Drill’s Leading Light Unknown T Reignites Its Flickering Flame On Fiery Cut ‘Who said drill's dead?'

Drill music, in general, has become rather tame. The scene is brimming with repetitive drivel, monotonous bars and infuriatingly identical song structures and samples (sometimes as far as entire instrumentals - come on guys, that’s just lazy). Like many once vital movements before it, the commercialisation of Drill has led to the beginning of its downfall, with it now losing the gritty, ominous ethos that pumped oxygen around its beating heart, with each Russ Millions song a blood clot to the genre’s livelihood. Luckily, Homerton’s Unknown T is on hand with a defibrillator.

‘Who said drill’s dead’ feels more like a threat than a question. This double-sided freestyle oozes quality; modern UK Drill at its finest, an epitomisation of the genre’s faculty to bruise, batter and entertain. Undoubtedly one of the most respected and talented drillers in the scene, Unknown T has developed a tendency to experiment and meander from the sonic ideologies of the sound that brought him acclaim, but on this cut it feels like the East Londoner is paying homage, flaunting his signature skippy flow and supreme lyrical prowess over robust instrumentation. T pulls out all the stops for the video, enlisting Top Boy’s Ashely Walters for a cameo as Dushane before heading back to the block to link up with his 98’s crew.

Will these freestyles single-handedly revive the Drill scene? No. They’re more likely a rose in a thorn bush. It is, however, concrete proof that Drill music can be both acutely artistic and vehemently vigorous. If Drill is to survive, thrive and outlive its own legacy, it needs to focus on the art, craft and authenticity, rather than the fame, money and Tik Tok.

Words by Ben Tibbits