Drill music is loud, dark, unapologetic, and enormously influential. For millions of young listeners, it is more than another style of hip-hop. Drill can be entertainment, storytelling, identity, and, in some communities, a musical account of what young people see happening outside their doors. The concern begins when stories about shootings, gangs, enemies, and retaliation become intertwined with popularity, social media attention, and success.

According to Pitchfork, drill emerged from Chicago in the early 2010s, with teenage rapper Chief Keef becoming one of the movement’s defining figures. His 2012 song “I Don’t Like” helped propel drill into mainstream hip-hop while he was still a teenager. The genre became known for menacing production, hard drums, and lyrics that frequently addressed violence and gang-dominated street life.

Drill did not remain in Chicago. It traveled. According to PBS, YouTube played an important role in helping Chicago artists reach audiences outside their neighborhoods, allowing young rappers to distribute music depicting gang life and problems affecting their communities. The sound eventually developed major scenes in places including London and New York, where Brooklyn drill became an important part of the city’s modern hip-hop identity.

The impact on young people, however, is more complicated than simply declaring drill music dangerous. According to research published in Urban Education, drill can function as a form of expression for Black youth. Researchers Kelly R. Allen, Ian Levy, and Edmund Adjapong found that drill could provide opportunities for communalism, emotional expression, and self-empowerment….