  This paper presents how techniques from natural language processing can be
used to examine the sentiment trajectories of gang-related drill music in the
United Kingdom (UK). This work is important because key public figures are
loosely making controversial linkages between drill music and recent
escalations in youth violence in London. Thus, this paper examines the dynamic
use of sentiment in gang-related drill music lyrics. The findings suggest two
distinct sentiment use patterns and statistical analyses revealed that lyrics
with a markedly positive tone attract more views and engagement on YouTube than
negative ones. Our work provides the first empirical insights into the language
use of London drill music, and it can, therefore, be used in future studies and
by policymakers to help understand the alleged drill-gang nexus.
