The Ones: Mula Gzz and Velly Vellz’s “I’m Lit”
With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear curated by the Levels team. We sort through all the new songs—across all the platforms and subgenres—so you don’t have to. Thank us later.
Mula Gzz and Velli Vellz - “I’m Lit”
Every week New York’s drill music scene grows. Yesterday, Pop Smoke appeared on UK radio host Charlie Sloth’s freestyle series, Fire in the Booth, typically reserved for grime artists. In recent weeks, on TikTok, accounts that create skits through imitating the mannerisms of Brooklyn drill rappers have emerged. “Big Drip,” an end of summer single from Fivio Foreign, is now accompanied with a modestly viral video. But I’m most interested by the subgenre’s migration through the state—the Bronx’s Chucky73 is notable—, as Mula Gzz and Velly Vellz hail from Yonkers. On “I’m Lit,” over production from Brooklyn drill maestro AXL Beats, the duo deliver the usual threats and gang talk with a frantic energy that makes them rise above other aspiring young drill rappers in the boroughs. Eventually, “I’m Lit” will reach the UK drill fanbase, where it could be fairly criticized for mimicking their sound, especially the grime-like melody of the instrumental. But that’s part of what makes New York’s drill music so fascinating: it’s a rich subgenre, no longer a derivative of Chicago, and is moving beyond the corners of East and Central Brooklyn. Drill music has a place inside the boroughs and out, overseas, and online. It’s a melting pot.
Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Mula Gzz and Velly Vellz and more on our Spotify playlist, Apple Music playlist, and SoundCloud playlist.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
