A UK Drill rapper doesn’t get much more ‘alternative’ than XtG.
An MC from the Westside of Yorkshire, who’s blunt outlook on life goes a long way to setting him apart behind the mic. Spoiler: he’s NOT your convention Driller! This rapper’s not just here to chat flash cars or flex on his opps; he’s got better things to do with his £££ & isn’t one to hold a grudge.
Therefore, in the conventional sense, you could say that XtG isn’t even a UK Drill rapper. But more of a new breed of MC who’s looking to turn the Drill sound into something new. Call him a breath of fresh air.
& LET HIM DM YOU WITH HIS LATEST MUSIC & NEWS…
Want to uncover how this UK Drill rapper looks to muscle UK Hip Hop in an entirely new direction? Have a 1-on-1 with the man himself… read on for an in-depth Q&A with Yorkshire’s humble storyteller…
The thing that’s strapped to everyone’s wrist – time.
See, I’ve been a fan of the Drill sound from the start – proper dig the vibe!! So naturally, the idea of becoming a UK Drill rapper (of sorts), has been simmering away in the back of my mind.
Team that with how bossing a computer around for £10/ hour bores the pants off me, & it wasn’t long before I packed in the 9-5 pen pushing & began the shift towards music.
A move I partially blame on this quote: “Life is a ONE time affair. If we’re only here for so long, then what exactly do we have to loose by chasing our dreams?… Nothing!”
Blunt, but true.
In case you’re yet to notice, I’m quite the ‘out there’ type. The trackies & sneaks of your typical UK Drill rapper just ain’t my style. But that’s literally it.
In a world where everyone’s trying to fit in & living a 2nd ‘more glamourous’ life over social media, I want to stand out. Hence why behind the mic I only dress as 1 person… me.
CLUE: XtG ain’t no fictional character. He’s simply 1 BIG caricature of everyday me. Denim – that’s my No1 ‘go-to’. This chain? I’ve worn it everyday for over 5 years & when summer rolls around, you’ll rarely catch me without a rounded pair of sunnies. I even sport a flat cap now & then as a nod towards my roots as a West Yorkie.
All of this? It’s ME – nothing else.
I’m not trying to impress anyone, nor flex on the opps. To be brutally honest, I don’t have any (not one to hold a grudge). So the person you see on-screen, that’s the same guy you’ll find on social media & also the same fella you’re (in effect) talking to right now.
XtG was never designed to be (& never will be) a façade. He’s simply the more ‘in your face’ side of the real me who’s been brought to life. I’m guessing now my motto will make more sense:
“Follow Intuition, Not The Crowd”.
Fun fact… nope.
In fact, music was one of the first subjects I couldn’t wait to scrap (talk about ironic). Prior to becoming a UK Drill rapper my largest musical achievement was attaining Grade 1 in piano. Go ahead – laugh. But you see, a couple of years back, I finally realised why.
The reason I hated to study music wasn’t because I hated music. Young me just didn’t understand the creative process. Something the school system ‘conveniently’ neglects to mention (eyebrows raise).
It was only when I realised this, that the thought of becoming a UK Drill rapper suddenly turned from a fantasy, into a possibility.
Afraid not.
Because despite listening to a lot of UK Drill rappers, the one thing I need at the gym (as a lyricist) is strong lyrics. Without them it’s VERY hard to ignite that fire within. So, my ‘go-to’ workout anthem is actually from the US – NYC to be precise.
It’s called ‘Reminder’ & is by G-Unit rapper, Lloyd Banks. Take a listen & it shouldn’t take you long to realise why it spurs me on to go the extra rep. At the core, the song itself is a reminder (hence the title) – one to stay true to yourself & not confide in the norm.
On the off chance you’re reading this PLK – thanks!
Indeed. I’m one of the few UK Drill rappers to from the HD postcode.
For those who don’t know, that’s Junction 24 of the M62, slap bang in-between Leeds & Manchester. 2 of the North’s biggest cities. Exactly why if you ask me, I’d say Huddersfield’s very much the underdog.
Want to discover why? Be sure to check out my blog – Huddersfield 101.
No rapper – be they a Mama’s boy or a fully masked-up Driller, should fear me.
I don’t carry weapons. Nor do I have time for beef. The only person I’m competing against is myself.
A useful too for you. That’s what this is.
See, with there being that many UK Drill rappers out there, for a fan to keep up to speed (even if they’re dedicated) ain’t exactly easy. Today, social media is severely overcrowded! So the last thing I want is for any fan of mine to be wasting their time stalking me across social media, just to understand what’s coming next.
Hence this site – my private corner of the internet, where you can bring yourself up to speed with everything XtG in a matter of minutes, be that my socials, latest tunes or newest merch.
#ThankMeLater
Oh, & I forgot – another perk of this site is that I have a blog too! So if you’re into rampant philosophies or blunt-minded rants, then do take 5 to check it out (link below).
Grant me the power to overhaul the music industry & the 1st thing I’d change would be this…
To stop music artists (including UK Drill rappers) from putting up a false front just to impress people they don’t know. Ask me & there’s no greater form of self sabotage.
So yeah – while doing so may keep your bank account ticking & attract mega gals, if they’re all crazy about the person you’re trying to be & not the person you are, then what the point of it all??
Let’s just say that you’ll never catch me ‘faking it’ just for popularity or ‘shiny things’.
So while UK Drill rappers are most likely to have a playlist orientated towards Drill, that’s not to say it’s the only genre that’s present. Take me for instance.
While my stack of disks do include some Drill + Hip Hop classics like G-Unit & Biggie Smalls, that’s only really scratching the surface. Delve deeper & you come across a good handful of albums that you perhaps wouldn’t expect. I’m talking about those by the likes of:
Lionel Richie, Britney Spears, Frank Sinatra, Westlife, Madonna, Simply Red, Dean Martin & even Il Divo. So don’t be too quick to judge a UK Drill rapper – there may be more to an MC than meets them eye.
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