Drill music
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] Early drill artists are noted for their explicit, confrontational style of lyricism and association with crime in Chicago, especially the Black Disciples and Gangster Disciples.[3][4][5] The genre progressed into the American mainstream in 2012 following the success of pioneering rappers like Chief Keef, Lil Reese, Lil Durk, Fredo Santana, G Herbo, Lil Bibby[6][7] and King Louie, who had many local fans and a significant internet presence alongside producer Young Chop. Other rappers, such as Edai, L'A Capone, RondoNumbaNine, SD, FBG Duck, Lil Jojo and producer Leek-E-Leek also contributed to the early drill scene.[8][9][10][11][12][13] As the audience grew, media attention and the signing of drill musicians to major labels followed.
Not to be confused with drill 'n' bass or UK drill.Drill
Early 2010s, Chicago, United States
- Vocals
- synthesizer
- sampler
- audio editing software (digital audio workstation)
- drum machine (Roland TR-808)
After the initial momentum of the subgenre subsided, Chicago drill saw a resurgence in the late 2010s and early 2020s with trailblazing artists such as King Von, Polo G, Calboy and a renewed Lil Durk.[14][15][16][17][18][19] Elsewhere, regional subgenres of drill music have gained mainstream popularity. The subgenre of UK drill has influenced regional scenes around the world, including Brooklyn drill, which also gained mainstream popularity in the late 2010s and early 2020s with artists like Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign.[20][21][22]
Chief Keef, in particular, is considered the primary progenitor and popularizer of drill music, responsible for bringing it to the mainstream.[23][24][25][26]
Characteristics[edit]
Lyrics[edit]
The lyrics of drill tend to be adversarial and aggressive. The Guardian's Lucy Stehlik said "nihilistic drill reflects real life where its squeaky-clean hip-hop counterparts have failed."[27] Drill lyrics strongly contrast with the subject matter of earlier Chicago rappers[28] and contemporary mainstream hip hop which at the time of drill's emergence tended to glorify and celebrate a rise to wealth.[29]
Drill lyrics typically reflect life on the streets, and tend to be gritty, violent, realistic, and nihilistic. Drill rappers use a grim, deadpan delivery,[30] often filtered through Auto-Tune, influenced by the "stoned, aimless warbling of Soulja Boy (one of the earliest non-local Keef collaborators) and Lil Wayne before him."[31] Atlanta-based rappers Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame were important influences on the drill scene.[32] Although it bears many similarities to trap music, the speed of a drill beat is generally slower, with a moderate tempo, having about 60 to 70 beats per minute.[33][34] Some producers work at double tempo, such as 120 to 140 beats per minute.
Artistry[edit]
Drillers tend to be young; many prominent musicians in the scene started getting attention while still in their teens.[35] One of the genre's most prominent musicians, Chief Keef, was 16 when he signed a multi-million dollar record contract with Interscope,[36] and in an extreme example, Lil Wayne co-signed the 13-year-old driller Lil Mouse.[37] Critics have noted drill rappers' lack of concern with metaphor or wordplay. Chief Keef said that his simplistic flow is a conscious stylistic choice:
History[edit]
Early Chicago drill[edit]
David Drake of Complex said drill is not defined by any particular production style, but "is about the entirety of the culture: the lingo, the dances, the mentality, and the music, much of which originated in 'Dro City', a gang-defined territory of city blocks in the Woodlawn neighborhood."[46]
In street slang, "drill" means to fight or retaliate, and "can be used for anything from females getting dolled up to all out war in the streets."[47] Dro City rapper Pac Man, considered the stylistic originator and forefather of the subgenre, is credited as the first to apply the term to the local hip hop music.[46][47] Pac Man's 2010 track, "It's a Drill," is the first instance of the term being connected to the genre.[48]
Rapper Drake described the drill scene as a major vehicle of the early 2010s rise of Chicago hip hop, and described the scene as a grassroots movement that had incubated in a closed, interlocking system: on the streets and through social media in a network of clubs and parties and amongst high schools.[32] Drill developed on the South Side of Chicago, in the midst of escalating violence and a homicide crisis. Mark Guarino wrote for Salon that the music grew during "a shift from historic feuding between monolithic crime organizations controlling thousands of members each to intrapersonal squabbling and retaliatory conflicts among smaller hybrid groups whose control extends just a few blocks... The toughened reality of living in these neighborhoods is what shaped Drill music."[49] In the drill scene, rap conflict and gang conflict overlap, and many of the young rappers come from backgrounds with experience of violence.[29][50] The Independent's Sam Gould wrote that Chief Keef "represents both a scary strain of current hip hop culture and a seriously alienated group within American society."[37]
YouTube was a platform for many drill rappers to release their music videos on, and ultimately significantly contributed to the genre's popularity.[51] Chief Keef is considered the primary progenitor and popularizer of drill music, responsible for bringing it to the mainstream.[26] In 2011 and 2012, he recorded multiple singles, including "Love Sosa", "I Don't Like" and "Bang", which became viral hits, and was subsequently offered a deal from Interscope Records.[52] Around the same time, King Louie, another drill rapper, was given a record deal from Epic Records.[12]
By late 2012, rappers from other scenes and hip hop stars like Kanye West, Drake and Rick Ross were collaborating with drill musicians.[53] Kanye West remixed "I Don't Like" for the 2012 GOOD Music compilation Cruel Summer as "Don't Like", with features from West, Chief Keef, Pusha T, Big Sean and Jadakiss. West cited drill as an influence on his 2013 album Yeezus,[54] and Chief Keef and King Louie had vocals featured on the album.[55]
New Jersey DJ Akademiks's commentary YouTube channel 'War in Chiraq' played a significant role in presenting the early Chicago drill scene to a wider audience. It had a quarter million subscribers and 94 million views in its first two years.[56] Akademiks is quoted saying "I’ve done a lot to create narratives and help rappers themselves."[57]
Videographer ZackTV also played a significant role in the exposure of Chicago's early drill scene to a wider audience. The YouTube interviews he conducted includes coverage such as Chief Keef's first on-camera interview, along with interviews with artists such as L'A Capone and RondoNumbaNine. ZackTV's work also sparked a media niche of intimate on-scene video journalism of the Chicago gangland culture behind the drill music, which had not been done before at the time.[58][59][60] ZackTV was considered a mentor by other gangland reporters in that niche around the country.[61]
Drill's subject matter strongly contrasts with that of earlier Chicago rappers such as Kid Sister, Lupe Fiasco, Psalm One, Rhymefest and The Cool Kids.[28]
Older Chicago rappers have been mixed in their reaction to drill's popularity and violence. In a radio interview, rapper Lupe Fiasco said "Chief Keef scares me. Not him specifically, but just the culture that he represents ... The murder rate in Chicago is skyrocketing, and you see who's doing it and perpetrating it—they all look like Chief Keef."[28] After Chief Keef threatened Fiasco on Twitter, Fiasco said he was considering quitting the music scene.[28] Rhymefest tweeted that drill is "the theme music to murder."[62]
Chief Keef's debut album, "Finally Rich", released on Interscope Records in late 2012, was subsequently described as a "classic" album in the genre.[63][64][65] Despite the warm critique, "Finally Rich" only sold 50,000 units and became a flop record which resulted in record labels subsequently losing interest in drill, deeming it a "fad".[12]