This month, following the killings of New York City based rappers Chii Wvttz and TDott Woo, Mayor Eric Adams said he was going to meet with social media companies to discuss removing drill rap videos featuring “guns” and “violence.” Members of the drill scene and fans of the genre have criticized Adams for looking at drill as the problem, rather than the much more systemic issues that lead to gun violence. Mayor Adams has since met with several drill rappers in an attempt to focus on potential solutions but his initial criticism is reminiscent of a long line of attempts by politicians to criminalize rap rather than understand it. 

The Takeaway speaks with Michael Jeffries, dean of academic affairs and professor of American Studies at Wellesley College and also author of “Thug Life: Race, Gender, and the Meaning of Hip-Hop,” about the history of political attacks on hip hop.