Evolution of Drill (Trap style) (2024)

History

Whereas the ‘trap’ genre name first came from the drug world, ‘drill’ is a slang term that means to shoot someone. Unsurprisingly, drill music focuses more on violence for the sake of violence than trap’s drug dealing lyrics. The impetus for drill’s gritty violence first came from the streets of Chicago, a city that continues to be plagued by high gun murder rates. Drill came into its own around the early 2010s, when artists like Chief Keef skyrocketed the popularity of the sound far beyond Chicago thanks in large part to digital distribution techniques.

Influences

The Atlanta rap scene was a huge influence for Chicago drill, especially the hard-spitting, chart-topping tracks coming out from artists like Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame. The popular Southern sound helped build an appetite for local, grittier productions among young Chicagoan listeners and artists alike. The digital pitch correction softwares (e.g. Auto-Tune) being used by artists like Soulja Boy and Lil Wayne to create their cold, alien vocals also helped build the drill sound. One of the first artists to self-identify as a drill rapper was the late Pac man, who dropped tracks like “It’s a Drill Man” before his 2010 passing. Drill has seen its fair share of public controversy due to its violent reputation, and a newer wave of (somewhat) tamer drill artist personas have emerged in response.

Sound

The trademark hi-hat from Atlanta trap isn’t as common in drill, but the same slow, head-nodding beats laying underneath often violent lyrics about inner city life are very much present. Lyrics tend to be simplistic, with less concern for showing complex metaphors than other hip hop genres. Instead, drill artists are concerned with conveying a dangerous feeling, helped in large part by deadpan, dark, and even murderous vocal deliveries. Drill rappers also tend to be young, although more recent wave drill has been latched onto by older, more established artists.


King Louie & Bo$$ Woo – “Gumbo Mobsters”

Chicago, Illinois, 2011

King Louie was a friend of the late Pac Man. He helped the drill sound live on with tracks like “Gumbo Mobsters”.

Shady – “Go In”

Chicago, Illinois, 2011

Female artists have played a big part in the drill genre even since its early days, like the viral “Go In” by Shady.

Chief Keef & Lil Reese – “I Don’t Like”

Chicago, 2012

When Kanye discovered Chief Keef’s “I don’t Like it” online and did a remix, it turned the seventeen-year-old into a star overnight.

Katie Got Bandz ft. King Louie – “Pop Out”

Chicago, 2013

Katie Got Bandz had a brief lived but influential trap career, with her “Pop Out” collab hitting 3 million views on YouTube by 2020.

Young Pappy – “Killa”

Chicago, 2014

The late Young Pappy takes a highly aggressive approach in “Killa”, with hollered lyrics laid over a classic trap beat supported by idiosyncratic Queen samples.

FBG Duck – “Slide”

Chicago, Illinois, 2017

This track alternates between soft-spoken threats and screaming jeers for a disturbing, yet captivating, effect.

Evolution of Drill (Trap style) (2024)

FAQs

Evolution of Drill (Trap style)? ›

Drill rap originated in southside Chicago around 2011. King Louie is considered to be one of the first drill rappers ever, and the founder of Drill rap. Some pioneers of drill rap were Chief Keef, Lil Reese, Lil Durk, Rondonumba9, LA Capone (R.I.P), and more.

Who started drill trap? ›

Drill rap originated in southside Chicago around 2011. King Louie is considered to be one of the first drill rappers ever, and the founder of Drill rap. Some pioneers of drill rap were Chief Keef, Lil Reese, Lil Durk, Rondonumba9, LA Capone (R.I.P), and more.

What is the history of the trap genre? ›

Trap originated in the Southern part of the United States in the 1990s, specifically Atlanta, Georgia. Some of the most well-known early trap artists in the 1990s were 8Ball & MJG, Three 6 Mafia, UGK, Ghetto Mafia, and Master P.

Where did trap music evolve from? ›

Trap is a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in the Southern United States in the 1990s. The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang word "trap house", a house used exclusively to sell drugs.

Is drill the new trap? ›

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. Artists within drill music have been noted for their style of lyricism and association with crime in Chicago.

Who started Bronx drill? ›

Coming out of New York City, where there are far too many self-proclaimed G.O.A.T.s or kings, Sha EK would rather be known as a forefather of Bronx drill. “If I never thought of doing music, there would not be no Bronx drill,” he says confidently.

