Drill is a dark and aggressive subgenre of hip-hop that arose in the early 2010s in Chicago and later saw powerful development in the United Kingdom, giving rise to a distinct “UK drill” style. It grew on the basis of trap, inheriting its heavy sound.
Drill is characterised by a slow, “heavy” tempo, dark, anxious melodies, and above all the characteristic sliding, “gliding” bass of the 808 drum machine and a specific, jagged drum pattern. The lyrics are usually stern, realistic, and reflect the harsh reality of the urban margins. UK drill developed its own inimitable sound and became one of the most influential directions of youth music of the 2010s and 2020s, later spreading around the world.
