In every creative’s story, trying out “something new” is pretty much inevitable. From streetwear designers moving into couture to music journalists becoming TV show producers, the creative field is one where possibilities are endless. Many succeed, and just as many fail, but one thing you’ll find that has carried most through their endeavours is a work ethic that never wanes.
This much is true of 26-year-old M1llionz (real name Miguel Cunningham), the Birmingham rapper whose unorthodox style and flow has been a major talking point in drill ever since he stepped on the scene with “North West” in 2019. Born and bred in the city’s Handsworth area to Jamaican parents, it was while studying dancehall, grime and rap greats in his mid-teens that he began perfecting his nasal, laxed flow and soft-spoken cadence, which simultaneously floats on and pierces through every beat he laces. M1llionz is one of the lucky ones: only a handful of rappers from outside of London have been able to cut through in the city’s always-on rap scene, and he is one of them, delivering drill hit (“B1llionz”) after drill hit (“Lagga”) and collaborating with some of the biggest names in the game, such as Headie One, Unknown T and Digga D.
But having solidified his name with the UK drill sound, M1llionz has decided that it’s time for a change. “Drill is overpopulated now,” he tells me over a Zoom call from his studio. “Everybody’s starting to sound the same… There’s nothing wrong with drill; I just don’t wanna be held down to one genre because I can do multiple. And, to be fair, I’ve never really been crazy about drill beats—drill in general, because I don’t really listen to it myself. But it all just worked.” These words might come as a surprise to M1llionz fans considering that he’s become one of the frontrunners in the UK drill movement over the past few years, but you have to respect an artist who feels as though they haven’t yet reached their full potential.
We caught up with M1llionz to discuss the future of drill, working with high-end fashion brands such as Burberry, and how his new musical style—which will be unveiled shortly, following his “last drill song for a while”, “Right Dere”—will be a success. “It’s not an option.”
“The content and context of what I’m rapping about has changed… I’m older now, and I’d like to think I’m wiser.”
COMPLEX: Since you released “North West” in 2019, it’s been an upward trajectory for your career. How have you found the last three, four years manoeuvring through the UK music industry?
M1llionz: You don’t really realise what’s happening when you’re in it until you take a minute out and reflect. But I feel like the first couple of years, I was just going with the flow, and then it’s 2022 and you’re like, “Rah! Time has gone quick.” I started 2023 realising what I’ve accomplished and what I’ve completed, but there’s still a long way to go. I don’t feel like I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do, but I’ve still done a lot.
When it comes to drill music, you really put Birmingham on the map. Especially in the London scene, you were accepted with open arms. It hasn’t always been easy for artists from outside of London to do what you’ve done. Why do you think the gate was opened wide for you?
I think the flow I was coming with was just different, so even if you didn’t like it, you were interested in why it was so different. It’s like you’re hearing about this M1llionz guy and that he’s rapping a bit funny, so you wanna see what it’s saying and you might end up liking it, or disliking it. But you’re still gonna check him out, intrigued as to what’s going on. Then it’s the tone of the voice, the cadence: it’s soft and laid-back, and sounds like I’m just talking to a friend. I think these factors helped a lot.
Your flow is quite complex—excuse the pun. Something tells me you were more inspired by Jamaican dancehall artists growing up than anyone else. Am I right?
Yeah, you’re right. I grew up listening to rap, but I was listening to yardman music more. That’s probably where the lingo and certain words come from, and how I say things. I’m inspired by struggle and poverty more than anything, though. People who are trying to make it out of certain situations, anyone who’s come from a crazy circumstance in life and made it out, I can relate to that.
Your music videos have also been a major talking point. I’m on the MOBO Awards panel and I was gassed when you picked up Video Of The Year for the Kenya-shot “Lagga” in 2021. Where does this passion for visual storytelling come from?
I was gassed when I won as well. With “Lagga”, it was [music video director] Teeeezy C’s idea to shoot it in Kenya. I was thinking of somewhere else, but it worked out in the end. When it comes to my visuals, me and my team always brainstorm so we can get the best possible outcome; I just like giving a picture to what I’m saying in my music. Being in my area, standing in front of the block—that’s dead to me, and it’s been done a million times. I’m saying a lot of stuff in my songs so I wanna make it come alive with my videos as much as possible.
