Dylan Merchant
MLA Citation
“ Drill’s Rap Sheet: Inside the Violent Culture of New York City’s Drill Rap Scene.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mt5EbIEjl8&ab_channel=VICENews. Accessed 22 Nov. 2023.
Part 2 summary
This video’s main focus is on the effects that music has on this community and what the artists themselves think about it. They interview multiple drill artists from different neighborhoods in New York City. many speak nonchalantly about the music they make and the violence in their songs. They talk about music being fun and not caring about consequences. Debatably the most popular drill artists alive Fivio foreign responded with “hip hop has always been the news of the hood; people have always been telling stories through their music.” when asked why drill music has been associated with violence and killing. They spoke about the origin of drill music’s arrival in the city, mentioning Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebels hit song run back in the early 2020’s. They interviewed a Dj heavily involved in the making of their careers and asked them why Drill rap has this negative stigma behind it. DJ BIg Bad Bolo feelings had changed after seeing many of his friends go to jail or pass away due to many different circumstances in the streets. He said “They (the artists) Feel like that’s the formula to get rich, feel seen, or get put on. They think that if they talk about shooting up or spinning this block or shooting this person. You know? That’s the formula. And it’ll catch up with them.” words coming from a man who’s lived to see all the negative that comes with gang violence and drill music.
Part 3: reflection
I believe that the creator of this video has many points, that drill music is insanely detrimental to black culture. But, it is a reflection of everything that is happening. Another point is that record labels are helping to push this violent sound because it is cheap to fund, and the talent is there. These kids that make music feel like they have no other options besides crime and music. When speaking to rappers OT9 BIno and Gino Mondana they said that them calling out rival gangs on a song and them being violent makes them more money. These rappers also believe that the labels are trying to perpetuate the violent culture of drill music in order to make money. Gino said, “They don’t want us to be peaceful with each other, nobody would be blowing up or getting signed anymore.” I think this video is beautifully crafted and the questions that they are asking everyone are great. This source makes me feel like I had the wrong research question. Because although drill rap is a negative towards our communities, it isn’t that simple. The rapping is a reflection of what these kids are going through and a way for kids with little to no opportunities to get paid. But it comes with a price, a target on your back with rival gang members, and a target on your back with the police. This source tells me that social media and Drill music is a problem, but explains the motivation behind all of it, the record labels, money and going viral. I selected this source because Vice News has been notorious for keeping up with Black Culture throughout the years and they also have millions of subscribers. II agree with a lot of the points they bring up in the video this video is more of a dive into the culture than an opinion piece. It gives you the information, but I think they want you to have your own takeaway from what was presented to you. They talk to lawyers, senators, district attorneys, rappers, and rapper’s parents and ask them questions about drill. I feel like what they focused on the most was how dangerous drill music was for the community. They commented on the numerous Bronx and Brooklyn gangs that were brought down on RICO charges. They also mentioned that 30 Drill rappers were killed in 2021 alone. Another thing they made sure to focus on was the labels involvement in pushing the violence and how the media is attracted to hearing all of it. Arguing and dissing each other through music is why some of these rappers are getting paid. I agree with those two things that the article pointed out. I learned about the thoughts of a rapper and how they feel like they are being used by their labels. Other rappers like Sha ek, TaTa and Kyle rich are aware of the consequences this disrespectful rap can bring. But as long as they can continue to be successful and help get their families out of NYC, they don’t care. Which is the sad truth for most rappers, even the ones who rap about drugs or other harmful things. They all understand their influence is negative and that there is a target on their backs, but if they can continue to make money they don’t care. I would like to ask them if they care about the new generation of kids that look up to them that they are influencing. Or ask how they think the moms of the dead people they mentioned in their songs feel when they hear them. If I could say something to the interviewer, or the editor is that I think the video is great and captures the NYC drill scene in a very educating way. But, I feel like their should have been a clearer takeaway from this piece and that they should have included more of their opinion.
Part 4: Rhetorical analysis
The genre is a informative documentary-like video about drill music, it’s origin and why/how it has affected the community the way It has. Questioning Why the music is so violent, getting the opinions of notable rappers like Fivio foreign, Sha EK and Kyle Rich. Asking uncomfortable questions most news outlets or Media platforms are scared too. Vice news is credible as it is getting the opinions of not only rappers but Concert promotors, neighborhood staples like the Dj that was interviewed, the managers of the artists and district attorneys that grew up in New York. With the man that is researching also being from New York too, curious as to how things are getting even worse. The intended audiences might be the artists, the consumers, people who idolize music, and everyone else who will listen. There are many occasions happening recently that are notable and inspiring to the article. Two drill artists named Edot baby and CHii passed away recently. Also, another successful rapper and friend of pop Smoke, Tdot Woo signed a record deal with Million Dollar Music just hours before he was killed. They even interviewed his mother, brothers and friends to get their opinions on not just his death, but the genre of music and the community. They appeal to our emotions when they bring up these rappers’ deaths but, in a way, it is also Logos as they bring up the facts and we see how the music affects these young artists’ lives. Then Vice news gives us Ethos with allowing us to get sources and opinions from rappers themselves, deceased rappers relatives and district attorneys that have lived through all of the violence for decades. This information is current, and the video was published 8 months ago. Â
Notable Qoutables
“Having other folks profit off of our pain is something we can’t do in anymore” State senator Jamaal Bailey
“Everybody wants respect in the hood”
“The NYPD has their very own intelligence division investigating the connection between rap and crime. Known as the enterprise operations unit, or rap unit.”
“As we identify us who’s causing it and where it is happening it has led us to the drill music scene” – State attorney
