UK rap, also known as British hip hop or UK hip hop, is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of R&B/Hip-Hop. British hip hop can also be referred to as Brit-hop, a term coined and popularised mainly by British Vogue magazine and the BBC. British hip hop was originally influenced by the dub/toasting introduced to the United Kingdom by Jamaican migrants in the 1950s–70s, who eventually developed uniquely influenced rapping in order to match the rhythm of the ever-increasing pace and aggression of Jamaican-influenced dub in the UK. Toasting and soundsystem cultures were also influential in genres outside of hip hop that still included rapping – such as grime, jungle, and UK garage.
Drill is a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in Chicago in the early 2010s. It is sonically similar to the trap music subgenre and lyrically similar to the gangsta rap subgenre. Early drill artists are noted for their explicit, confrontational style of lyricism and association with crime in Chicago, especially the Black Disciples and Gangster Disciples. The genre progressed into the American mainstream in 2012 following the success of pioneering rappers like Chief Keef, Lil Reese, Lil Durk, Fredo Santana, G Herbo, Lil Bibby and King Louie, who had many local fans and a significant internet presence alongside producer Young Chop. Other rappers, such as Edai, L'A Capone, RondoNumbaNine, SD, FBG Duck, Lil Jojo and producer Leek-E-Leek also contributed to the early drill scene. As the audience grew, media attention and the signing of drill musicians to major labels followed.
Terry Sanchez Wallace Jr., known professionally as Tee Grizzley, is an American rapper. He first began posting music online in 2011; following a two year prison sentence, he released the song "First Day Out" in 2017. It quickly gained viral status—earning two million views on YouTube in under three weeks—due to a social media challenge enacted by basketball player LeBron James, after which the song peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and led him to sign with 300 Entertainment. Its release preceded his debut mixtape My Moment (2017), and was followed by the single "From the D to the A", which received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His collaborative mixtape with Lil Durk, Bloodas (2018), was followed by his debut studio album, Activated (2018).
UK drill is a subgenre of drill music and road rap that originated in the South London district of Brixton from 2012 onwards. While being sonically distinct from Chicago drill music, it embraces its aesthetic and melds it with road rap, a British style of gangsta rap that became popular in the years prior to the existence of drill. UK drill lyrical content tends to be truculent, depicting the harsh realism of their lifestyles. The explicit lyricism has stimulated discussion about whether the subgenre is a factor in an increase in knife crime in London. Gang affiliation and socioeconomically-deprived backgrounds are common amongst UK drill artists.
Activated is the debut studio album by American rapper Tee Grizzley. It was released on May 11, 2018, by 300 Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Lil Yachty, Lil Pump, Chris Brown, Moneybagg Yo, Lil Durk, and YFN Lucci, among others. The production on the album was handled by Helluva, London on da Track, The Breed, Chopsquad DJ, The Olympicks, and Infamous Rell. The album was supported by two singles: "Colors" and "Don't Even Trip".
Jersey club is a style of electronic club music that originated in Newark, New Jersey in the early 2000s. It was pioneered by DJ Tameil, Mike V, DJ Tim Dolla, and DJ Black Mic of the Brick Bandits crew, who were inspired by Baltimore club's uptempo hybrid of house and hip hop. Other young producers also pushed for the progression of this style of music in the late 2000s.
"From the D to the A" is a song by American rapper Tee Grizzley featuring fellow American rapper Lil Yachty, released as a single on March 17, 2017. It was produced by Helluva and called "much hyped" by XXL. The song's title refers to the hometowns of the rappers, with "D" being Detroit and "A" being Atlanta.
"Satish" is a song by American rapper Tee Grizzley, released on September 20, 2019, as the lead single from his album The Smartest, through the label Grizzley Gang Music Group.
Dayvon Daquan Bennett, known professionally as King Von, was an American rapper and gangster from Chicago, Illinois, that was affiliated with the Black Disciples gang. He is widely considered one of the most preeminent figures of the drill genre.
Martin McCurtis, known professionally as Helluva, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. He is noted for producing the 2016 single "First Day Out" by Tee Grizzley.
