TORIES, MEDIA & REALITY

UK Drill has received criticism for its sometimes violent and controversial messages. Right-wing newspapers and media outlets have demonised the genre, arguing that the music promotes and normalises violence amongst young people. There is a degree of truth to this, of course; UK Drill music is not always fun and games and can contain some pretty serious themes. However, as with anything that covers topics such as violence and gang culture, it should be accessible to those over eighteen years old, similar to the majority of media that contains classifiable content. It should also be noted that some UK Drill rappers are a product of the environment they come from, and the music acts as a way to process and express the hardships they encounter in their daily lives.

Moreover, the UK government has attempted to impose censorship on the subgenre as if they are the arbiters of taste and censorship. In 2019, the government introduced a bill that threatened those who did not conform to “British values.” In this case, UK Drill music was deemed a risk. While not as extreme as some countries where some forms of music are outright banned, the UK government has still been accused of censorship and bearing down on cultural freedom. It seems that mainstream society has yet to catch up with many of the musical styles that ebb and flow through new generations.

EDGEY & SKETCHY

British music has always had an edge to it, from the Sex Pistols of the 70s to the Grime movements of the previous decades. It seems that UK Drill music is no different in this regard, and as a genre that reflects many of the genuine experiences that young people face within inner-city areas of the UK, it deserves to be more widely recognised.

A key feature of UK Drill is the Trap’ sound, heavily inspired by southern US rap culture. As men- tioned, this often involves 808 drum machines, aggressive bass lines and gunshots. The subgenre is also closely associated with the UK Grime scene, with many artists forging connections between the two genres. However, one thing you will not find in UK Drill is the kind of frenetic aggression of Grime. Instead, UK Drill leans more into a less frantic, more braggadocious tone, paying homage to the US gangster rap scene.

UK Drill music pioneers 67 and Harlem Spartans have been instrumental in the development of the genre. 67’s signature sound primarily features sample-based beats and gritty lyrics that echo the realities of life in their South London neighbourhood of Brixton. Harlem Spartans, coming from the Kennington and Brixton areas of London, were formed through mutual friends and quickly became a highly-regarded group, releasing their debut album, Call Me A Spartan, in 2017. Other notable UK Drill artists include OFB (Original Farm Boys), who have a deep connection to the Wood Green area of London, and the NorthWest London group 1011, whose music has caused controversy due to the use of graphic language and violence, which caused YouTube to remove their debut video ‘Play For The Pagans’ citing promotion of violence, gang culture, and drug use. Despite this, 1011 later became pioneers of Drill music and helped the genre reach wider audiences in the UK.

Overall, UK Drill music is a reflection of its milieu. The themes of struggle, rivalry, and hardship tackled in the songs are a product of the streets and neighbourhoods that the sub-genre has come to represent. It is a glimpse into the experience of young people from some of the UK’s toughest areas, and as such, has the potential to be enlightening. As with any artistic movement, music will always be a source of debate, censorship, and criticism.

Still, UK Drill music represents a raw and fiercely competitive scene, awash with energy and tenacity, a window into a street culture that may be alien to many, but vital to many more.