Due to a post-election celebration hangover, I’ve got no time for introductions today! Let’s get right into the roundup.
MizOrMac- Right Step Left
Mizzy dropped another solid, solid track with “Right Step Left.” It’s got a somewhat danceable chorus, and the visuals are sick. We see Miz and some of his Spartans literally in the trenches, using toy soldiers to plan attacks like Army generals. Miz hits a sweet double time flow in his second verse, and as his sound evolves, he continues to honor Bis and Lattz whenever he gets the chance. Miz is back like he never left.
Vybz Kartel, Digga D, Unknown T and Sean D- Gotcha
Digga D and Unknown T being boys is one of my favorite revelations within the drill scene this year. This was still a bit of an unexpected collab, as they teamed up with Jamaican rapper Vybz Kartel. The video is a whole movie, and every single verse sounds like each artist performing at their best. Vybz gives a cool, cold blooded chorus, finishing the track up with some slick references to footballers Leon Bailey and Raheem Sterling, both of which have Jamaican roots. Digga D and Unknown T shell their verses, both even throwing in a little Jamaican patois themselves.
Karma, LR and Trizzac- Peckham
The Zone 2 boys never disappoint. The beat has this repeating synth line that almost feels like a military march or something. Karma keeps things dark, as per usual, with lines like “I was trying to bore man’s chest/ But he kept kicking like morning breath.” Trizzac always fits in a bit of humor, and he takes another jab at himself, mentioning how he gets pissed anytime an opp runs away because he’s a little chunky and not all that fast. LR has one of the most menacing voices and deliveries in all of drill. Whenever you get all three of these on a single track, it’s drill at it’s finest and most violent.
Abra Cadabra- Spin This Coupe
I don’t think anyone blends melody, flow and overall intimidation like Abra does. His ability to create these catchy, almost sung passages is insane, all while fitting in an unbelievable amount of words and syllables into each bar. He’s so technically impressive. His second verse we see him practically screaming, somehow finding a way to sound even more intimidating. A full project of tracks like this is a MUST.
Dbo, Ksav and Nikz- Wrist On Bop
A92 continues to prove themselves as the best and most exciting drill artists coming out of the burgeoning Irish drill scene. Dbo’s earth shaking voice has somehow gotten even deeper, and he’s got himself a pitbull too. I talk about it a lot, but in a genre where intimidation and being imposing is a huge trademark, Dbo is right there at the top of the heap in that regard. Ksav also makes a reference that immediately brought a smile to my face with, “I want ice, no hockey/ Yutes get bucked, I ain’t talking Milwaukee.” Nikz’s flow is impressive here, and just like the rest of A92, he’s improving with every single track he appears on. The back and forth he and Ksav employ at the end of the track is nice too. At this point, with these three and Offica, it’s only a matter of time until they transcend simply being from Ireland, and get lumped in with some of the best drillers in general.
Lanko- Nanny McPhee
There’s something wonderful when such dark, menacing music is full of lighthearted references. The title itself refers to the 2005 comedy Nanny McPhee, and Lanko mentions how he “rolls with two sticks like Nanny McPhee,” which is a hilarious image if you take it literally. He later makes a call back to one of my favorite shows growing up by saying, “Ever see a white boy in the ride?/ Call that Malcolm in the middle.” The beat reminds me of Headie One and RV’s classic track “Know Better,” and for the first track I’ve heard by Lanko, his flow is a little choppy here and there, but he hits some nice passages, has solid wordplay, and like I mentioned above, some of his references are spot on. He’s one I’ll be keeping an eye on in the future.
In addition to the tracks above, mainly from artists I’ve covered before, and one new one in Lanko, I feel compelled to include one more track below. It’s not a new track, nor is it drill, but there isn’t a more relevant song in existence right now. Enjoy these tracks, and be on the lookout for a few reviews this week. If I can keep myself on schedule, I should be putting two or three new ones out.