Capturing UK drill in its complexity: critically assessing the justifications for the criminalisation and censorship of UK drill music and Black cultural expression

This research study produced a critical understanding of the policing of UK drill music by British authorities, by conducting qualitative semi-structured interviews with UK drill artists, producers, and listeners. The thesis gives voice to the UK drill community to generate an alternative insight into the heavily stereotyped Black music genre, and thus, the data was subsequently used in conjunction with interdisciplinary literature to form empirical chapters regarding theories of audience reception, concepts of authenticity and debating UK drill’s value. Findings from this research study highlight the complexity and nuanced nature of UK drill and dilutes the alleged relationship between the genre and unlawful behaviour. It further argues that the latter assumptions transpire due to gross “misinterpretations” of UK drill music consumption, drill conventions, drill’s purpose, and its alleged link to criminality. Due to this, the thesis concludes that criminalisation and censorship of UK drill music is unhelpful from a crime-reduction and prevention perspective.