A number of high-profile rappers this masthead spoke to for this story were reluctant to comment on the record, out of fear that they would be targeted by police and potentially have their music de-platformed.ДЄccording to Professor Murray Lee, a criminologist and associate dean at the University of Sydney Law School, any push to ban drill music might result in a similar boost for the genre. At the time NSW Police admitted to вЂњshutting downвЂќ the groupвЂ™s concerts. OneFourвЂ™s profile soared after a national tour in 2019 was cancelled. вЂњBut they shouldвЂ™ve learned their lesson last time when you try to ban something, thatвЂ™s the way to get it popping.вЂќ WeвЂ™re used to it by now when youвЂ™re the first out of the gate, you get made an example of, and the NSW Police are often trying to make an example of OneFour. вЂњWeвЂ™ve had cases where theyвЂ™ve asked festival promoters or venues not to book OneFour. Huncho intends to defend the charges when he faces trial. Ay Huncho (real name Ali Younes) is currently facing charges of affray, recklessly causing grievous bodily harm in company and assault with intent to participate in the activity of a criminal group.

Police have claimed that lyrics that reference alleged crimes could incite violence and therefore pose a danger to the community.ДЄustralian artists that have previously drawn the attention of NSW police include Ay Huncho and some members of OneFour. The genre has become synonymous with the so-called вЂњpostcode wars,вЂќ where rival groups from neighbouring suburbs trade insults over tracks. Drill is a subgenre of hip-hop that rose out of the streets of Chicago in the late 2000s and is well-known for lyrical content that is violent, gritty and unflinching. The move to potentially censor drill music is the latest chapter in a complex history between authorities and hip-hop. ItвЂ™s understood NSW Police wonвЂ™t rely on any specific laws to force music to be taken down, but will instead communicate their requests to platforms directly.

In response to questions regarding how authorities might determine which artists and songs would be targeted, NSW Police told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age: вЂњWe rely on the moderators of social media platforms to uphold their own policies around violent content however, NSW Police will take action in relation to content that contains material inciting violence or criminal activity.вЂќ

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