Description
My research examines the criminalisation of UK urban music, with a particular focus on drill, and interrogates the ways in which cultural expression has become entangled with narratives of criminality, policing, and moral panic. Over the past decade, UK drill has been positioned by state authorities, mainstream media, and sections of the public as both reflective of, and responsible for, rising levels of youth violence, particularly in London. This research challenges such assumptions by exploring the socio-political context that has produced these discourses, and by critically analysing the implications of policing creative expression for marginalised communities.
Central to this investigation is the rapid increase in the use of UK urban artists’ lyrics, music videos, and online personas as evidence within criminal trials. This practice raises significant concerns regarding artistic freedom, racialised surveillance, and due process, particularly when it contributes to fast-tracked and potentially unjust legal outcomes. The project considers the lived experiences of young people, artists, and families—especially those from international migrant backgrounds—who inhabit and navigate urban street culture in the UK, and who often face heightened forms of scrutiny, cultural stigmatisation, and state intervention.
Methodologically, this study employs ethnographic and autoethnographic research in South London and other key sites associated with the emergence of drill music. Fieldwork includes participant observation, semi-structured interviews with young people, community members, and artists, and an innovative listening-party method designed to elicit reflections on musical meaning, identity, belonging, and social realities. Through this immersive approach, the project aims to foreground the voices of those most affected, disrupt dominant narratives linking drill to violence, and contribute to wider debates on criminalisation, culture, and youth justice in contemporary Britain.
