Criminalising Black Trauma: Grime and Drill Lyrics as a Form of Ethnographic Data to Understand “Gangs” and Serious Youth Violence

Background: The criminalisation of drill music, a rap-based genre, is recent chapter in long history policing “Black” music. association and other rap music with “gang” violence has direct impact on the treatment Black boys men criminal justice system. However, critics argue that, rather than causing violence, violent lyrics reflect lived experiences marginalised communities. Method: Using qualitative approach, this study analysed lyrical content 90 drill, grime, songs by UK artists, using thematic analysis. Findings: following themes were found: social issues local area community, involvement crime, status, coping adversity, support network, police, escaping. Collectively, highlight narrative who have experienced range adversities such as poverty, racism, child exploitation, community violence. Conclusions: Artists make reference to drugs their also discuss adverse these, supporting view that are reflection experience. Thus, focusing criminalising may be deflecting attention from risk factors for serious youth evidence-based.