Left image via @billyzammitt / right image via @kumehanik //
The NSW police’s comments on drill lit up the Sydney hip hop scene just the other week…
It seems there’s been a perpetual war over the past couple of years between the NSW Police and the Sydney music scene. First, the lockouts. Then, the war on festivals. And of course, no one has forgotten the ridiculous double standards music events were subject to during COVID restrictions. Now, however, the NSW Police have decided to narrow their focus, taking aim at the drill scene.
Speaking on the genre in an interview just the other week, NSW Police acting assistant commissioner Jason Weinstein explained that the police would be contacting streaming platforms to ask them to remove music deemed indicative of violence or criminal activity, stating that “Drill music and songs (in some cases) are being weaponised to basically inflame a conflict with another side. We don’t have the power to stop anything such as concerts or songs or what people post. So it goes back to the moderators like YouTube, Snapchat and those social media platforms.”
“They have certain expectations and their own policies around showing violence and things that can be posted and can’t be. So if those companies are doing their due diligence, that should put a stop to the incitement of stuff.
“We rely on the moderators of social media platforms to uphold their own policies around violent content; however, NSW Police will take action in relation to content that contains material inciting violence or criminal activity.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWcvtEv0F08
Understandably, the local hip hop and music scene as a whole was taken aback by the blatant attack on drill, with many opting to speak out over social media since.
Specifically, what seems to be being disregarded by the NSW Police is the social circumstances and conditions which cause the issues discussed in drill and hip hop as a whole to manifest, and how these forms of self-expression allow individuals to express themselves through an artistic outlet.
It’s a sentiment that’s been mirrored in the various chats we’ve had to members of the Sydney hip hop scene over the past couple of weeks. We’ve included a couple of them below. Have a read, take it all in and ask yourself if the NSW Police think censoring music is the answer for their failures in the community, then what comes next?
Disclaimer: In the interest of free speech, we’ve included all opinions and contributions as close to their original form as possible. Because if we’re willing to censor people who we don’t fully agree with, then how can we expect the police to do any better?
A.GIRL (Rapper/Singer) – “I don’t see how people who have never lived a day in our shoes can speak on issues they have never experienced. Music, regardless of what genre it is, is an expressive and creative outlet. Nothing more and nothing less. Telling us what we can and can’t say in our music is like telling a woman what she can and can’t do with her body… Oh wait, we’ve done that too.“
New Jupiter (Record Label) – “As a label, we believe that a person’s taste in music is never indicative of their behaviour towards others. There are a multitude of different reasons as to why someone would listen to a style of music. Sometimes its nice to listen to some lo fi hiphop whilst studying and put on some drill when you want to turn up and bring the energy.
Lyrics represent a person’s story. it doesn’t mean that it creates cultures around violence. These are people’s experiences. The same can be said about video games and violence. Just because you play a violent game doesn’t make you want to go and harm anyone. It’s a slippery slope to start outcasting individuals based on their preferences in music.”
Christopher Kevin (Artist Manager/Journalist/Podcast Host and A&R) – “No matter what you think about drill music, the comments from the NSW Police are extremely concerning and could set a dangerous precedent in the monitoring of music, art and other forms of self-expression. Oftentimes, music is an avenue for young artists to break these cycles of systemic violence or poverty. It is imperative that these avenues remain open. Censoring or removing music is a band-aid solution at best; and discriminatory, classist and counter-productive at worst.”
Carolina De La Piedra (DJ/A&R/Radio Host) – “There’s a war on music and culture in sydney, it started with lockouts and has continued and is imbedded in police culture. It’s disgusting. It’s literally a war on hip hop music from black, brown and low socioeconomic communities.”
Triple One (Hip Hop Group) – “NSW police let alone any police should have no say in what art is made or performed. This is blatant censorship and every day we slip further and further towards a totalitarian government. The arts have taken a battering both financially and culturally over the last few years, every loss feels so much greater. For something that is purely about self expression, telling your story and truth, it’s disgusting to think someone can take that away because they don’t like it. Tell Karen Webb to get her dogs back in line.”
GLO (Singer/Dancer) – “Fuck the police for real. The structures of white supremacy truly function as intended. We see discourse about what incites violence amongst the youth and gang violence, however, the lenses rarely magnify police corruption, poverty and the institutionalised racism systems that us as black, brown and non-white people have to navigate on stolen and unceded land. That shit is whack as fuck.”“As a black East African woman, I reflect on my life quite a lot as we grew up poor and in government housing. Police took advantage of a migrant family and if I deep it further, there weren’t any ways in which we received help. Just abuse, racial profiling and discrimination. The result of that still shows up in many ways. I have witnessed it all. That really fucking break a person.”“You have to work with the cards you’re dealt and we all know this to whatever degree we’ve been exposed to. If creating music is your response to building toward a better and more equal quality of living then let it be. I promise you, they’re just lyrics and we should rewrite the structures that be and not a fucking song.”
