Before we talk about where UK drill is going, it’s worth revisiting where it came from. The genre’s roots trace back to the early 2010s, blossoming out of South London areas like Brixton, Peckham, and Croydon. Drawing inspiration from Chicago drill artists like Chief Keef, UK drill took the menacing beats and dark lyrical themes of its American counterpart and gave it a distinctly British spin.
What makes UK drill instantly recognizable is its frenetic drum patterns, often punctuated by sliding 808s, along with its distinctive flows—grimaced and unrelenting. But perhaps what marks UK drill most emphatically is the social commentary. The lyrics frequently paint bleak but authentic pictures of urban street life, tackling issues from systemic poverty to the endless cycles of violence—and it's that raw reality that resonates across borders.
UK drill's global appeal can boil down to a few key factors:
If you want to look at how drill defies borders today, you need to log onto TikTok. While drill tracks are often shadowbanned for their violent or explicit lyrics, edited versions have gone viral, fueled by digitally-native Gen Z fans creating challenges, dance routines, and memes. Take Russ Millions & Tion Wayne's anthem "Body": it garnered over a billion combined views across TikTok and YouTube, with dances created as far from London as Jakarta or Madrid.
New York City has emerged as the American epicenter of drill, largely thanks to Brooklyn drill stars like Pop Smoke, Fivio Foreign, and Sheff G. While their sound is unmistakably inspired by UK drill, American artists have added their bold, swagger-heavy touches. Beats are cleaner, hooks are catchier, and the production is more club-friendly than its British ancestor. If UK drill feels like a foggy London evening, Brooklyn drill feels like a strobe light in a packed nightclub.
Interestingly, this isn’t just a one-way exchange. British drill producers like AXL Beats have played a massive role in shaping New York’s drill sound. Even more recently, the relationship has come full circle, with UK drill artists taking inspiration back from the Brooklyn scene.
France might just be one of the most exciting hubs for drill beyond the UK right now. French artists like Gazo and Ashe 22 have cultivated their own flavor of drill, blending it with Parisian street culture and even North African sounds. Gazo’s 2021 mixtape, "Drill FR," is emblematic of this evolution, featuring multiple tracks that went viral across French-speaking countries and beyond.
What’s unique about French drill is its language. While English dominates the global music stage, French drill has proven the genre’s versatility, proving that the emotions and mood behind the beats transcend language barriers.
Let’s take a leap to the other side of the world: Australia. Seriously, who saw Australian drill coming? Groups like ONEFOUR have not only adapted UK drill’s sonic elements but painted their narratives through the lens of Australian street life. Hailing from Mount Druitt, the group brought drill to a completely new cultural and geographical context—a fascinating case of the genre's adaptability.
Australia’s police and media have responded in much the same way as the UK to drill’s raw, anti-establishment tone—largely banning performances and accusing it of fueling street violence. But like anywhere else, bans only seem to increase the allure of drill's rebellious attitude, driving its fans ever closer to the genre.
Let’s not forget about the unsung heroes of UK drill’s spread: the producers. Figures like M1onthebeat (who crafted some of Headie One’s biggest hits) and the aforementioned 808Melo are key architects of the sound, and their beats are now being snapped up by rappers far outside the UK.
Another great example is UK producer Ghosty, who has worked internationally without losing that bold drill essence. The unapologetic, gritty nature of his beats has become a universal language in itself, bridging cultural gaps wherever it travels.
One aspect fueling drill’s traction is oddly its ability to highlight systemic issues. Whether you’re hearing OFB rap about London’s gang violence, Brooklyn’s rappers addressing over-policing in the U.S., or South Africa’s drillers talking township crime, the music serves as a powerful microphone for underrepresented communities across the planet.
Take Lagos, Nigeria, for example. Drill is emerging as an outlet for the country's youth, with rising names like Odumodublvck blending the sound into distinctly African grooves. When paired with drill’s razor-sharp lyricism, the end result is a genre that speaks loudly about inequality without preaching or politicking. Sometimes, the beat says everything you need to know.
Despite its global rise, UK drill continues to face challenges—some of them intrinsic to its DNA. The genre wrestles with constant censorship, from platforms refusing to promote tracks to local authorities using drill lyrics as evidence in criminal trials. Internationally, cultural differences and language barriers can also create hurdles.
Then there’s the question of sustainability. Is drill’s aggressive aesthetic too niche to dominate for the long term? Or can it continue evolving and hybridizing with other genres to keep growing?
At its heart, UK drill is a genre made for constant reinvention. It thrives by adapting to the local nuances of the cultures it touches. Whether it’s the grimy beats of London, the polished hooks of Brooklyn, or the experimental flair of Paris, drill is becoming something bigger than itself: a universal anthem of grit and survival.
The way things are going, UK drill might not just be a British export—it could very well be the world’s collective battle cry. And honestly, that’s the kind of energy we could all use right now. So put on your headphones, turn up the 808s, and let’s keep riding this global wave.