“That's Real Stuff Though”: Understanding Drill Music as Dialogic Expression for Black Youth

This study explores the relationship between drill music and Black youth self-expression within schools. In response to ongoing public critiques that frame drill music as inherently violent, this research centers a student-created drill song and interview to highlight how drill serves as a platform for communalism, emotional expression, and self-empowerment. Grounded in trap critical theory, the study positions drill music as a mechanism for Black survivance, challenging deficit narratives and affirming the validity of hip-hop as a form of resistance and storytelling. The study encourages educators to recognize drill music as a powerful cultural resource rather than a threat, and to create affirming spaces where students’ full humanity can be acknowledged.