Despite being one of the major faces of New York drill rap, Fivio Foreign didn’t think the sub-genre would thrive for much longer after Pop Smoke passed away in February 2020.
During a recent appearance on Gillie Da Kid and Wallo’s Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, Fivio admitted he and other drill rappers second-guessed the staying power of the sound in the wake of Pop’s murder, given how influential he was in the scene.
“He was gone, he was there, he was putting on. We were all coming up, but he was clearing the way for n-ggas, like, ‘Yo come on, this way,'” Fivio said. “He was embracing n-ggas and when he died, it was almost like, ‘Damn, this shit just might die out altogether,’ ’cause he was putting on.”
Despite Fivio Foreign’s concerns, drill rap has continued to thrive after Pop Smoke’s death, spreading throughout the five boroughs of New York City and to faraway places like Italy and Japan. Fivio himself has picked up the torch and become one of the faces of the movement, with his debut album B.I.B.L.E. cracking the top 10 on the Billboard 200 in April.
Joe Budden Thinks New York Drill Music Won't Be Popular In A Few Years
Others, however, feel the clock is ticking on New York drill rap before city officials and law enforcement crack down on the scene. During an episode of his eponymous podcast last month, the Tri-State’s own Joe Budden predicted the demise of drill rap.
“You drill n-ggas got the shortest of windows,” he said. “That shit ’bout over. Y’all can go keep dancing with Eric Adams if you want. It’s over, buddy, in the next five, six years. The writing is on the wall, and that’s government-issued writing. That’s not Joe. That’s government-issued writing. Don’t start hitting me, mad at me. I’m just telling you what I’m looking at.”
It did
They won’t let it die. It’s too valuable. It gets black people killed and put in jail every day. It is absolutely toxic in the black community. If you don’t think so, you’re not paying attention. These songs are not about ‘the experience in my neighborhood’, these songs are simply cheap mantras of murder and drug abuse. There’s nothing beneath the surface of them.
We’re talking about a music genre here not the socioeconomic structure of the country. Black people (like every race of people) do not need an excuse to kill each other, we’re humans, we kill period
Nah man. That doesn’t fly anymore. Talking about drill and trap music without mentioning the negative effects they have on people is like talking about crack without mentioning drug addiction. Drill and trap music RELY on dummies like you to be too lazy to connect the dots. I’ve been around longer than you. Rap has never, ever, had such a blatant, obvious, and intentionally negative effect on BLACK people. It’s targeting black people. Stop defending this garbage and acting like it’s just some fun trend.
Life expectancy of an average drill rapper: 6 months – 12 years max. (Chief Keef being the 12 year exception)
It’s on its way out. I give it 3 more years.
WOW SAME HAIRSTYLE, FACE TATTOO, AND BEATS. DUDE TOOK HIS WHOLE SWAG. GARBAGE.
I agree with Joey Budd this music has a short life expectancy just like the people who listen to it. Sadly, though they did say that about gangsta-rap over 30 years ago, so who knows what the future holds for Drill (??).
AMD BOY