| dc.description.abstract | Drill rap is a relatively new phenomenon in the Netherlands, and has been linked to several incidents of
violence. The rappers are known for their explicit portrayal of violence, both in their music videos and on
their social media accounts. By making use of the analytical concept of violent imaginaries (Schröder &
Schmidt, 2001), combined with theory on performance and the code of the street, this thesis is concerned
with unpacking the way that drill rappers construct a violent (online) identity. It does so by looking at the
way that different elements of the street code are used to build and perform a violent imaginary and the
way that social media contributes to the reinforcement and movement of this violent imaginary across
both online and offline spaces. It thereby aims to contribute to the increased academic interest in
combining digital and urban studies to explore street culture within an online context. This process has
been researched through an analysis of drill music videos on Youtube, observation on Snapchat and
Instagram and interviews with people encountering drill in their work field. This research demonstrates
how drill rappers effectively construct a violent imaginary that portrays them as authentic. They do so by
making use of lyrics and imagery about their offline lives, and disseminating these via different online
platforms which creates traction. The downside is that, for this violent imaginary to remain authentic, drill
rappers are pressured to put their words, or these imaginaries, into action. As these online constructions
spill back into 'the street' it creates a dynamic in which one may get entangled. Understanding how violent
imaginaries are constructed, performed and reinforced within mutually constitutive online and offline
spaces help to recognize the connection between the streets and social media, and the way that this is part
of drill rap. | |
