Let me preface this by saying I have done virtually no research on Drain Gang, so prepare to hear some ignorant, disrespectful shit.
I’ve always had a complicated relationship with Drain Gang. I’m such a hip-hop purist, into all the classics and new lyrical stuff alike, but surprisingly, I also have a lot of friends who are part of their cultlike following. Just hearing soundbites here and there, I was never able to shake my preconceived notions of these white Swedish kids crying in autotune; hip-hop culture being so important to me, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I listen to tons of trap too though, so the issue was probably more with their E-Boy image than the music itself.
Cloud rap as a subgenre was never a favorite of mine. The production is often very nuanced and impressive, but the rapping can suffer for it. I also feel that the internet inflates the genre’s size and importance, where I’ve only ever been aware of a few artists that could be strictly categorized as both Cloud rappers and actually dope. If Drain Gang can really be considered Cloud rap, I am happy to dive into such an essential chunk of the genre and learn a thing or two.
Today, I am committed to closing all musical blind spots. So, like an anthropologist, I will unbiasedly study this strange scene and share the perspective of an old head.
I chose to begin my journey with the collective’s collab albums, D&G and Trash Island, so as to get a taste of each member and their relationships, then diving into the individual artists’ discographies:
Bladee
Albums played: Working on Dying, Red Light, Icedancer, Exeter, 333, The Fool, Crest (w/ Ecco2K), Spiderr, Cold Visions
Bladee is obviously the mastermind of the whole Drain Gang sound and their weirdo aesthetic – which is hit or miss for me. For example, clown media almost always sucks, but I do like his art style and mysterious, highly quotable lingo.
I think my favorite project of his actually ended up being last year’s, Cold Visions, which seems to have garnered a new level of critical acclaim and popularity for him. Generally, I preferred anything of his that was more layered and melodic, which could actually achieve some beautiful effects with his voice. Otherwise, his projects with glitchy, EDM production were less consistent and memorable.
Some other highlights I heard were Icedancer, apparently a favorite among hip-hop oriented fans, and the haunting Red Light. Working On Dying was also really cool to hear as a fan of their other work, so their Drain Gang collabs were a major gap in my listening until now.
Ecco2K
Albums played: E, Crest (w/ Bladee)
Ecco’s discography being much smaller, at least on streaming, led me to E. I was already a bit familiar with this album just by the cover and how popular it was at the time, as well as the hit “Peroxide”. Even as a hater, I had to fuck with that song since the beginning – it’s the exact type of orgasmic, gradual harmonization I’m a sucker for.
The rest of the album is super mellow and kinda blends together, but I see the appeal. It’s simply too soft and zoomer.
Thaiboy Digital
Albums played: Legendary Member, Back 2 Life
This is probably a hot take based on all the Drain Gang discourse I’ve heard, but Thaiboy Digital is actually my favorite member so far. From a hip-hop background, he has a much more straightforward and familiar flow that’s still distinct and technically solid. Anytime he says his own name in a song, it’s guaranteed to be fire.
That being said, he doesn’t have as distinct an identify as Bladee or Ecco. Based on his two solo albums, I do want more and, believe it or not, would be curious to hear him take some risks that would make for a nice middle ground of his rapping with the oddball singing or dissonance of the rest of Drain Gang.
Bonus: Yung Lean
No. I just can’t this seriously.
Overall, I was surprisingly impressed with what I’ve heard of Drain Gang this week. I totally see how you could fall into the fandom if you find them at the right age – there’s a boyband type of appeal where it must be fun to follow them closely, emulate their fashion, talk like them, watch the vlogs, and so on. Instead, I went the A$AP Mob, Hellfyre Club, Mello Music, Griselda route, explaining my old purist prejudices. I’m curious what their influences are, as it might ground their sound and make themselves appear as an evolution of someone like Chief Kee, for example, rather than a parody.
I wouldn’t call myself much of a fan, but I do think there is some Bladee I’ll go back to and I’ll certainly give whatever they drop next a chance. Be proud of me. I’m so open minded and adventurous.