DRILL

CHI-RAQ

Chicago - the windy city, Chitown, home of the Chicago Bullshas dominated mainstream media for being the murder capital of the United States. Gang violence has rocked the city to its core with the highest numbers in the country. The term “Chi-Raq” is a portmanteau of Chicago and Iraq used by some Chicago non-residents to liken the area to a war zone, due to its high crime rates. The impact of this goes beyond gang members, though Chicago is arguably the city with the highest murder rate of rappers too. Looking at this statistically, in 2012 Chicago had twice the number of murders compared to Los Angeles, four times higher than New York City and more people died from gang violence in Chicago than US soldiers died in Afghanistan.

Over the years this has prompted artists and residents to flee, seeking a safer and better life. Many black families fled to Atlanta and made it their new home, which is now the music capital of hip-hop since the “Dirty South take over” in the early 2000s.

Amidst all this mayhem, Chicago has produced a list of the most talented creatives in mainstream music. From R Kelly, Virgil Abloh, Kanye West, Lil Durk, Chance the Rapper, Twista, Lupe Fiasco, Earth, Wind & Fire. And it’s impact goes beyond music too, let us not forget the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. Amongst these names who lived and survived the wrath of the city is Chief Keef: the one who put drill music up in the charts.

Drill

Drill music is widely labelled rap’s most dangerous sub-genre and many say it has a disproportionate influence on gang violence. Chief Keef was soon signed to a major label, Interscope, and joined fellow drill music veteran King Louie on Kanye West’s 2013 album Yeezus. Other drill rappers like Lil Durk, Lil Reese, G Herbo, and the late Fredo Santana also grew in popularity in this period.. The Chicago Drill scene’s prominence proved short-lived—Keef was dropped by Interscope in 2014—but remained active, while drill music took root in other parts of the country and world.

Chicago Drill producers like Young Chop, who oversaw many of Chief Keef’s hits, followed a template similar to Trap music: heavy use of the 808 drum machine beats (typically 60 to 70 beats per minute), stripped-down production, and an emphasis on ear-catching melodies underscored with a brooding menace. In comparison, UK Drill artists, like Headie One, employ faster beats and a greater focus on melody, while Brooklyn Drill is distinguished by a booming delivery and warmer production.

The Uk Chapter

UK Drill music has taken the world by storm in recent years, becoming a prominent style of rap music on the UK scene. With its dark and intense lyrical themes, combined with the heavy bass and percussion, UK Drill has become a sub-genre of Grime and Hip-Hop, taking inspiration from UK Grime music and the everyday experiences of its artists.

The UK Drill scene is partly shaped by the environment it springs from – the streets of cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham. The lyrics of the songs have a certain gritty authenticity as they tell stories of lived experiences in these struggling neighbourhoods. From tales of drug dealing, violence, and police conflict, UK Drill provides a fresh and authentic perspective on the youth culture and streetlife of these areas. It’s almost as if the sub-genre acts as a cathartic outlet for these young people that feel so often overlooked and ignored.

Artists in this subgenre take on strong personas, often heavily associated with their area of origin, which further cements them within their communities to the point of almost becoming local celebrities and icons. In addition to this, Drill artists often feature weapons, gangs, and gang rivalries in their music. UK Drill songs take pride in their locality and highlight the intricate gang connections of different neighbourhoods. The names of different post-codes are used extensively in references to gang conflicts. It is as if the music is a way to present each other with thinly veiled attacks under the guise of music. As we will see later, this has presented a significant obstacle for the scene in terms of its reception in the wider community.