What makes drill such a dominant sub genre is its malleability–you can make tons of different sounding songs in a “drill” style. One that has become increasingly popular is the soul drill joint. It’s usually defined by a JAY-Z “Song Cry”-like downbeat vocal sample, a melancholic vibe, and lyrics that weave together tough talk and painful memories (see: Kay Flock’s “Being Honest” and Set Da Trend’s “Get Home.”) The Bronx’s Ice Spice has already made her way into this territory with a pretty great freestyle for On the Radar. Her flow is the star of the minute and a half, it’s patient with a somber tone compounded by her heavy voice, a package which resembles when Brooklyn standouts Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow are in their feels. While it is a bit raw–her lack of breath control is noticeable and the lyrics aren’t as deep as they sound–you are really here for the mood, which is rounded out by a pitched-up and woeful-sounding pop sample.
With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace, it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear.
Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Ice Spice and more on our Spotify playlist.
