A formidable figure in the Philadelphia drill scene, rapper Skrilla bid for mainstream attention in 2024 with singles “GOD DAMN” and “Blahdahdahdahdah,” respective salvos from his major-label debut Underworld and its follow-up, Zombie Love Kensington Paradise.

Skrilla was born Jemille Edwards, raised in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia to a family of mixed Black and Mexican heritage. Though the perils of inner-city life didn’t diminish his upbringing, drugs and gang life were common sights conveyed through his early work. From his 2018 debut “Green Snake” to mixtapes like Kutthroat (2022) and Gemini Season (2023), he developed his signature slurring flow, capturing the signature effects of a drugged-out episode and pairing it with unusual hooks, from off-beat drum machines to mournful choir samples.