You’ve been killing it in the fashion game, too, doing campaigns for the likes of Clarks and Burberry. How have you found moving and shaking in that world, and why do you think that world’s so drawn to you?
It’s not as easy as you think: you need to take pictures, and take them properly [laughs]. It’s good, though, because I think fashion and music go hand-in-hand. If you can get the fashion aspect right, that’s another thing that people will be looking at in your videos—on top of the music. If you look good, that’s a bonus.
Were you always into fashion?
I never had it when I was super-young, but when I got older, it slowly came along. I think the way I dress now is different to how I’d dress if I wasn’t rapping, because when I’m doing music, sometimes I wanna make a statement with certain pieces or a one-off jacket or something. If I wasn’t doing music, I probably wouldn’t wear these things, because it’s like, where am I going to actually wear them? [Laughs]
Back to the music, you said in the press release for your most recent single, “Right Dere”, that this will be the last drill song you do for a while and that you don’t want to be labelled as a drill artist. How did this change in direction come about?
There’s nothing wrong with drill. I just don’t wanna be held down to one genre, because I can do multiple. And, to be fair, I’ve never really been crazy about drill beats—drill in general, because I don’t really listen to it myself. But it all just worked.
Some might say: if it’s not broken, why fix it? I’m just challenging you a bit here, but if this new sound you’re about to present to the world doesn’t work out…
—it will work out. That’s not even an option. And then, on top of that, remember: every genre or subgenre evolves and goes into something else… Drill is coming to the end of its day soon.
You think?
It just won’t be as prevalent as it once was. Just like grime. Grime’s not dead—people are probably still making mad money off of it—but it’s not as popular, nationally, as it once was.
Do you think UK drill’s becoming too watered down? Are there too many moist yutes jumping on it and making it wet? [Laughs] What do you think it is?
[Laughs] Nah, nothing to do with that. It’s probably just the amount of people doing it, not really the type of person doing it. Drill is overpopulated now. Everyone’s starting to sound the same. But, luckily, there are some who have taken drill to a different level—UK drill, not that party-dance-drill stuff. I’m not knocking that style, though, because it’s put a little more spotlight on our sound, internationally, and made it more catchy, more acceptable. I just think there’s too many people in one little pocket right now.
What kinds of sounds and themes can we expect on your upcoming project, and how will it differ to your critically acclaimed debut mixtape, Provisional License?
I haven’t decided on the name yet, but it’s definitely dropping this year. It’s a bit more musical, I’ll say that. And the content and context of what I’m rapping about has changed a bit as well. I’m older now, and I’d like to think I’m a lot wiser. I’m doing things as well, business-wise—like you said, in fashion, even just musically—so those things will come out in the music, too.
You’ve been to prison before, on a drug charge, and you give vivid details about your experiences on-road throughout your music. How much has your life changed since you’ve been on the path that you’re currently on, and how easy or difficult is it to stay on said path?
It hasn’t been hard for me, because why would you even wanna go back to that lifestyle? You’re gonna make more money doing music, for one, so why would you want to do something that could potentially land you in jail where you can’t make money and can’t do the thing that you love? On top of that, the whole reason why you jumped on the roads was to try and get out of whatever little negative circumstance you were in anyway. People just get stuck and forget the end goal. When it comes to how life has changed for me and the people around me, I can probably help out more people than I could have before. And not always materialistically either, not always financially. For example, me having a little platform, if my friend wants to do music tomorrow, I can help out with links or I can A&R for him—you know what I’m saying? I’m definitely grateful for the position I’ve been able to get to.
Some kids probably look up to you as a role model now. Is that a responsibility you’re happy to take on?
I do want people to look up to me, but I want you to look up to where I’ve come from and what I’m becoming, and how I’ve changed my life. I don’t want you to look up to the specific things that I’m rapping about. I want you to look at the positive from a negative.
Where do you see yourself in the UK music landscape at present? What position do you think you hold, or what position would you like to hold?
Just an out-of-town statistic that made it out, and can compete. You’ve got others, too—people like Aitch, Bugzy Malone, Mist, Lady Leshurr, Jaykae—but I think out of all of them, my thing’s a bit different because I was coming up on that street, drill stuff, which is a bit different to all of them. I just want to be cemented in the game, and that’s what I’m trying to work on this year.
