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The sound was created in order to reflect lifestyle that they life. As you may know, Chicago has recently gone through a deep depression causing children and adults to turn to the streets as their main source of income. By being forced to sell drugs and steal in order to provide for their families, this has caused an outrageous amount of violence of which usually end up as a case of murder.
Due to the depression, there is not much that can be one in order for them to break this vicious cycle, therefore they are forced to continue living the life they currently are. This aspect is clearly conveyed in their lyrics. With common references to guns, drugs, women and money, it is clear that this is how they live. The biggest name currently in the ‘Drill’ scene is 19-year-old rapper, Keith ‘Chief Kef’ Cohort. He established himself and Drill Music to the world about 2 years ago with his hit single, ‘Don’t Like’. Typically, Chief Kef is photographed as with guns and marijuana which gives outsiders a view into what they do in Chicago.
If not armed or doing anything illegal in photos, then Kef usually is photographed doing some form of gang sign or disrespectful pose to convey his rebellious ways. Videos usually released by Chief Kef are located either in a gritty environment to represent what it was like to be in Chicago in the time of the depression or in a glamorous location to show off what he has achieved from his newly earned success. Most successful rappers in this genre like flashing their money, as they did not come from much and are very proud of their current success, which brings me on to my next artist.
Leonard ‘LA Capons’ Anderson was a 17-year-old rapper who was also heavily establishing himself worldwide in this genre. Similarly to most working class families in Chicago, Anderson was also major affected by this massive depression, which also forced him to get involved with drugs and violence. During this time, Anderson also was introduced to drill music and began to write and rap his own songs. As time went by, he began to become established in his department of music and was recognized for what he did. Sadly, In September 2013, the violence caught on to
Leonard when a rival gang member murdered him outside of a studio in Chicago. This was saddening news to hear as all he ever wanted to do was secure the safety of his family and move them out of the city and his progress shows that he was getting there. Similarly to Cohort, LA Capons was commonly photographed with guns and drugs to represent the gangster lifestyle he lived and breathed. These two examples were Just 2 of the many idols in the ‘Drill’ scene. Overall, the music is a product of the city and gives outsiders like us a taste of what the Chicago Drill Music – AS Media By Devise