“Body,” a song by Russ and Tion Wayne made music history by becoming the first drill song to go to Number One in the UK charts.
For those who are not familiar with this genre of music, drill is rap music with a distinctive UK urban feel.
Drill music is gaining popularity. At the Brit Awards this month drill artist, Headie One performed his track Ain’t It Different. He was nominated for Best British Male and last year he collaborated with huge US star Drake. These are all signs this genre has become mainstream.
Despite its crossover appeal, many people have negative views towards drill due to its graphic lyrical content which critics feel are not suitable especially for young people who listen to drill music the most.
I am 15 and have followed drill music for the last few years and I completely disagree with these negative views towards this genre.
This is because while most drill artists talk about their past experiences, growing up in challenging environments, they also talk about how music has helped them escape their tough environments and change their lives.
Drill is being used as a scapegoat, being blamed by some people for violence and knife crime in Britain which is not right. A lot of entertainment can be made to look negative and blamed for increases in violence such as movies, TV shows, video games.
I also don't think it is fair to say drill glorifies or incites violence. As Russ himself said in his interview with YouTube star Zeze Millz: “Violence was happening before drill became popular, and will always happen but not because of drill music.”
He’s right.
Drill music doesn’t explicitly tell its audience to go out and be violent, it just details the reality of the artist's life and environment in which they live and have grown up which, in many cities, is bleak.
The reality is, rather than glorifying crime as some critics have accused drill of doing, it is actually helping reduce crime.
Instead of young people being in gangs and on the streets, they are spending a huge amount of time in the studio which takes them away from that “street life”.
An example of this is the drill group OFB. Headie One, who was part of this group, used his success to help others associated with the group including Bandokay and Double Lz to become popular and to improve their lifestyles and take them off the streets.
“Body” getting to the top of the charts has undoubtedly shown how drill music can make artists legitimately successful.
Drill music is allowing more individuals to change their lives which reduces the amount of people in gangs which in turn reduces violence rather than increasing it. Which is why trying to get this music banned and taken off the radio will have a negative effect.
