Watch The Field, World Star Hip Hop’s Documentary About Rap and Violence in Chicago

STORY BY: Meaghan Garvey

World Star Hip Hop makes its film-making debut with The Field: Chicago, a look at the relationship between the city’s rap scene and street violence epidemic. Executive produced by WSHH founder Q, the documentary features interviews with Lil Durk, King Louie, Katie Got Bandz, Tink, Lil Bibby, Lil Herb, Lil Mouse, Young Chop, Rhymefest and more. It’s a measured exploration of the grim realities of “Chiraq” that simultaneously devastate communities and inspire much of the city’s popular music. The word “drill” has a tendency, particularly on the internet, to become detached from its origins; one can forget that before it was a catch-all term for young Chicago street rap, it was a synonym for murder. Though there are bright moments—Durk, Katie, and Louie essentially recounting being saved by rap, and Rhymefest presenting alternatives to gang affiliation—it closes with the gut-wrenching notification that two of the featured rappers (including L’A Capone, the 17-year-old Lil Durk affiliate whose posthumous debut mixtape was released this week) were murdered between the doc’s filming and its release.