Jenn Carter refuses to embrace drill’s diss culture, saying female listeners push the genre towards party records, celebrations and away from conflict.
Jenn Carter’s take on the current state of drill music reveals the Brooklyn-based artist’s evolution far beyond the genre’s confrontational roots.
The 41 collective member recently sat down with AllHipHop to discuss her band’s upcoming debut album and why she’s moving away from the diss-track mentality that once defined the scene.
The Brooklyn rapper explained that her team knew from day one that they had capabilities that went far beyond the narrow lanes of a rig.
“We knew from the beginning that we were more than just drill artists. Drill was just what was popular at the time, but we always knew we could rap,” she said.
This fundamental mentality shapes 41’s approach to craft, allowing them to experiment with sounds that traditional drilling purists might reject entirely. What’s unique about the 41’s is their willingness to blend Brooklyn’s offensive energy with Jersey’s infectious bounce.
The team found that when they encountered a beat with real commercial potential, their instinctive reaction was unmistakable.
“When we hear a hot beat, we just look at each other. If we dance for five minutes before we start rapping, we know it’s one of those beats,” Carter revealed.
This physical response to production became their internal compass for identifying tracks destined for club rotation and streaming success.
The band’s breakthrough came with records like “Deuce,” “Bent” and “Presidential,” which showed that drill could serve as party music rather than just as a vehicle for neighborhood conflict narratives.
These tracks prove that the genre’s sonic foundations can support celebration and joy without sacrificing authenticity or street cred.
Carter’s stance on dissing differs significantly from the traditional framework of the exercise.
She believes the practice of naming competitors in poetry is creatively limiting and commercially counterproductive.
“For me, I really had to say no…that stuff was really hard for me…especially putting names in songs, which is something I’ve never been comfortable with,” she explained.
41’s upcoming project, titled Area 41, will launch in April and promises to showcase the group’s expanded sonic palette.
The album represents years of collaboration between Carter, Kyle Rich, Tata and the rest of the crew, who have banded together as traditional opportunities disappeared during the pandemic.
Their formative stories reflect a generation that turned to creative expression when conventional paths seemed blocked.
