Drill rap is one of the most visceral genres in hip hop, a style that originated in the South Side of Chicago and later spread to New York. The rappers who define this movement—also known as gangster rap or hardcore hip-hop—channel the daily realities of gang culture to create music that feels urgent, real, and connects deeply with their neighborhoods. But despite their popularity, these artists and the scenes they represent face major societal challenges. The violence of their lyrics can fuel neighborhood feuds, which sometimes result in murder and even a rape conviction for one of the most prolific names in the movement, Ronald “Hollow Man” Thomas.
In the early days of the movement, rappers used YouTube as a platform to distribute their work and attract attention from record labels. This allowed the style to gain momentum and expand beyond the streets of Chicago to other cities across the country and the world.
The biggest proponent of drill rap is Chicago native Chief Keef, who rose to fame in 2012 with his mixtapes Jeep Music and Bang. His single I Don’t Like became a hit in Chicago and received national attention when Kanye West released a remix of the song. This brought Keef out of obscurity and into the mainstream, bolstering other artists such as G Herbo and Lil Reese in the process.
After Keef, other artists such as 22Gz and Sheff G began to establish the Brooklyn drill scene in 2014 with songs that spoke to the city’s gang warfare. These raps were a response to near-constant beefs between rival crews and the deep animosity that existed between them. The fact that they were able to establish themselves and gain traction within the community despite the tension is indicative of the power of drill music.
While many rappers have incorporated violent themes into their music, they weren’t attempting to sound cool or tough. The violent themes are a direct reflection of the violence that plagues their communities and the lives of the people who live there. Rappers in the Drill scene have a responsibility to reflect that reality, but there is also a sense of duty to show their audience a better way.
As the movement grows and becomes more popular, it raises a number of thorny questions about censorship, moralizing, and when a song crosses over into being something else. The fact that New York drill exists at all speaks to major societal issues and sheds light on a severely alienated group of people in the United States.
For many young artists, the pressure to make hits can lead them to include explicit language and references to drugs, murder, and sex. This has caused some of the most popular rappers in this space to make a conscious effort to shift their sounds and change their image in order to remain relevant and attract listeners. Other artists, such as Polo G, have managed to stay popular with a more accessible approach to their music. drill rap