ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Unknown T

Aditya Thiyag | The Chronicle

Years after drill rap’s original conception in Chicago courtesy of Chief Keef, the rap subgenre has found new life in the UK courtesy of rappers like 22 year old Unknown T. His breakthrough hit, “Homerton B” was the first drill song from the UK to be certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry, and found its way on multiple publications’ end of year song lists. Boasting a speedy flow and a knack for storytelling, T has defended the gritty reality of the drill lifestyle against criticism in and out of his songs. Most recently, his rapping exploits have attracted the attention of R&B singer Jorja Smith as well as electronic artist FKA Twigs, leading to a collaboration between the trio on Twigs’ latest album CAPRISONGS. With two mixtapes out and the drill sound growing exponentially in popularity, Unknown T has provided a voice for those unable to speak and his reach seems to only be increasing as time goes on.