Hello folks! In this post, we will consider Drill Rap Music. You don’t have to search anymore. As we have come up with the answer to all your questions. Drill music is a subgenre of hip-hop music that originated in Chicago, Illinois. The term drill resembles Chicago’s slang term for shooting.
This subgenre has an aggressive tone and dark lyrics that focus on violence, crime, and other activities. It is quite similar to gangsta rap and trap music subgenres in some terms, while different in other terms.
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History of Subgenre
Well, we understand what is drill rap music. Now, let’s consider its history and origin. Let’s find out.
Drill music emerged from Chicago in the early 2010s. Artists like Chief Keef, Pop Smoke, and King Louie played significant roles in popularizing the genre. Its history can be traced back to South Side Neighborhoods of Chicago amid the highest violence and crime in the U.S.
However, the UK drill is the regional subgenre that emerged in Brixton, London in 2012. It also influenced other scenes including Irish, Australian, Spanish, Dutch, and Brooklyn drills. Chief Keef and King Louie were one of the very first pioneers in the drill genre promotion.
Characteristics of Drill Music
Drill music grew out of the gang culture that has been a part of South Side neighborhoods of Chicago for decades. Let’s consider some characteristics of the genre.
Aggressive/Harsh Tone
One of the most basic characteristics of Drill rap music is its aggressive or harsh tone. The tone is highly aggressive in the music. It depicts the harsh realities of crime and violence.
Dark Lyrics
The lyrics of this music are dark and confrontational. It focuses on crime, drug dealing, and other cruel realities about struggles and dangers in street life.
Flow
Drill rap artists use a staccato-style flow and a stop-and-go rhythm that adds to the aggressive tone of the genre.
Production
In Chicago’s drill music, they prefer 808 drum machine beats in around 70 B.P.M. along with dark-sounding melodies.
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Famous Drill Rap Artists
Well, there have been various artists who have popularized the drill rap music genre. We are going to consider the 5 most famous drill rap artists. Let’s check out.
Chief Keef
Chief Keef is one of the most influential artists in the development of drill music. His works “I Don’t Like” and “Love Sosa” set the tone of the genre. He contributed to music that became an essential part of the hip-hop genre.
King Louie
King Louie is a famous rapper who started his career in the 2000s. His early mixtapes “Showtime” and “Man Up, Band Up” helped to establish the sound of drill rap music.
Pop Smoke
Pop Smoke was a rapper and songwriter who was an emerging star in the drill rap music scene until his sudden death. His hit “Welcome to the Party” introduced the drill rap outside Chicago. He brought his unique style to the genre.
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Lil Durk
Lil Durk is one of the pioneers in popularizing the drill rap genre. His mixtapes Life Ain’t No Joke and I’m a Hitta are some of his famous contributions to it. He also incorporated the elements of trap and R&B into his music.
Fredo Santana
Fredo Santana was a Chicago rapper and a prominent figure in the drill rap scene before his untimely death in 2018. He has also collaborated with fellow rapper Chief Keef on various tracks which became widely popular.
