Project X Paris switches to Drill mode
It’s impossible to avoid drill if you listen to urban music today. Because this style has influenced the entire culture, even beyond rap, flooding music like a real tsunami. This musical genre, which has traveled back and forth between the USA and England, has also swept through France, even influencing fashion styles. Up to now, at PXP, where several of our collections are inspired by the drill universe.
From the streets of Chicago to the top of the world charts The term “drill” has become omnipresent in the music world for several years now. It has even given birth to a sub-genre, jersey drill, even punchier and more aggressive but which keeps the same influences in the lyrics notably. But few people know where this musical phenomenon comes from and what it represents culturally. Drill was born in Chicago, one of the big cities where the number of violent deaths is among the highest in the United States. And more specifically from some south Chicago neighborhoods, made famous worldwide thanks to rappers, controlled by warring gangs and violent groups sharing the territory. Drill initially embodies a very nihilistic movement: basically, the positive messages calling for self-emancipation, raising awareness of neighborhood issues, carried by the big brother rappers, have failed. There are no more solutions to improve people’s lives, so the only way out is the street, trafficking, and violence. The first rapper to explode internationally is Chief Keef, and he scared a lot of his peers at the start, because of his addictions but also his criminal record.
Musically, it remains quite close to trap at first, but with even more irregular rhythms. In fact, many Atlanta rappers, the cradle of trap, influenced Chicago artists, even collaborating with them. But the dark atmosphere reigning on Chicago’s rap scene meant the phenomenon didn’t explode worldwide immediately. It first had to be picked up by English rappers, especially those from London. Tough neighborhoods, quite close to the violent reality of Chicago rappers, which is why this music touched the English. Very quickly, they operated transformations: while the content of the lyrics remains quite similar, with this omnipresence of violence, they gradually moved towards lighter themes (like the incredible parody hit “Man’s Not Hot”). With musical touches from the Caribbean, mainly via the Anglo-American diaspora. That’s when the one who made drill number 1 comes into play: Pop Smoke. A very young New York artist, fan of rap, but especially UK drill. He got in touch with 808Melo, one of the greatest drill beatmakers in England and together, they made history.
With “Meet The Woo”, released in 2019, Pop Smoke brought a bit of bling-bling sauce to the New York style, paying tribute to the Bad Boys Records era, and went from unknown to the best rapper of the moment in just 3 months. Led by the success of the hit “Dior”, the rap world suddenly embraced drill. Even if, in France, we obviously had some pioneers, like Freeze Corleone or Ashe 22, quickly followed by Gazo, Ziak, 1Plike140 and some others. And while many rappers still keep this very dark and violent side in their lyrics, others have also released tracks where the atmosphere is very joyful, very festive, adding African sounds for example. Tiakola, for example, or Chily, have given new colors to this initially very dark style. Today, drill music is omnipresent, with multiple faces and atmospheres, but it has also had a huge impact on fashion. Because thanks to our English neighbors, drill is also a whole outfit.
Drill, the ultimate winter style You’ve probably noticed, if you regularly watch drill clips, that rappers and extras often have a particular clothing style: thick puffer jackets, masks, balaclavas, gloves, hoods, technical clothing, the winter mood is honored in this music. This is certainly due to the fact that, in London or Chicago, the climate is rarely very friendly. It’s more of a cold / humidity / creepy fog vibe. So, to adapt best, warm clothes are worn. And that’s perfect, right now it’s cold and Project X Paris offers a whole range of winter outfits very inspired by the drill universe. There’s even a tribute capsule, named “Drill & Drip”, offering a wide range of puffer jackets, multi-pocket parkas, sometimes long, but also quilted vests, to combine elegance and comfort / warmth. Perfect for the season!
Drill & Drip Capsule
As mentioned above, drill had a great influence on the comeback of “Techwear” fashion (notably the explosion of brands like North Face or Canada Goose). At PXP, we have what you need for a good “tech” outfit: sleeveless vests or quilted jackets with a rather sober design, but also windbreakers, and multi-pocket cargo pants. Pieces that are also very popular with Drillers, and very suitable for winter. Finally, we also have the inevitable quilted jogging bottoms, with a “panel” style design, which will perfectly match the pullover with quilting, or the jacket with quilted panels. Everything you need to face the harsh cold, with a nice tracksuit effect. Of course, we couldn’t talk about the drill universe without a little reminder of the Bandana Capsule. An iconic piece in drill, which is a very “gangsta” rap style where many codes from American gangs are reused, notably the bandana.
A piece notably worn by Ziak, who wears a bandana as a mask in many of his clips, to hide his identity and stir listeners’ curiosity. But also by Chief Keef, founding father of this musical current. At Project X Paris, we offer different pieces where you can see bandana patterns, like a black men’s hoodie for example, or quilted overshirts. But also other more summery pieces, which you can find on our site, under the “Capsules” tab, then “Bandana”. Finally, since drill is a “street” music par excellence, we couldn’t forget to talk about the Graffiti capsule. A collection where clothes are covered with “graffiti” patterns, paying tribute to this street art, and which we had tested by 1Plike140, one of the strongest drillers in France. The result is flawless: whether you wear them alone in summer, or under a sweatshirt or puffer jacket in winter, the “graffiti” t-shirts will add the necessary touch of color and fantasy to stand out among all these very dark black sweatshirts. Now all that’s left is to make your choice!