"We Paid" is a song by American rappers Lil Baby and 42 Dugg. It was released as part of the deluxe edition of Lil Baby's second studio album My Turn, on May 1, 2020. A video was released a week later, on May 6. "We Paid" is a braggadocious song about the rappers' wealth and come-ups. Regarded as a standout cut from My Turn, the song received rave reviews from critics, with particular praise for 42 Dugg. On the chart dated July 11, 2020, the song became 42 Dugg's first top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10.
Dion Marquise Hayes, known professionally as 42 Dugg, is an American rapper and singer from Detroit, Michigan. He signed with Yo Gotti and Lil Baby's respective labels, Collective Music Group (CMG) and Glass Window Entertainment, through a joint venture with Interscope Records in 2019. He is best known for his collaborations with the latter, with whom he has released the hit songs "We Paid" and "Grace"; the former peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second mixtape, Young & Turnt 2 (2020) was met with critical acclaim and marked his debut on the Billboard 200. His 2021 singles, "4 Da Gang" and "Maybach" both received gold certifications and preceded his fourth mixtape Free Dem Boyz (2021), which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200.
The Smartest is the third commercial mixtape by American rapper Tee Grizzley. It was released on June 19, 2020, via 300 Entertainment. The mixtape features guest appearances from Big Sean, Lil Baby, Lil Keed, Meek Mill, Queen Naija and members of Detroit Youth Choir. Production was handled by several record producers, including Hit-Boy, Avedon, Helluva, Mustard, P-Lo and Scott Storch.
Brooklyn drill is a regional subgenre of drill music, which is a subgenre of rap music. It centered in Brooklyn, New York, that began as derivative of the drill music scene in Chicago and later became derivative of UK drill with its 808 percussion and sliding notes by producers from the UK drill scene. Brooklyn drill emerged around 2014 with the single "Hot Nigga" from the rapper Bobby Shmurda. Other early contributors were Rowdy Rebel, Bam Bino, Money Millz, Dah Dah and Curly Savv.
Casada Aaron Sorrell, known professionally as Sada Baby, is an American rapper and singer. He initially gained recognition in 2018 when the music video for his song "Bloxk Party" went viral, leading to him signing to Asylum Records. A prominent figure of the emerging Detroit rap scene of the mid-to-late 2010s, Sada Baby has become one of the most prolific rappers of the generation. His debut studio album Skuba Sada 2 (2020), a sequel to his 2017 debut mixtape Skuba Sada, peaked at number 125 on the US Billboard 200. In 2020, his song "Whole Lotta Choppas" went viral on TikTok, later receiving a remix featuring Nicki Minaj and peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Built for Whatever is the third studio album by American rapper Tee Grizzley. It was released through Atlantic Records and 300 Entertainment on May 7, 2021. The album features guest appearances from the late King Von, Quavo, Young Dolph, YNW Melly, Lil Durk, Lil Tjay, Grizzley's younger brother Baby Grizzley, G Herbo, Allstar Lee, Mu, and Big Sean. Production was handled by Chopsquad DJ, Hit-Boy, and Helluva.
Lakeyah Danaee Robinson, known mononymously as Lakeyah, is an American rapper, singer, and television personality. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she began rapping at the age of 15. At 18, she moved to Atlanta and was signed to Quality Control Music. In 2021, she was announced as part of the XXL magazine freshman class, the first from Milwaukee.
Last Ones Left is a collaborative mixtape by American rappers 42 Dugg and EST Gee, released April 8, 2022, by Collective Music Group, Warlike, and Interscope Records.
Tee's Coney Island is the fourth studio album by American rapper Tee Grizzley. It was released on November 3, 2023, by Grizzley Gang and 300 Entertainment. Production was handled by various producers including Chopsquad DJ, Helluva, Hitmaka, J. R. Rotem and Tay Keith. The album features guest appearances by 21 Savage, Chris Brown, City Girls, Cordae, Finesse2tymes, Machine Gun Kelly, Mariah the Scientist and Skilla Baby. The deluxe edition of the album was released four days later and includes four new songs with features by Kash Doll, Lil Yachty, Mozzy and late PnB Rock.
Michigan rap is a regional subgenre of hip-hop in the United States, including Detroit rap, a style characterized by its "underdog spirit". Pivotal figures in the emergence of Michigan and Midwestern hip-hop scene include MC Breed.