Who started Brooklyn drill? ›

Brooklyn drill music first gained attention with the 2014 single "Hot nigg*" from the rapper Bobby Shmurda. Other early pioneers were rappers Bam Bino, Dah Dah and Curly Savv. The genres is agreed to have been pioneered by 22Gz and Sheff G, largely scaling the potential of the movement.

Who is the father of trap music? ›

But there's one person who is most responsible for taking all of the elements of what would become known as trap music—the eerie synthesizers, the powerful 808 kicks, and the busy hi-hats—all together. And that person is Shawty Redd.

Who was the original trap? ›

In the early 1990s, rappers UGK, 8Ball & MJG, Three 6 Mafia, Cool Breeze, Kilo Ali, Master P, and Ghetto Mafia were among the first rappers to introduce trap music. In 1992, UGK's “Pocket Full of Stones” was one of the earliest trap records to be released from their major-label debut album Too Hard to Swallow.

Where is the birthplace of trap music? ›

Trap music is a rap subgenre that appeared in the early 1990s in the poorest neighbourhoods of Atlanta (USA), the home of trap houses, which are houses where crack and other drugs are produced and sold, and where consumers find themselves “trapped”, talking their own underworld and their own slang, outside the margins ...

What's the difference between trap and drill? ›

The main difference between drill and trap music is in their lyrics. Drill music focuses more on the violence and brutality of the streets, whereas trap music focuses on drugs and drug dealing. Drill is slang for shooting, so if someone says they're a driller it often means they're calling themselves a gun shooter.

Who is king of trap? ›

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, arguably the home of original trap music, T.I. is often referred to as The King of Trap in the music world. His top-selling 2003 album, Trap Muzik, sold 10,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200.

What was the first trap song? ›

If we look even further into the past, the first song to mention trap was, in fact, Goodie Mob's 1995 track 'Thought Process'.

Is drill music misunderstood? ›

Serious concerns have been raised that drill music causes violence through the use of lyrics and imagery which glorify gang crime and violence. It is commonly asserted that drill content often contains specific references to individuals and groups in a way that causes violent acts.

What is New York drill? ›

New York drill, which coalesced in Brooklyn in the late 2010s before diffusing to the Bronx in the early 2020s, combines the nihilistic, swagger-filled delivery of Chicago drill with the instrumentals of UK drill.

Who invented hip hop in the Bronx? ›

The story goes that on August 11, 1973 DJ Kool Herc, a building resident, was entertaining at his sister's back-to-school party, and tried something new on the turntable: he extended an instrumental beat (breaking or scratching) to let people dance longer (break dancing) and began MC'ing (rapping) during the extended ...

Who is the king of drill in the Bronx? ›

1. Chief Keef. What is this? Chief Keef is a Bronx drill rapper, one of the founders of Bronx drill rap, which is also practiced in Chicago.

Who started London drill? ›

History. 150 (now known as GBG), a group from the Angell Town Estate in Brixton, is often credited with pioneering UK drill music, with 150 members Stickz, Grizzy (stylized as GR1ZZY) and M Dargg being dedicated exponents of the early style.

How did the Woo start? ›

"The Woo" was created the month Pop Smoke died. Pop Smoke asked 808Melo to play some of his beats, one of which Pop Smoke liked. The rapper said: "Oh, yeah, this is something different. This is what I want." Pop Smoke had not made a verse for the song but made a hook.

Who invented mumble rap? ›

There is disagreement over who first rapped in such a style, although its creation has been attributed to rappers such as Gucci Mane, Chief Keef, and most notably Future, whose 2012 single "Tony Montana" is often cited as the first mumble rap song; however, there have been sources dating as far back as October 2011 of ...

What is dark trap? ›

Dark Trap is a subgenre of Trap music that is characterized by its dark, gritty, and often violent sound. It typically features heavy 808 bass, distorted synths, and hard-hitting drums. The lyrics often focus on topics such as drugs, violence, and street life.

Who is the best trap rapper? ›

Gucci Mane

Gucci Mane is a living legend, an icon of Atlanta hip hop, and the greatest trap rapper of all time. He is one of the most influential artists in the culture, and his contributions to trap music cannot be overstated.

Why is trap called trap? ›

It was named that because areas where people buy and sell drugs are referred to as “the trap” because drug dealers go there to make money, but they could also get busted by the police and wind up in jail, much like a mouse trying to get cheese could get caught in a trap.

