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Chicago Drill Icon G Herbo Reflects on Decade-Old Scene
14 Nov
Summary
- G Herbo, a Chicago drill icon, reflects on the original era of the genre
- Many of the early Chicago drill artists are now dead, in jail, or facing mental health issues
- Herbo's unique blend of Southern and East Coast influences set him apart in the scene
As of November 14th, 2025, Chicago drill icon G Herbo is looking back on the original era of the genre with a mix of nostalgia and somber reflection. In the early 2010s, Herbo, then known as Lil Herb, burst onto the scene as a scrawny 16-year-old with a burly, cigarette-roughened voice and explosive rhymes that captivated listeners far beyond his hometown.
However, the decade-old clips of Herbo and his peers that populate the internet today serve as a tragic in memoriam, with many of those young artists now dead, in jail, or facing mental health issues. Herbo, perhaps the hardest-hitting rapper of that entire generation, has emerged as one of the last few standing to tell the story of Chicago drill's rise and fall.
Despite the grim realities, Herbo's unique blend of Southern and East Coast influences, which set him apart from the Gucci-like numbness of Chief Keef or the rap-sing stylings of Lil Durk, has given him the flexibility to adapt and evolve as the genre has shifted over the years. His ability to blend traditional East Coast lyricism with the hulking rasp of Southern rap has allowed him to maintain relevance in the fast-moving world of hip-hop.
