically similar to the trap music subgenre and lyrically similar to the gangsta rap subgenre.^[2][3] Drill lyricism is noted for its ominous, confrontational nature, often including references to gang rivalries and various incidents, sometimes murder.^[4] Drill artists often address authentic, real-life conflicts, at times incorporating artistic expressions such as taunting or mockery.^[3][5]

Early drill artists are typically noted for their associations with crime in Chicago, especially with the Black Disciples and Gangster Disciples.^[6][7][8][9] The genre garnered mainstream attention in 2012 following the success of pioneering Chicago rappers like Chief Keef, Lil Durk, Lil Reese, Fredo Santana, G Herbo, Lil Bibby, King Louie, and producer Young Chop.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15]} Other rappers, such as Lil JoJo, FBG Duck, S. Dot,^[16] Edai, L'A Capone, RondoNumbaNine, SD and producer Leek-E-Leek also contributed to the early drill scene.^{[17][18][19][20][21][22]} Female rappers such as Sasha Go Hard, Katie Got Bandz, and the group Pretty N Pink developed the distinctive feminine style of drill music.^[23][24][25]

Chicago drill saw a resurgence in the mainstream during the late 2010s and early 2020s with artists such as King Von, Polo G, Calboy, and a revamped Lil Durk.^{[26][27][28][29][30][31]} By the 2020s, drill's popularity spread globally, with the BBC in 2021 describing drill as "the sound of the global youth".^[2] The UK drill scene emerged in the mid-2010s, leading to the prominence of artists such as 67, Harlem Spartans, CGM, and Skengdo x AM. UK drill subsequently influenced regional scenes in Europe and America, including Brooklyn drill, which gained mainstream popularity in the early 2020s with artists like Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign.^[32][33][34] Drill scenes have been noted in such locales as Ireland,^[35] Australia,^[36] the Netherlands,^[2] Ghana,^[37] Uganda,^[38] Denmark^[39] and France^[40].

The subgenre's controversial nature has stimulated discussion.^{[38][41][42][43]} Public debate about the implications drill rap has raged, while some authorities, elected officials, and commentators in the UK and America castigating the genre and its artists, claiming that drill rap catalyzes real world violence.^[3][44] On the other hand, it has been counterargued that drill is illuminates harsh societal realities, resonating closely with the disenfranchised youth audience, and that artists are within their right to self-expression.^[2][38] Attempts at curtailing the subgenre, including deleting posted music videos, blockading performances, and legalizing song lyrics as criminal evidence, have been put in practice in the UK and America, generating further controversy.^[45]