Who was the 1st parent trap? ›

The Parent Trap is a 1961 American romantic comedy film written and directed by David Swift. It stars Hayley Mills (in a dual role) as a pair of teenage twins plotting to reunite their divorced parents by switching places with each other. Maureen O'Hara, and Brian Keith play the parents.

Who started trap music in the South? ›

These main characteristics and the signature sound of trap music, began with producer and innovator Shawty Redd.

Is trap black music? ›

While the many genres of Black music in America, like blues, rock, jazz, and trap, may seem wildly different, this is the common thread linking them all together.

What is the difference between hip-hop and trap music? ›

So let's begin! To be clear, rap is the delivery used in hip-hop music and trap is a sub-genre of hip-hop music. Therefore, out of the two, only trap is a genre. Trap derives from hip-hop, an urban-based genre from New York City.

Did Memphis create trap music? ›

Three 6 Mafia are a Memphis-based group that created the building blocks for the trap sound. Though trap music came from Atlanta, the sound originates from earlier down-south hip-hop genres like crunk, Miami bass, bounce, and chopped & screwed.

What is the history of the drill? ›

In 1917 the first trigger-switch, pistol-grip portable drill was patented by Black & Decker. This was the start of the modern drill era. Over the last century the electric drill has been created in a variety of types and multiple sizes for an assortment of specific uses.

Is drill a subgenre of trap? ›

"Drill" is a Chicago based subgenre of Trap that emerged more recently. Drill lyrics typically reflect life on the streets, and tend to be gritty, violent, realistic and nihilistic. Drill rappers use a grim, deadpan delivery, often filtered through Auto-Tune...

What is a trap drill? ›

Whereas the 'trap' genre name first came from the drug world, 'drill' is a slang term that means to shoot someone. Unsurprisingly, drill music focuses more on violence for the sake of violence than trap's drug dealing lyrics.

Who is the No 1 rapper in the world? ›

Jay-Z. Jay-Z is a rapper who can be highly sophisticated but prefers to keep things simple. This genuine skill allows him to focus on honing and communicating his message. No other rapper has had the same level of consistency as Jay-Z.

Who created alt trap? ›

Alternative Trap is the debut mixtape by American hip hop recording artist Lucki, released on July 25, 2013 as a free digital download.

What is the most famous trap? ›

Most Popular Trap Songs of All Time (Updated in 2023)
  • Life Is Good (feat. Drake)Future, Drake.
  • CongratulationsPost Malone, Quavo.
  • SAD! XXXTENTACION.
  • Bad and Boujee (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)Migos, Lil Uzi Vert.
  • DUMB (feat. Moneybagg Yo)Rican Da Menace, Moneybagg Yo.
  • Gucci GangLil Pump.
  • SICKO MODETravis Scott.
  • Bodak YellowCardi B.

Who invented trap rap? ›

Harris' father Clifford Joseph Harris, also known as rapper T.I., is dubbed as the inventor of trap music, a style of hip-hop that emerged in the early 1990s.

Who created crunk? ›

First crunk songs: The Memphis, Tennessee–based Three 6 Mafia and Lil Jon from Atlanta, Georgia, released what most critics describe as the first crunk songs.

What is the most listened drill song? ›

Here are some of the best drill songs ever!
  • “I Don't Like” by Chief Keef X Lil Reese.
  • “Welcome to the Party” by Pop Smoke.
  • “Big Drip” by Fivio Foreign.
  • “Go In” by Shady.
  • “Wassup” by Lil Reese ft. Fredo Santana & Lil Durk.
  • “Know Better” by Headie One ft. RV.
  • “Dior” by Pop Smoke.
  • “Let's Get It” by Stickz.
Jan 2, 2023

Is drill music dark? ›

Drill music is a type of contemporary rap from Chicago. It came to the UK in 2012 and has spread from Brixton to all areas of the country. It's characterised by ominous beats, haunting melodies and dark lyrics.

Who is the target audience of drill music? ›

Most drill artists are young people with plenty to say on issues like climate change, politics, and austerity. However, historically, the lyrics of many drill songs focus on gang culture and gang rivalries as well as life on the streets including drugs, money, and sex.

Why do drill rappers wear gloves? ›

Mushiva said: “For rappers, the glove can completely replace the role of a DJ that provides musical background for a performance. It can trigger instrumentals and even allow the wearer to do live composition on stage.

Why do drill rappers wear masks? ›

“Some people cover up because they might be doing stuff on the roads,” S1 tells me. ​“Some people cover up their face because their family don't know they're rapping or in a gang.

