How much should rappers worry about Eric Adams’ war on drill?
In an off-topic Q&A following a Friday press conference on pay raises for essential gig workers, a reporter asked New York City Mayor Eric Adams for his thoughts on the relationship between the city's violent crime rate and drill music. The rap subgenre's violent lyrics and street-focused aesthetic make it an easy target for politicians, and Adams' response has prompted concern from some in the hip-hop and legal communities who feel it reflects a long tradition of criminalizing rap. "I had no idea what drill rapping was, but I called my son, and he sent me some videos, and it is alarming," Mayor Adams said.