Just 23, British rapper Digga D has put in plenty of miles in the UK drill scene. Often cited as one of the pioneers of the current genre, he began his ascent in 2017 as a part of the collective 1011. Many of the biggest songs that he put out during that time frame have been chilly, straightforward drill anthems—as identifiable by their 808 patterns as by the street-level subject matter he tackles over them. But, on his latest release, Back to Square One, we get a window into a different side of the UK MC than we’ve seen before.
A Stylistic 180 on the Rapper’s Fourth Commercial Effort
That shift begins as soon as you hit play, on the opener “Fighting For My Soul.” Boom bap drums and a pitched soul sample immediately reveal one of the aims in going “back to square one.” Digga D is trying his hand at a traditional style of the genre rather than the modern drill sound he championed for so long. Emotionally, it’s a return to his roots as well, with grounded and brutally transparent bars like the opening couplet: “God gave me life, so I can’t tell him I’m suicidal / It’s been rewritten, but I still find the time to read the Bible.”
He sounds frankly surrounded on this track, beset by anxieties about his status as a role model, his portrayal in the media, and general life tribulations. One of the most harrowing reflections comes when he brings up freedom of speech. He wonders aloud how figures like Kanye West and Andrew Tate have scores of fans caping for their right to share their views, while those without that cult of personality are left hung to dry when they speak out.
“Facade” is another highlight in the early going, where Digga D plainly reminds us of his motivations in the hook despite how he might rechart his future going forward. Notable is the Nicki Minaj shoutout in that section—”I love weed / I love cars / and I love Nicki Minaj.” It’s the second name drop that the Young Money MC has received in his catalog, the first coming on his track “Bluwuu” from back in 2021.
Digga D’s Take on Some Current Musical Trends
Towards the middle of the project, we get a lens into what Digga D’s path forward will likely be sonically with the one-two-punch of “F*** Drill” and “Bine On ‘Em.” The former is exactly what it says on the tin, a track where he sounds openly detestful about the current state of his home genre. He disparages the “arms race” that rappers have found themselves in, continually trying to up the ante on one another with each successive track. Musically, it’s a case of “I used the stones to destroy the stones,” though. This is the track that closest resembles the drill output of his early career.
The latter, “Bine on ‘Em,” sees Digga D adopt a decidedly American music trend. He relies heavily on a sample in this song’s construction. He interpolates the 90s rap classic “Five On It” and puts a far more sinister spin on its chorus for his version, making this a closer comp to Spinabenz and his flip of “Thousand Miles” on “Who I Smoke” than lighter-hearted cousins like NLE Choppa’s recent use of “Hot In Here.” Tracing this track’s DNA back in a different category, its step-by-step breakdown of a violent set of circumstances, including a few near misses and the subsequent revenge plot, places this in a canon alongside 50 Cent’s “Many Men,” King Von’s “Crazy Story,” and Lil Tjay’s “Beat The Odds.” All that said, the laser focus and wordplay that Digga D shows off here is yet another moment where he showcases a marked improvement in all-around artistry.
Another Strong Outing for One of the UK’s Foremost Rappers
Ultimately, the proclamation made in the title and in the leadup promises a bit more than we get. While there’s some aesthetic experimentation on display here, Back to Square One won’t sound at all unfamiliar to those already clued in to Digga D. Still, those moments where he steps out of the box are fantastic developments, and definitely bode well for how the UK rapper will advance into the next stages of his career.