What is a drill in Chicago slang? ›

The Chicago Sound

Chicago is where the term drill took on new meaning, first as slang for shooting and killing and then, with Pac Man's “It's a Drill” in 2010, for music about witnessing both.

Why did Rolling Loud ban drill rappers? ›

The rappers had “been affiliated with recent acts of violence citywide,” according to a letter sent by an assistant chief at the Police Department to the festival organizers at the time. “The New York City Police Department believes if these individuals are allowed to perform, there will be a higher risk of violence.”

What drill artist was banned from Rolling Loud? ›

Rolling Loud New York removes three drill rappers from lineup at city's behest. Bronx native Sha Ek, Brooklyn's 22Gz and Ron Suno, another Bronx-born rapper, won't be allowed to participate in what has become one of the biggest rap festivals in the country based on a potential for violence.

What is drill music influenced by? ›

The subgenre is strongly influenced by trap music, another subgenre of hip-hop that emerged from the Atlanta, Georgia music scene that shares the drill sound's propensity for dark, slow atmospheres and a lyrical focus on the dangers of criminal activity.

Who started drill first? ›

Drill in the modern sense was introduced by the Greeks, who periodically practiced the maneuvers of the phalanx; the Spartans carried disciplined drill to an extreme unequalled by their contemporaries. Philip II of Macedonia and Alexander III the Great further improved the phalanx and its drill.

Who invented the first drill? ›

You had the bit and brace (still in use today) as well as a beater-style hand drill. The specific invention dates of these tools remain up for debate. When it comes to adding electricity, Arthur James Arnot and William Blanch Brain of Australia get credit for inventing the first electric power drill way back in 1889.

Who started trap metal? ›

Trap Metal (also known as ragecore, hardcore trap, industrial trap and scream trap) is a fusion genre pioneered in the mid 2010s by rappers such as BONES, Sybyr and XXXTentacion.

What is the oldest known drill? ›

One of the first (if not the first) drill to be invented was the bore drill. This device was invented in Egypt sometime around the year 3000 B.C. The next drill to be invented was the auger drill. This drill can still be found in use today and was invented in the Roman ages.

Who was the first drill team in America? ›

-This team is called the Kilgore College Rangerettes. Gussie Nell Davis (cont.) -The Rangerettes first debut on the football field was September 12, 1940. -The Rangerettes are the first drill team created and most famous for their fabulous high kicks!

Who is father of drill? ›

Drills were first invented in Germany by general Draul in 1666. Drills makes military more systematic and disciplined. Drills also makes one more patient and more thick – skinned.

How did they drill before drills? ›

In the Stone Age, our cave-dwelling ancestors used pointed stones to drill holes in materials for their constructions. The next generation of drill-like tools were a slight reversion to pointed stones. The drill of that time consisted of two branch forks and a crossbar.

What did drill originate from? ›

Drill music is a type of contemporary rap from Chicago. It came to the UK in 2012 and has spread from Brixton to all areas of the country. It's characterised by ominous beats, haunting melodies and dark lyrics. With roots in disadvantaged inner city London, it appeals to young people who grow up in deprived areas.

What does drill mean in slang? ›

(slang, vulgar) To have sexual intercourse with; to penetrate. quotations ▼synonyms ▲ Synonyms: plow, poke, root, shaft; see also Thesaurus:copulate with.

Why do mumble rappers use lil? ›

In an interview with the ABC, host of triple j's Hip-Hop Show Hau Latukefu explained, “Back in the day it was used by people that were coming up under someone. If they were your OG (original gangster), if they brought you up on the streets, you were like the second version of them.”

Is Lil pump mumble rap? ›

A new generation of 'mumble' rappers are rapidly making a name for themselves. Future, Lil Pump, Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert and Cardi B are just a few of the scene's biggest stars, leading the new wave of rap culture to the forefront of the music charts.

How did trap start? ›

Trap music is a rap subgenre that appeared in the early 1990s in the poorest neighbourhoods of Atlanta (USA), the home of trap houses, which are houses where crack and other drugs are produced and sold, and where consumers find themselves “trapped”, talking their own underworld and their own slang, outside the margins ...

Who invented trap beats? ›

But there's one person who is most responsible for taking all of the elements of what would become known as trap music—the eerie synthesizers, the powerful 808 kicks, and the busy hi-hats—all together. And that person is Shawty Redd.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 6312

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.