Macca4747 (Rapper) – “As a rapper in Sydney it’s gravely concerning that police are using lyrics as a way of imposing harsh punishments and being utilised as a way to target minorities in western Sydney/inner city communities that have nothing to do with the ‘drill’ drama. As artists we have freedom of speech and have the right to tell our stories however we want without the guidelines or boundaries that the ‘government’ put in place. This is a violation of our human rights and freedoms as artists.”
“We all deserve a chance to speak our truth in our art without worrying about the police following our every move or taking every word literally. These people are human just like you and me. We are products of our environments and it is only right that we get to share the stories of these environments without punishment for doing so.Police are running away from the real reasons behind youth crime as there aren’t enough resources, programs and youth centres to help these kids stay out of trouble and off the streets.”
“Where are these kids supposed to turn to when they feel like the whole world is against them? They turn to rap music as a way of expressing themselves and processing their struggles that aren’t represented in mainstream society. Before blaming ‘Drill’ or ‘Rap’ music, take a look at why society actually glorifies this lifestyle and why are aren’t doing more to help those living in poverty and other dire situations.”
Big Skeez (Rapper) – “I think it’s an absolute joke that that the NSW police is blaming drill music to the recent violence on Sydney streets. Let’s be honest, street violence is everywhere, not just in NSW. And there are certain ways to deal with it as a force. But to just blame the music scene for it is nonsense.”
“The drill movement has opened doors for a lot of up and coming local artists and has gone global. The whole world is watching the Australian music scene and it’s only gonna get bigger. And so, to intimidate and pressure venues & promoters by threatening taking their licence away is a low act. Now, venues have no choice but to abide by what the NSW police says, when in reality the police should focus on the real criminals and leave the music scene alone. We’re all trying to grow as a community and do bigger things!”
Baessia (DJ/Artist Manager/Agent) – “It simply makes no sense, if we are worried about violence influencing youth then censorship goes much further than our drillers. Why are the police targeting them? Why can’t we hear what they are saying and their messages of experience instead of censoring creatives who are sharing their experiences and writing lyrics that hit close to home? Why not look into how these experiences came to exist and how to help our communities instead?”
“Censoring music does nothing to achieve a reduction in violence. Let artists share and focus on helping at the root, and that’s a strong focus on HELPING, not censoring or punishing. If it’s about reducing violence then look at poverty, trauma, the lack of government assistance, intergenerational trauma, police brutality, socioeconomic issues and so on.”
Goldfang (Rapper) – “Every artist should be able to express themselves regardless of other people’s opinions, especially in this music space. Music is about self-expression and getting things out of your system, and I don’t think people should suppress that in any way. I ain’t no drill artist but I’ve got brothers who do drill. I think every artist should every artist be able to express themselves freely, regardless of the opinions of the police. Blessings to every artist out there, keep doing your thing. Fuck the cops.”
MENACE (Rapper) – “Music is self-expression, so regardless of whether it’s drill or rap, are the police saying that they can take what we feel and what we’re living how they want? At the end of the day, socials are making coin off the world’s ups and downs and the police are going to try to control anything they can, as they always do.”
At Large Productions (Record Label)– “I think the police’s comments have put a spotlight onto the criminal aspect of the music where, if people are talking about criminal activity in their music, they should be well aware that there are gang task forces that will target you. I understand the music, but you’ve got to understand the repercussions of what comes with putting that music out.”
“The fact is that because the police are putting a spotlight on it, a lot of these artists will be a lot smarter about what they do. I think that because this type of music is so popular, a lot of these artists are in a very influential position. But with that, you’ve got to look at the kids who listen to this music and the stupid 15 year olds that take their mum’s kitchen knife and stab another kid down at the train station. Then you’ve got two lives lost where one kid is in jail and the other is dead with a family mourning them. And then, what happens is that one kid’s mates are going to wanna get back at the other’s mates and it just creates a cycle of bullshit.”
“Music is what it is, but it’s influencing kids to do things that they might not have done without it, especially with the knife culture we’re seeing come to light. The streets are the streets and people have been getting stabbed since before I was born and after I’ll die, but what they’re putting out there is what attracting this attention. Like the Easter Show stabbing or the stabbing at Fortitude. To sum it up, if you’re gonna be a criminal, be a ‘get money’ criminal, not a postcode bandit. Obviously not saying anyone should be a criminal, but what are these cunts doing it for?”
